Volkswagen Type 181
small convertible utility vehicle
The Volkswagen Type 181 is a two-wheel drive, four-door convertible, manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen from 1968 until 1983. Originally developed for the West German Army as a successor to the 1956 Auto Union two-stroke–engined DKW Munga, the Type 181 also entered the civilian market as the Kurierwagen (“courier car”) in West Germany, the Trekker (RHD Type 182) in the United Kingdom, the Thing in the United States and Canada (1973–1974), the Safari in Mexico and South America, and Pescaccia in Italy. Civilian sales ended after model year 1980.
Manufactured in Wolfsburg, West Germany (1968–1974), Hannover, West Germany (1974–1975), Emden, West Germany (1975–1978), Puebla, Mexico (1970–1980), and Jakarta, Indonesia (1972–1980), the Type 181 shared its mechanicals with Volkswagen's Type 1 (Beetle) and the pre-1968 Volkswagen Microbus, its floor pan with the Type 1 Karmann Ghia, and its concept with the company's Kübelwagen, which had been used by the German military during World War II.
The overall configuration loosely recalls the chic, open beach cars of the 1960s, including the BMC Mini Moke, Fiat Ghia Jolly, Renault Rodeo, Citroën Méhari and Meyers Manx. All four doors were removable and interchangeable, the windshield folded flat, and the convertible roof could be removed for al fresco driving. The spartan interior featured vinyl covered bucket seats, painted sheet metal, drain holes and perforated rubber mats. A fiberglass hardtop and trunk-mounted auxiliary heater were optional.
History
A 1953 tender for a future West German Army was won by Auto Union that had developed the DKW Munga from their
Two-stroke engine vehicles DKW 3=6 and DKW Schnellaster. The Porsche 597 was considered too expensive, and Volkswagen itself did not enter with a new Volkswagen Kübelwagen. By the 1960s, the simple two-stroke concept became outdated, and as the DKW brand was associated with it, Auto Union dropped it in 1965 in favour of reintroducing the brand Audi when updating the DKW F102 to the four stroke Audi F103 that used the Mercedes-Benz M118 engine.
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