At the International Motor Show (IAA) in 1951, Büssing Nutzkraftwagen GmbH presented the Type 12000, a completely new truck. On the one hand, it deviated from the usual Langhauber design and was conceived as a front-wheel drive truck, and on the other hand, the engine did not sit in front of the driver's cab as had been customary until then, but was installed as an underfloor engine for the first time in truck history. These technical innovations led to a lot of discussion in the scene, but they met with a great deal of disapproval from haulers and drivers. High purchase costs and poor handling characteristics were ultimately other major obstacles that kept many interested customers from buying. The reservations were so great that only 36 examples of the Büssing 12000 left the factory in Braunschweig, of which three still exist today. 

The haulage company H. Fehrenkötter from Sassenberg in Westphalia was one of the few buyers who opted for the heavy 3-axle truck with platform body. The rounded cab, which was painted in the company colours of orange-grey, as were the loading areas, was particularly striking because of the attachment above the divided windscreen, in which the company lettering could be read. Another striking stylistic element of the mighty truck was the large chromed front ornament. The engine was a 6-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 13 litres, 180 hp (from the 1954 model year the engine had a capacity of 15 litres and 200 hp) and accelerated the fully loaded truck to a top speed of 61 km/h, which was quite common for such goods transports at that time. The 12000 Büssing may not have been a success at the time, but from today's point of view, the design certainly stands for progressive thinking and farsightedness.