https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_axle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2344037
Kublewagen from Wikipedia [missing parts] at the top, a bus axle painted for a Kubelwagen replica below. Looks like a big maybe.
OTOH The Trekker/Thing had double-jointed axles:
Facts About the Volkswagen Thing Car - THE THING SHOP
Quote:
- Things have Thing-only ball joints.
- The passenger-side tie rod is Thing specific.
- The Thing front beam is different from the Beetle because it has a reinforced shock tower and plates welded on the rear for supports that attach to the chassis.
- Rear brake drums are Thing specific
- Master cylinder and wheel cylinders are not Thing specific. Front brake backing plate is Thing specific.
- Thing torsion arms (a.k.a. front trailing arms) are Thing specific.
- 1973 and 1974 Mexican-built for the U.S Things came stock with 14" Thing-specific wheels, but 15" were available as an option. 14" Bus wheels will NOT work. The original stock tire size is 185SR14...
- The largest tire that will work with stock metal fenders is a 205/75 R15.
- Thing IRS transaxles are basically the same as the Beetle. The main difference is side flanges, or "cups" being different. The ring and pinion are specific to the Thing. The gearing ratio is close to that of a 1966 VW Bus (Type II).
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An early Kubelwagen prototype, much lower than the final version:
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/vw-kubelwagen-and-schwimmwagen-germanys-ww2-jeeps/
Here's the Type 87:
ibid