Human beings have waged and discussed war for time immemorial, and even the creative types get in on the act. In 1485, a few centuries before the first cars made their way out of the garage, an inventor named Leonardo da Vinci drew up plans for an armored vehicle.

Though shaped a bit like an upside-down coffee filter, the sketch is recognizably a war machine, and a clear precursor to the

military vehicles

that are familiar to us in the 21st century. The Pinzgauer is one descendant from da Vinci’s dream of an armored car.

A true workhorse

The now-defunct Austrian firm Steyr-Daimler-Puch was founded in 1864 and built everything from rifles to cars and buses, sometimes through evil means—during World War II, the company used slave labor from concentration camps to manufacture their wares. In the late 1960s, Steyr-Daimler-Puch presented an imposing, armored, all-terrain vehicle: the Pinzgauer.

Named for an Austrian breed of horse known for Alp-climbing, says

Silodrome

, this military vehicle was big and strong. Two sizes were offered—a 4x4 and a 6x6. Both versions could carry 10 people, with the 6x6 offering capacity for a few more, as well as tow a remarkable 11,000 pounds on normal terrain. It topped out at around 68 miles per hour, employing a 2.5 liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine to do the job.

And the horse comparison was no accident: the Pinzgauer was unafraid of a little brush with nature. This military vehicle could traverse watery depths to just over two feet, climb a 14-inch wall, and steam up a hill of nearly 100% grade (for reference, cyclists in the Tour de France define their hardest climbs as “above categorization” when they surpass a 7.5% grade.) This Austrian behemoth was one tough cookie.

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Versatility is key

But these military vehicles weren’t just born for military operations. Prized for having lots of space and supreme off-road abilities, Pinzgauers fanned out to be part of rescue efforts, fire management, and good old-fashioned exploring.

And they even get a little occasional screen time.

The New York Times

notes that Arnold Schwarzenegger (who else?) owns two, both of which were featured in Terminator 3. Natalie Portman also helmed a Pinzgauer as the character Jane Foster in the 2011 Thor.

Once used by about 29 countries for military purposes, says

Army Technology

, now they survive as collectibles for enthusiasts, or as transport for energy companies as they hunt down oil. Modern military vehicles are bigger and brawnier, but it’s clear that the Pinz has been influential. And da Vinci, once again, proved himself to be ahead of his time.

MORE: U.S. Marine Corps Selects Two Companies for Recon Vehicle Prototypes

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