VW Golf "County"??? (and other oddballs)

[4Rescue]

So does anyone here have any first hand knowledge with one of these rigs???

-First off is it CountRy??? Or county??? Nevermind I see it says countRy right there on the side of one of the cars in the pics I posted...
-Do they have the Low first gear/Granny like the Syncro Vanagons do???
-Insert qhuestion here, I just want to know if anyone has any knowledge to share about them.

I'm just curious because you always hear about the Syncro Vanagon, but the Golf County never seems to have poped up for discussion here on the board. I know they're not equiped with a T-Case, but still neither are Scoobys but they can get into some neat places. Plus it'd get great milager and be an easy swap to diesel even here in the US seeing as VW is one of the few companies that stuick to Diesels here in the states in nearly every generation of the Golf/Jetta since it's introduction in the 70's

So can anyone tell me us about these trucks? Do they have the extra low first gear like the Vanagon's do? How much clearence?

I've built alot of VW's over the years and I know whoile they're not built like a Landcruiser (few are ) they're fairly tough little vehicles. I had a VW Fox Wolfsburg that I got into places that some guy's in a 4wd Ford Ranger couldn't get (bad drivers)

Here are a few neat examples I found on the internet...

And here's a neat thread on some kind of odd-ball (well for us Yanks anyway) Rigs.
http://www.tremek.com/forum/car-pictures/37590-hunt-first-suv.html
EDIT: apparently I was mistaken and this thread is only 4 posta long. I don't know what to say, clearly I got carried away and didn't pay attention to how much content there was... sorry folks

I'm just always looking to read more about the odd and often un-heard of. I'm hoping to go to the Mogfest this year because I really want to see the Doka (4dr) Vanagon Transporter (pick-up back) with the Ute-style bed sides/tailgate :drool: ... There are so many neat rigs out there but we tend to get fixated on certain ones. Now I'm not saying I would stray from my Toyota (unless it was for a certain other Toyota ) but I sure do like to learn about new things don't you?

And who knows maybe some day when I'm in another country I'll get to see one of these things for real and I'll already know what I'm looking at and then as I'm admiring it along the street I stumble into a beautiful girl who asks me about the car then maybe I impress this girl who's actualy the queens daughter.. uh huh a proincess budy YEAH!!!! and she's like : {insert high falsetto Princess voice} "OH!!! you know so much about different 4wd vehicles and life in general...you're SO sexy!!! you must come and be with me forever in my huige castle and I'll buyt you a bunch of trucks 'n stuff and then I end up as Prince Dave and I'm like MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...



I feel I maaaaaaaaaay have gotten a little sidetracked there somehwehere there... anywho disregard, and back to VW Golf County's and other oddball off-road vehicles.


Anyway, just thought this would be a fun thread to start to get us back on track after the trainwreck that is/was the "freelander" thread. Come on Yall it's time to get Oddball...

Cheers

Dave

 

[4Rescue]

Whoa here's a Cabi Suncro with the "county" suspension it looks like. Although it doesn't look like a VW emblem on the front.

Having first hand knowledge of how poor quality those tops are... That looks like a COLD RIDE!!!!! Good this the heater in a vw warms up in like 2min's and blows hot. I wish my 4Runner had as good a vent system/heater...

And then of course there's always the VW rebadge of the Toyota HilluX: The Taro.

AS it turns out, VW is one hell of an off-road company when you look at it. The Myers Manx I belive was based off of Bug frames/Swing-axles and the "Baja-bug" has conquered places that trucks with proper T-cases have failed. That MAN/VW thing looks like a monster, and we all know how good a Rebadged Hilux is in the dirt. Then there's the Syncro Vanagon and Coutry mentioned above. I belive there weas an Off-road version of the Thing out there during WWII called the Kubblewagen or something (no pun intended...) Then of course there's the Toureg with the awsome V-10 Diesel that could be ahd for awhile. While it;s not really my cupa it is a very good luxo crawler of sorts just like the Lexus LX's.

Cheers

Dave

 

[77blazerchalet]

As an '86 GTI owner, I thought it might be neat to snag one of the random Golf Countrys that pop up occasionally in Canadian eBay listings. But, I took a decent length of time to check out how a non-US car is imported, including a phone call to one of the Fed-authorized importers - research it for yourself and correct me if I'm wrong, but when it comes to to Golf Countrys, it is not possible without mega-bucks. You'll save a lot of money building a knock-off from a regular Golf with your choice of 4x4 drivetrain.

 

[4Rescue]

As an '86 GTI owner, I thought it might be neat to snag one of the random Golf Countrys that pop up occasionally in Canadian eBay listings. But, I took a decent length of time to check out how a non-US car is imported, including a phone call to one of the Fed-authorized importers - research it for yourself and correct me if I'm wrong, but when it comes to to Golf Countrys, it is not possible without mega-bucks. You'll save a lot of money building a knock-off from a regular Golf with your choice of 4x4 drivetrain.

Yeah I know, very valid points Chalet: BTW your truck is kind of one of the rigs I'm thinking of. the ones people may have heard of but not seen too often. I think those old Chevy Chalets are NEAT trucks (this is of an era where I still liked GM not their new junk) and kind of give me some ideas of what to do with my 4Runner. As far as importation goes: it sucks becasue there are LHD 70Series Cruisers up there right now that are newer then 84 and oh so sweet, but NO... Silly importation laws that have no real purpose no matter what they keep us from bringin in, someone buiilds one from scratch or there is somethign exactly like it only made by an american company or one some govvy's have intrest's in so THEY can be allowed here... I mean ******??? A Uni-Mog's no good but the International CXT was OK??? We can have Motor-homes, but no 70Series cruisers??? It's mindless bureaucracy (whoa how do I spell that...) INO and it makes me sad... Free country my puhtootie...

