The history of the Half-Track Fox SUV began exactly 60 years ago, when Kurt Koetzner, a talented auto mechanic and an avid commander from Vienna, came up with the idea to create a mountain SUV.
In order not to “reinvent the wheel” from scratch, he decided to build his brainchild on the basis of the Volkswagen T1 “Bulli” van. So his modification “Half-Track Fox” was born.
Unlike its parent, the SUV received two enlarged axles with 13-inch wheels, while the rear wheels were “shod” in passenger and rubber tracks, which significantly increased the van’s off-road patency. The front axles (with 14-inch wheels) are part of the dual “sparks” with the participation of the tread. For the first time, the wheel was equipped with a “personal” brake.
Material for early distribution Without further ado, he decided to leave his native 1.2-liter engine with a capacity of 34 liters. in. The jacket did not fail – this is quite enough to overcome the mountain slopes and drive at a speed of 35 / .chmu.
In total, from 1962 to 1968, he assembled two mountain SUVs. One of the consequences found its way into my Porsche’s portfolio, having been thrown out by members of the community in the early 1990s.
The first and, alas, unsuccessful attempt to restore the veteran was made in 2005. Another 13 years passed before the “Half-Track Fox” ended up in Classic Vehicle, a division of VW Commercial Vehicles.
After another 4 years, after a major restoration and filming in Top Gear in the Austrian Alps, where the updated SUV showed excellent cross-country ability, the “Half-Track Fox” is presented to the public.
Source: Tech Cult
