[Warning! Post from Way out in left field follow]

So why has nobody done it?

I've seen plenty of VW Thing bodies dropped onto 4x4 truck chassis (Bronco, 4-Runner, etc) but then you have a water cooled, front engine 4x4. But I want an air cooled, rear engine "pure VW" 4x4 Thing.

I would think there would have to be a way to adapt a Vanagon T3 Syncro drive-train to a VW Thing pan. I'm just surprised that since you can find all sorts of other crazy car mods online (just read an article about a guy that adapted a Superbeetle body to a Boxster chassis) that I have never found a Syncro Type 181.

I see the Vanagon guys have all sorts of upgrades to their 4x4 system too (like locking diffs and other heavier duty off-road stuff) so I'm thinking an upgraded Syncro under a Thing would be an awesome off-road vehicle.