In the Philippines, it was known as a “country truck” or “Trakbayan.” In Indonesia, its name was “Mitra,” meaning partner. By any name, the Volkswagen Basis-Transporter was among the carmaker’s oddest creations.
The two-door, boxy work truck, manufactured in German and in Mexico, were made between 1975 and 1979 only 6,200 were built. It was called the Hormiga or “Ant.”
As a basic utility vehicle, the Basis-Transporter was primarily shipped to Mexico, Turkey and Pakistan. It had a 1.6-liter, 50-horsepower engine and a maximum speed of 48 miles per hour. Its bed had a maximum payload of 2,205 pounds.
VW Basis-Transporter: Odd, Rare
The utilitarian vehicle founds some success during its short tenure because of high fuel prices and a tenuous economy. It had a VW Beetle powertrain, but the transporter’s engine and transmission were located under the cab and drove the front wheels.When the Transporter debuted, it sold for the equivalent of $5,150. Today, prices are as high $26,900.
And how rare is rare? There’s a Basis-Transporter in a German museum and periodically they’ve been auctioned in the United States
And just as a modern-day comparison, the original Volkswagen sport utility vehicle is about the same size as a VW Polo, the carmaker’s compact sold in Europe and in countries but not in the United States. It’s about 13 1/2 feet line and 5 1/2 feet wide.
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.