It has been half a century since the VW 181 saw the light of day in the automotive world – and promptly conquered the barracks of the Bundeswehr as well as the halls of the fire brigade, the Technical Relief Agency THW, and the German Red Cross. No wonder that WIKING quickly decided to miniaturise the "new Kübelwagen" at the time, launching it as the successor to the DKW Munga. 1972 as an open-top version before the closed folding top model followed in 1979, which is the model the traditional model makers are now reactivating. The fascination of original and model has remained the same ever since. Many specimens have long since shed their service coat and today – just like the WIKING model – offer pure civilian driving fun. Reverently referred to as “The Thing”, the car has long since achieved legendary status as the ultimate leisure car. This is somewhat surprising given that the presumed off-roader was actually a sham: It neither featured all-wheel drive nor an off-road reduction gearbox, and the ground clearance was nothing to write home about, either. Its introduction at the 1969 IAA auto show was intended strictly for a military audience. As a planned European joint project for a Jeep counterpart had failed, the Bundeswehr urgently needed a replacement after production of the DKW Munga ended in 1968. VW came up with a clever response: Their design engineers married a robust platform frame with the Beetle's tried-and-tested boxer engine. Officially introduced as a “courier car”, the troops quickly renamed it the “Kübelwagen”. While historically tarnished and disliked by the brass of the Bundeswehr, the name prevailed regardless. Between 1969 and 1980, a total of 140,768 units rolled off the production lines in Wolfsburg, Hanover, Emden and, lastly, in Mexico.

Body blue, chassis black. Interior black and closed folding top window grey. Inserted three-spoke steering wheel black. Light grey wheel rim with silver hubcap. VW logo, door handles, and headlamps painted silver. Indicators orange and red tail lights.