VOLKSWAGEN · VOLKSWAGEN 181 · Cars
VOLKSWAGEN 181 Ultra-rare
As of 2025 Q4, 48 VOLKSWAGEN 181s remain registered in the UK — one of the rarest cars in Britain on today's roads. Numbers are at their highest recorded level since the model first appeared in our data in 2014 Q3. Numbers have held broadly steady over recent years rather than falling away — often the mark of a model that owners deliberately preserve. In all, the VOLKSWAGEN 181 is rarer than 66% of the 2,408 UK car models we track, putting it firmly in 2025's endangered class.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Genuinely rare — only 48 left on UK roads.
Rarer than 66% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Trend
About the 181
The Volkswagen Type 181 is a two-wheel drive, four-door convertible, manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen from 1968 until 1983. Originally developed for the West German Army as a successor to the 1956 Auto Union two-stroke–engined DKW Munga, the Type 181 also entered the civilian market as the Kurierwagen (“courier car”) in West Germany, the Trekker (RHD Type 182) in the United Kingdom, the Thing in the United States and Canada (1973–74), the Safari in Mexico and South America, and Pescaccia in Italy. Civilian sales ended after model year 1980. Manufactured in Wolfsburg, West Germany (1968–1974...
VOLKSWAGEN 181 — questions & answers
How many VOLKSWAGEN 181 are left in the UK?
As of 2025 Q4, 48 VOLKSWAGEN 181 were still registered in the UK — 28 licensed and on the road, plus 20 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the VOLKSWAGEN 181 rare?
The VOLKSWAGEN 181 is genuinely rare, with only 48 left, making it rarer than 66% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Is the VOLKSWAGEN 181 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of VOLKSWAGEN 181 on UK roads held steady.
What fuel do most VOLKSWAGEN 181 use?
Most VOLKSWAGEN 181 run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered.
When did the VOLKSWAGEN 181 peak?
The VOLKSWAGEN 181 peaked at 48 registered in 2024 Q4, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.