Volkswagen 181 Trekker, 1972
Volkswagen 181
Volkswagen 181•
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Chassis No.: 1822957460
Engine No.: tbc
Registration: CTV 672K
The Volkswagen Type 181 was a two-wheel drive, four-door, convertible, off-road, manufactured by Volkswagen from 1968 to 1983. During the 1960s, several European governments began cooperating on development of a vehicle known as the Europa Jeep; a lightweight, amphibious four-wheel drive vehicle that could be mass-produced for use by various national military and government groups. Development of the vehicle proved time-consuming, and the West German government needed a limited number of light, inexpensive, durable transport vehicles that could fulfil their basic needs while the Europa Jeep was being developed and put into production.
Originally developed for the West German Army, the Type 181 was also sold to the public, as the Kurierwagen in West Germany, the Trekker (RHD Type 182) in the United Kingdom and The Thing in the United States (1973-74). Volkswagen imported 300 right hand drive Trekker 182's during 1974-75, but only 71 were sold starting at chassis number 185 2086406, which made it rarer than a Series I Flatfloor E-Type Jaguar.
This lovely example was imported from the Netherlands in October 2020. It was then taken apart with any areas of rust being replaced, and any holes that were not being used or needed welded up. Then the entire body exterior was painted in L360 Sea Blue with the inside of the cabin and front compartment painted with a special impact-resistant coating in matte black. The fuel tank in the front was also painted to match in L360 Sea Blue and there is a chrome tank for the air-ride installed at the front with the Viar 380c compressor neatly hidden below.
There are four paddle switches with gauges on the dash for operating the air ride which is independent in each corner, with Monroe air shocks on the front and Eva Resto air shocks & bags on the rear. The front suspension has a Paruzzi narrowed torsion beam with dropped spindles and ball joints to lower the car properly. The rear has been lowered by three splines on the torsion arms and has had the original gearbox replaced with an AB gearbox from a VW Beetle to remove the reduction boxes. An Eva Resto engine cradle has also been fitted to raise the gearbox and engine by one inch.
The engine is the original 1600 twinport, with a stainless steel vintage speed exhaust which was serviced last year, along with the brake system which was gone through completely and replaced where necessary. The headlights have yellow Hella glass lenses, and the rear lights are all red US spec, along with new chrome trims. The mirrors, all handles and fuel cap have been replaced with new items. The wheels are 15” Porsche gas burner replicas from JBW with a spare in the front, along with an original VW jack. The roof is in good condition, and it has new side windows purchased from the USA, with bespoke covers when not fitted in position and are stored.
The interior has a bespoke black square weave carpet fitted, and all the seats have had new padding and the frames refurbished. The seats have then been covered in blue Porsche Pasha wool fabric and black leatherette, with the rest of the interior and dash being original and complemented with a Nardi wooden rim steering wheel. A wonderful, attractive and fun vehicle which will turn heads everywhere!
