Argo type ground vehicle
The Argo-type ground vehicle was a type of all-terrain vehicle utilized by Starfleet for away missions during the late 24th century.

History 
Introduced around 2379 as the  aboard the , this type of vehicle was yet untested as of stardate 56844. ()

By the following year, they were standard complement aboard starships, such as the , where they were used during second contact missions. () 

Additionally, there were at least eighteen aboard the . (, MSD)

Technical data

Stowage 
These vehicles were among the standard complement stowed aboard Sovereign, California, and  starships. They could be landed on the ground aboard Argo-type and Type 6A shuttlecraft.

Exterior features 

The Argo ground vehicle was designed with special off-road tires and soft suspension that let it grip and turn with ease on rocky or sandy terrains. It had a very flexible, yet strong, tubular framework. Although not recommended, the vehicle could be driven at very high velocities, and could withstand most bumps and impacts with little damage. ()

Interior features 

Driven by a steering wheel, it had a dashboard-mounted display monitor, comprising a scanner and a remote control device for sending commands to the Argo shuttle. In fact, the Argo could be launched and totally controlled from the vehicle if the situation was required. The vehicle had storage spaces for equipment – one between the two front passenger seats, and a large space at the back of the vehicle. () 

The rear of the vehicle contained a cargo area could be used to haul large supply crates. () 

In situations requiring vehicular combat, the vehicle could be outfitted with a rear-mounted, high power phaser cannon that was operated by the rear passenger. ()

List of vehicles 
Named
 

Unnamed
 Unnamed Argo-type ground vehicles

Appendices

Appearances

Background information 
According to the   of the script (as well as the  shooting script), this "vehicle", as it was described in dialogue, was specifically described as "a 24th Century equivalent of a ! […] It is a muscular, exciting vehicle; a Starfleet version of a jeep from old television series ."

Also described as "Argo shuttle vehicles", John Eaves "bought a bunch of four-wheel-drive magazines to find somebody in southern California who built these things." (Star Trek: The Art of John Eaves, p.76) "We researched a lot of trucks before coming across the Ford Pro Truck." Eaves continued, "the difficult part of designing it was that it was very restrictive. Even though they put a (fiberglass) truck body shell on top of the frame, we really couldn't use the bed of the truck because all the suspension was there." (Cinefex 93, p. 94)

Eaves provided the design sketches that served as the rough template for the vehicle modification. Based on multiple sketches made by Eaves, this vehicle was described as the "Argo assault/offroad vehicle", a "Federation attack jeep", or "Enterprise offroad vehicle". The finished design was then built by prop master Gerald B. Moss and special effects coordinator Terry Frazee over a Ford Pro Truck chassis modified by Ivan Stewart, head of the Protrucks Racing Organization. (Cinefex'' 93, p. 94)

External link 

Ground vehicles