I guess I was just thinking more about starting a thread for us to have a gander at some of the wierd and different 4wd/off-road Cars adn trucks trhere are out there and I started with the Country...

Cheers

Dave

Edit: I forgot about my GF's favoirite dis-allowed car from across the pond the FIAT PANDA 4wd!!!!!

I want one of these for her,..

 

[Rexsname]

Will you need a Chief-of-staff in your new monarchy? Someone to carry your luggage? Does she have a sister?









I Lol'd

REX

 

[Michael Slade]

Speaking of the Chevy Chalet Blazer conversion, there is one for sale in Cedar City, Utah at a used car dealer on the south end of town. I drove by it several times but didn't get a pic of it. It looked half-way decent. I'll see if I can't snap a pic when I go down there again later this month.

 

[4Rescue]

Will you need a Chief-of-staff in your new monarchy? Someone to carry your luggage? Does she have a sister?


I Lol'd

REX

Right on brother, if/when this all happens (I'm guessing it'll be like 3-4 months right :???: ) you're in mate... I'll be needing all kinds of support staff seeing as I'm freaking dilusional and completely out of touch with reality eh

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Glad someone found it funny.

Cheers

Dave

Oh yea:

Can you say grandfather to the Discovery :???: I wonder witch came first because if this is older it;s pretty clear that Land Rover copied this truck in alot of ways eh...

 

[chet]

there was a golf country for sale on the island here a few years ago that I looked at and test drove. Cool rig but had too many problems for me at the time. I thought it would be a cool rig to swap a hopped up diesel into.

 

[Jrally]

There was recently a pair of Countrys for sale in Vegas, apparently most VW guys aren 't into the cool factor with such a car.

-Jon

 

[4Rescue]

Honestly it'sd wierd, I used to be SUPER into the performance VW/Audi Scene and I never saw Country's anywhere. Seems like it would be a great sourse of a syncro system for a rally inspired road car or just a ton of fun. I lifted my 89 VW Fox Wolfsburg with 2in "pucks" and I swear that it had a rear driveline tunnel. It makes sence as it was based off of the Audi 80's pan and even had the Inline motor instead of the transverse mounting like most VW's. With a good set of Tires and some careful throtle control that thing would go into some amazing places even though it was only 2wd.

Long story short, I'd LOVE to get my hands on a Country and make it into a ski-car with a great little 1.9 Diesel (Turbo of course) and a WVO sub-tank. I have a feeling that if I built it like I wanted to it would go about 85% of the places I can get my 4Runner although it may not last as long. Still, they're neat cars and I'm just suprised that I never hear about them.

So back to my rig. Q: DO they have a "granny Gear" first or whatever the Syncro Vanagons have to make up for the lack of a T-Case.

 

[Jrally]

Wish I knew more about the Country, so can't answer your granny gear question. From what I had gotten from a little research on them last year, most where sold in Europe. I'm most curious about how they did the rear driveline. From most of the pictures I've seen, it still looks like a torque axle.
One of these days, when my current project gets further, I'll do a full build up. I'm doing a very unique set-up for a desert/woods/trail runner car to do my own exploring of the SouthWest. For now, here's a few current state pictures.

-Jon

 

[77blazerchalet]

..pair of Countrys for sale in Vegas, apparently most VW guys aren 't into the cool factor with such a car..

On the 'coolness' factor, I used to look at the VWVortex.com forum, and there were occasionally guys who were willing to kill to get their hands on one in the US - that's where I hope to be proven wrong about the relative ease of importing one. Judging from what the importer told me, if you saw two in Vegas, they were not US-legal, thus troublesome to own without major hassle from the authorities.

 

[4Rescue]

Wish I knew more about the Country, so can't answer your granny gear question. From what I had gotten from a little research on them last year, most where sold in Europe. I'm most curious about how they did the rear driveline. From most of the pictures I've seen, it still looks like a torque axle.
One of these days, when my current project gets further, I'll do a full build up. I'm doing a very unique set-up for a desert/woods/trail runner car to do my own exploring of the SouthWest. For now, here's a few current state pictures.

-Jon

Oh now that's just plain awesome... I love where you're going...

Cheers

Dave

 

[Michael Slade]

So I have been obsessing about those VW Country's for a few days now. Even started looking at some LADA Niva's. I rode in one in Iceland a while back and was smitten.

 

[BlueBomber]

Wish I knew more about the Country, so can't answer your granny gear question. From what I had gotten from a little research on them last year, most where sold in Europe. I'm most curious about how they did the rear driveline. From most of the pictures I've seen, it still looks like a torque axle.
One of these days, when my current project gets further, I'll do a full build up. I'm doing a very unique set-up for a desert/woods/trail runner car to do my own exploring of the SouthWest. For now, here's a few current state pictures.

-Jon

I bow to you, and all your celica awesomeness!!!!!!

I AM NOT WORTHY!!!!!
I AM NOT WORTHY!!!!!
I AM NOT WORTHY!!!!!