Interesting Facts About the Volkswagen Iltis 183
The Volkswagen Type 183, nicknamed the Iltis (German for polecat), was introduced in the late 1970s as a purpose‑built military utility vehicle for the German armed forces. It quickly became a distinctive off‑road workhorse both in uniform and in limited civilian form.
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Limited Production for the German Military
Only 8,470 Iltis units were built for the West German army, with an additional 310 supplied to the air force and marines. A modest civilian run followed, producing 1,957 civilian‑spec vehicles from late 1979.
Homegrown Design and Geneva Debut
The Iltis was developed as a home‑grown utility vehicle and went into production in 1978 at Audi’s Ingolstadt plant. It was unveiled to the public as the codename 183 at the 1979 Geneva Auto Show, though it did not become a crowd‑pleaser at the show.
International Production and Export
Beyond Germany, the Iltis saw a Canadian production run from 1984 to 1988, during which a small number were also delivered to Cameroon and Oman, extending the vehicle’s reach beyond Europe.
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Volkswagen Iltis Parts
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Last updated: 10.05.2026, 08:30
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