VW "Halftrack Fox" restored and refurbished after 60 years.

Sixty years ago, an enterprising mechanic converted a Volkswagen microbus into a half-track. Known as the "Half-Track Fox," this unique van emerged from a full restoration to once again tackle the mountainous terrain.

The Half-Track Fox was built in May 1962 at VW's plant in Hannover, Germany. It was handed over to VW mechanic Kurt Kretzner in Vienna, who quickly modified it to make it suitable for the trails of the Alps.

While a true half-truck, the Fox differs somewhat from many of the production models most commonly used by Allied and Axis forces during World War II. Whereas these vehicles had conventional wheels in the front and a tank-like track assembly in the rear, the half-track Fox had four axles, each with its own set of wheels.

The front two axles both have dual wheel sets with 14-inch tires, both of which can be steered. The rear 13-inch wheels are joined by a track made from aluminum and rubber blocks; according to VW, Kretzner chose this arrangement because, with conventional front wheels, it is easier to steer than a fully tracked vehicle. 32.8-foot turning circle, allows the van to turn almost entirely within its length, the automaker noted.

Output is a stock 1.1-liter flat-4 with only 33 hp. That limits its top speed to 22 mph, which VW noted is a bit slower than an actual fox.

Kletzner apparently intended to produce this unusual car and even published sales literature; it is believed that two more were built before 1968, but their whereabouts are unknown.

The Half-Track Fox was inconspicuous until it was purchased by the Porsche Museum in Gmund, Austria (not to be confused with the official Porsche museum in Zuffenhausen, Germany), and later sold to a group of microbus enthusiasts, the It was sold to Bullkartei e.V. In 2005, the group began a restoration, which was never completed. The halftrack Fox was then sold to VW in 2018 and is now part of the heritage collection of VW's commercial vehicle division.

The restored Halftrack Fox will be shown to the public in conjunction with the European launch of the VW ID electric car. Hot topic. the ID.Buzz, which will be introduced in the U.S. in 2023 as a 2024 model, is inspired by the original microbus and will be built in Hanover. It will probably look pretty cool as a half-track as well.