OT - rare 60s aus VW Options

[wonkipop]

stumbled across this parked a block away outside the local mechanic who specialises in old school cars.

VW country buggy. rare as hens teeth. have not seen one in the flesh for more than half a lifetime.
think only about 2000 of these were made but don't quote me. who knows how many survive. probably count them on two hands maybe.

unique model developed by VW australia independent of VW germany.
only made here in original form though a later version was made in the phillipines or malysia - can't remember which country but it was up in south east asia.
dates from mid to late 60s. marketed as for use by farmers. had great off road capabilities. this one has been lowered - original ride ht much higher. used the rear hubs that early buses had that raised the suspension relationship to wheel.







i had a drive of one of these on a friends farm way back in time. would have been late 70s. think i was about 16 or 17 - before i even had a drivers license. so much fun to drive and so easy to drive.
beetle floor pan. blunt as hell styling. all flat metal pressed panels.
hoot of a car. these days CULT. made my day to see it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[JeffBowlsby]

Interesting, does not get more basic than that. A ‘Thing’ prototype or knock off perhaps? It has a bit of soul.

[wonkipop]

Interesting, does not get more basic than that. A ‘Thing’ prototype or knock off perhaps? It has a bit of soul.

its earlier than the Thing mr. b.
and was completely independent of it.

the story i heard years back so i might have it wrong was that the engineers at vw australia got together outside of work hours and developed it.

i think its misfortune when it arrived in australian showrooms was that british leyland also released the mini moke at the same time. the moke proved to be more popular. similarly basic as the country buggy.