Volkswagen Iltis (Typ 183)

Volkswagen, meanwhile, had acquired Auto Union in Ingolstadt in 1965, dropped the DKW marque and let the name Audi re-emerge. Audi, being the successor of the original Munga manufacturer, was interested in producing field cars for the Bundeswehr. Volkswagen really only furnished its name and the capital needed. During the fall of 1975 the first talks took place, and in May 1976 a contract was closed for the delivery of ten prototypes the next November.
Apart from having experience with the Munga, the pressure of time led to the step to further develop it into what became the VW 183 Lkw 0,5 t gl, alias Iltis. The drive line and front and rear axle were of the same concept: independent suspension with transversal leaf springs and wishbones, interchangeable suspension components and drive shafts front and rear and the front differential incorporated in the gearbox.  The styling of the bodywork reminded of the Munga's shape, and in fact the rear half of the prototype bodies were hardly more than that of the Munga's elongated variant. The production version of the Iltis bodywork had several improvements such as under-bonnet stowage boxes incorporated in the front mudguards. Many automotive components were sourced from contemporary mass-produced cars: the 1.7 litre, 75 horsepower engine originally came from the Audi stable and was used in the South-American versions of the Volkswagen Passat. Likewise, the gearbox/differential housing and clutch were taken from the Audi 100.
In 1977 the Volkswagen Iltis was selected for production, which started during the summer of 1978. The first 200 examples were delivered to the Bundeswehr on 30 November and 52 more followed in December. By mid-1979 the Bundeswehr already had some 2,000 in use. In 1979 and 1980 3,400 Iltis' were built, followed by the last 1,800 for the Bundeswehr in 1981. At the end of 1982 production ceased after the last 119 examples were built for the civil market. The grand total had been set at 9,547 examples.
Of the total of 8,800, the Bundeswehr got 8,470 units, 310 went to the Luftwaffe (air force) and 20 examples were in use with the Marine (navy). Bundeswehr variants include ambulance, anti-tank (with MILAN ATGWs), artillery survey, command/radio and field telephone cable layer.
The Bundeswehr later replaced the VW Iltis with its former contender, the Mercedes G-series. Surplus Iltis' were passed on to Greece, Turkey and even Estonia, which received 250 examples in September 1997. Others were sold off to the surplus market, because of which the Iltis has become available to private collectors as far afield as the USA and Japan.
 

In 1984 the Canadian Government ordered 1,900 Iltis' to replace the Canadian Forces' M151A2 jeeps then in Regular Canadian Army service (the Canadian Army, Militia (reserves) were equipped with the M38A1CDN jeep.) The order was valued at 68 million Canadian dollars, including spare parts, training, etc. Deliveries were to take place during 1984-1985. The Canadian Iltis was manuafactured in four distinct variants:

standard Iltis;

Iltis Field Ambulance;

Iltis Commander's Vehicle;

Iltis Signals Line Vehicle.

Bombardier saw its hopes to sell the Iltis abroad fulfilled with a Belgian Army order for 2,500 vehicles in 1985. As the Iltis was originally a VW product, the Canadian licence-version was supplied through Volkswagen-Brussels NV. The Iltis (including ambulance versions) replaced the ancient Minerva/Land-Rovers and Willys CJ3A Jeeps. To replace the armoured Minerva in service with l'Escadron Recce of the Regiment Para-Commando, the Rocourt Arsenal modified a number of Iltis' into Recce vehicles. They have a two FN MAG machine-guns, one in front of the right front seat, the other in the rear pointing rearwards. A luggage rack has been added to the rear, and the spare wheel moved to the right rear side.

The Iltis was also built for the Cameroon armed forces.

Canadian troops used their Iltis' during Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait. Both the Canadian and Belgian UNPROFOR troops used the Iltis in former Yugoslavia in 1994.

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