Poor man's Touareg
 

:D

This is the Brazilian-made '84-'91 Gurgel Carajás, which featured a tubular frame with a fiberglass body, Volkswagen Microbus axles (including a modded transaxle) and a front-mounted Volkswagen EA-827 engine, either gasser, Diesel (with the same 1.6IDI used in the early Rabbit Diesel), or extremely rare dedicated-ethanol versions. Had only rear-wheel drive, but secondary independent brake levers for each rear wheel allowed to manually emulate the effect of a differential locker. Some owners claim 40MPG for the Diesel-powered 2-door version (but this one in the pictures is a gasser).

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VYnJta_Pv2.../Photo4306.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMiWA-onWV.../Photo4305.jpg
4W-IS stands for 4-wheel independent suspension, a feature absent in its major opponent, the Brazilian version of the Toyota Landcruiser 40-series.

There were also 4-door versions, which were not so popular as private vehicles but found some acceptance in public services, such as this one which was originally used as ambulance in Pelotas city.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ld_U3en0G7.../Photo4296.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VgBzXiPka2.../photo4297.jpg

So, a fiberglass bodied, diesel powered station wagon?

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/...psefc7050b.jpg

Diesel versions are extremely rare. Also, you might remember it's a no-frills vehicle, without power steering, power locks, ABS brakes, air-conditioner, among other features.

You say that like it's a bad thing! I can't remember the last time I had a car with a stereo in it, I could care less about all the gadgets. When I had to abandon my Civic wagon on the side of the highway when it died, the 2 things I saved were the factory radio delete block off plate from the dash and the block off plate for the antenna mount ha ha. To me, that stuff is gold lol. :snail:

its fun to see the vehicles of other countries

But you might agree with me that, being a no-frills vehicle, its fuel-efficiency is not so impressive as it would be if achieved in a fully-equipped vehicle :D

I remember, because when I turned the stereo down, I could tell my #3 exhaust valve was toast. :(

Same deal in the VW world. I've known people to search forever. Both of mine are hand-made.

Rickman Ranger = even cheaper station wagon. All the fun of a Suzuki Samurai but without the 4x4 bit.

Or indeed stuff by Dutton...

Kit cars? That rabbit hole goes a long way down.

http://www.kooblekar.com/sites/defau...2006%20014.jpg
Introducing... The Kooble Kar! | Kooblekar Skunkwerkes - Build Your Own Kubel!

The Carajás wasn't fitted with 4WD setup for budget reasons and parts interchangeability with Volkswagen, since it was the most popular automaker back here. But did the Rickman have any kind of differential locker or any other device to improve the traction control in slippery terrain?