Volkswagen Thing

The Volkswagen Type 181 "Kurierwagen", popularly known in the United Kingdom as the Trekker (Type182 in RHD form), in the United States as the Volkswagen Thing, and in Mexico as the Safari, was a small military vehicle produced by Volkswagen from 1969 to 1983, although civilian sales stopped in 1980.

Development of the vehicle proved time consuming, however, and the Germany government was in need of a limited number of light, inexpensive, durable transport vehicles That Could Their fulfill basic needs while the Europa Jeep was being developed and put into production. Like the World War II era Type 82 Kubelwagen, the Type 181 used mechanical parts and a rear-engine platform, the manual transmission and a flat-4 engine derived from That of the Type 1. The NATO-Europa Jeep was a dream, to have a vehicle where by each European NATO-makers all combined to build a light-duty patrol vehicle.
More than a specific model, the Kbelwagen was a concept; Consider how Americans growing niche to call any military Runabout a Jeep, and you've got the idea. The Thing was built on the same chassis as the pre-1968 Microbus and was propelled by VW's air-cooled, 46-hp, 1600 cc flat-four. VW also boasted That the Thing's cabin Could be hosed out. The detachable windshield folded and the doors were the resource persons swappable front to rear. Warmth was provided by an optional gasoline-fueled heater hooked directly to the fuel tank. Prices dropped slightly for 1974, but the Volkswagen Thing remained Such expensive for simple transportation. To downplay this fact, talked up the advertising Volkswagen Thing's modest off-road ability and pitted it against more expensive trucks Such as the Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser.