1946 VW Beetle Factory Pickup With Fifth Wheel Car Hauling Trailer Discovered

Paul Niedermeyer
by Paul Niedermeyer

Do I love the internet. I thought I’d seen every old VW oddity, but doing a google image search for “VW pickup” brings up this gem. I knew that in the early days the VW factory built a number of specialized vehicles to transport bodies and things around the grounds. But this goose neck fifth wheel trailer rig hauling another Beetle takes the cake. Another VW view of the same Volksamino follows:

Keep in mind that the VW engine made 25 hp at the time. But if the gearing is low enough, anything can be moved. And who was in a hurry in 1946?

Paul Niedermeyer
Paul Niedermeyer

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  • Tosh Tosh on Apr 13, 2010

    With diesel versions of the New Beetle going relatively cheaply used, I've imagined turning one into a squareback or trucklet.

  • Bluskymaster Bluskymaster on Aug 29, 2011

    I built an Electric VW Pickup. It was a 1972 vw beetle and It took 2 years. I recently found this site and I am dumbfounded to see my creatation is so close to the 1946 VW Truck. I call mine an e-Trug Voltswagon. 15kw of power 30-40 mile range.

  • Varezhka Maybe the volume was not big enough to really matter anyways, but losing a “passenger car” for a mostly “light truck” line-up should help Subaru with their CAFE numbers too.
  • Varezhka For this category my car of choice would be the CX-50. But between the two cars listed I’d select the RAV4 over CR-V. I’ve always preferred NA over small turbos and for hybrids THS’ longer history shows in its refinement.
  • AZFelix I would suggest a variation on the 'fcuk, marry, kill' game using 'track, buy, lease' with three similar automotive selections.
  • Formula m For the gas versions I like the Honda CRV. Haven’t driven the hybrids yet.
  • SCE to AUX All that lift makes for an easy rollover of your $70k truck.
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