Volkswagen 181

Volkswagen Type 181/182
Overview
Manufacturer Volkswagen
Also called Volkswagen Type 181 (LHD) Volkswagen Type 182 (RHD)
Sold as:
Volkswagen Thing (United States)
Volkswagen Camat (Indonesia)
Volkswagen Safari (Mexico)
Volkswagen Trekker (UK)
Production 1968–83 (1980 for civilian use)
90,883 built
(70,519 in West Germany, 20,364 in Mexico)[1]
Assembly Wolfsburg, West Germany (1968–74)
Hannover, West Germany (1974–83)
Puebla, Mexico (1970–80)
Jakarta, Indonesia (1973–80)
Body and chassis
Class Military vehicle
Body style 4-door Cabriolet
Layout Rear engined
Powertrain
Engine 1.5 or 1.6l H4
Transmission 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,400 mm (94.5 in)
Length 3,780 mm (148.8 in)
Width 1,640 mm (64.6 in)
Height 1,620 mm (63.8 in)
Curb weight 910 kg (2,006 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Volkswagen Kübelwagen
Successor Volkswagen Iltis
A 1974 "Acapulco" Thing

The Volkswagen Type 181 was a two-wheel drive, four-door, convertible, off-road, manufactured by Volkswagen from 1968 to 1983. 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, the Thing in the United States (1973–74), the Safari in Mexico and South America, and Pescaccia in Italy. Civilian sales ended after model year 1980.

Manufactured in Wolfsburg, West Germany (1968–74), Hannover, West Germany (1974–83), Puebla, Mexico (1970–80), and Jakarta, Indonesia (1973–80), the Type 181 shared some of its mechanicals with Volkswagen's Type 1 (Beetle) and the pre-1968 Volkswagen Microbus, and the floorpan of the Type1 Karmann Ghia, and its concept with the company's Kübelwagen, which had been used by the German military during World War II.

History

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, however, and the West German government was in need of a limited number of light, inexpensive, durable transport vehicles that could fulfill their basic needs while the Europa Jeep was being developed and put into production.

Although Volkswagen had been approached during the 1950s about building such a vehicle, and had subsequently passed on the proposition, the then-current management of the company saw the project as having some amount of potential as a consumer vehicle; Mexican customers were asking for something that could handle rural roads better than the Type 1, which was a large seller in Mexico at the time, and the popularity of VW-based dune buggies within the U.S. made executives think that a durable, fun, off-road-capable vehicle would become attractive to many buyers. VW could keep cost to a minimum and thus maximize profitability by using existing parts.

Like the World War II era Type 82 Kübelwagen, the Type 181 used mechanical parts and a rear-engine platform, manual transmission and a flat-4 engine derived from that of the Type 1.

The floorpans came from the Type 1 Karmann Ghia, which had a wider floorpan than the Beetle. Rear swing axle suspension with reduction gearing from the discontinued split-screen Volkswagen Transporter was used until 1973, when it was replaced with double-jointed axles used by Porsche and IRS semi-trailing arm setup as used on the 1303 and US-spec Beetles.

Civilian sales began in mainland Europe and Mexico during 1971; in the U.S. in 1972; and briefly in Britain in 1975, where it failed to sell well and was dropped fairly quickly.

The model was dropped from the American lineup for 1975 as it failed to meet new, stricter US safety standards. The Type 181 was reclassified as a passenger vehicle, and thus subject to stricter safety standards. The Windshield Intrusion Rule of the 1975 DOT standard called for a greater distance between the front seat occupants and the front window glass.[2]

The Europa Jeep was the result of a NATO plan to have a vehicle whereby each European NATO makers all combined to build a light-duty patrol vehicle.

The Volkswagen 181 was only supposed to fill in, until the time that the Europa Jeep was ready. From 1968 until 1979, over 50,000 Type 181s were delivered to the NATO forces. By 1979 the Europa Jeep project had fallen apart completely and was abandoned, and the West German government began supplementing their consumption of 181s with the new front-engined Type 183 Iltis.

Despite the West German government's switch to the Type 183, European and Mexican sales of the civilian 181 continued through 1980, and several organizations, including NATO, continued to purchase military-spec Type 181 units through 1983, finding their reliability and low purchase and maintenance costs attractive.

Technology and performance

Type 181's rear axle, featuring the VW portal axle design
In orange

Military 181s attain a higher ride height and lower effective gearing by using reduction boxes, a form of portal axles. 181s without reduction boxes feature a transmission similar to the Beetle but with a slower gearing by use of different ring and pinion gears and have stronger, more flexible CV axles. Most mechanical parts are interchangeable with those of other VW models. Optional dual oil bath air cleaners increased filtering ability in dusty environments, and low noise ignition systems were fitted to military cars to be used for radio communication.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Oswald, Werner (2003). Deutsche Autos 1945–1990 [German autos, 1945–90] (in German). 3. Stuttgart: Motorbuch. p. 46. ISBN 3-613-02116-1.
  2. ↑ http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=b61762d394adecff0b01b562be497802&rgn=div8&view=text&node=49:6.1.2.3.38.2.7.55&idno=49

TV show Rizzoli & Isles, Season 5, Episode 14 "Foot Loose"

Further reading

Volkswagen Passenger Cars, a marque of the Volkswagen Group, car timeline, European market, 1950–1979 — next »
Type 1950s 1960s 1970s
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Economy car Beetle (Type 1)
Supermini Polo I
Derby I
Small family car Type 3 Golf I
Large family car Type 4
K70 (NSU) Passat I
Coupé Karmann Ghia Scirocco I
Type 34 Karmann Ghia VW-Porsche 914
Utility vehicle Type 181 Kurierwagen/Trekker
Volkswagen Passenger Cars, a marque of the Volkswagen Group, car timeline, North American market, 1950–1979 — next »
Type 1950s 1960s 1970s
0123456789 0123456789 0123456789
Economy Beetle (Type 1)
Compact Fastback / Squareback (Type 3) Rabbit I
Dasher
Mid-size Type 4
K70 (NSU)
Coupé Karmann Ghia Scirocco I
Convertible Beetle Convertible
Karmann Ghia Convertible
181 Thing / Safari
Van Microbus (Type 2 - T1) Microbus (Type 2 - T2)
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