This 1971 Volkswagen Type 181 was reportedly used by the German Federal Defense Force before and spent time with a private owner before being imported to the US by the current owner in 2023. It is powered by an air-cooled 1.6L flat-four paired with a four-speed manual transaxle and has been refinished in yellow over black vinyl upholstery. Equipment includes a black convertible soft top and side curtains, 15″ steel wheels, drum brakes, an Eberspacher gas heater, duckboards, and a seven-position headlight switch. This Type 181 is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with German service and inspection records, manufacturer’s literature, import documents, and a clean Florida title.
The body was reportedly refinished from olive drab to yellow under previous ownership in Germany and features a black convertible soft top and side curtains. Additional exterior details include a fold-down windshield, removable doors, fender-mounted turn signals, and a front skid plate. The windshield is chipped.
Steel 15″ wheels are finished in gray with black hubcaps and are mounted with 165-series Firestone F-650 tires. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel drum brakes.
The front bucket seats and folding rear seats are trimmed in black vinyl upholstery. Interior elements include a seven-position headlight switch, duckboards, and an Eberspacher gas heater.
The two-spoke steering wheel fronts a 160-km/h VDO speedometer with an inset fuel-level gauge and a five-digit mechanical odometer showing 35k kilometers (~22k miles).
The replacement air-cooled 1.6L (AR) flat-four is fed by a single downdraft carburetor. An oil change was performed in early 2023.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle. Overspray is visible on underbody components.
German-language manufacturer’s literature is included in the sale.