A couple of years ago I introduced you to the history of the Anta cargo van developed by Volkswagen from Mexico for its exclusive commercialization in the domestic market between 1976-1978. Its production was carried out at the Puebla plant.
One fact to consider is that this vehicle, of which only 3,600 copies were manufactured, approximatelyhas the honor of being the first front-wheel drive car for sale in the country of Volkswagen in Mexico and not the Caribbean (Golf MK1) as is popularly thought. Also, although the concept behind the Ant is very similar to that of the EA 489, it is actually a different model, since its internal code is that of the VW 200.
Well then, a 1978 Ant became news when it was auctioned in the United States by Bring a Trailerwhich, by the way, is very similar to that model that we present to you in “The Autocosmos Rearview Mirror”.
The model in question was imported into the US in 2022 before it was purchased by the seller’s father and registered in Michigan. The van is finished in blue on black vinyl upholstery. This Ant is now being offered by the seller on behalf of his father without his reservation in Laredo, Texas with a clear Michigan title.
It is said that this specimen was repainted in Azul Pátzcuaro by the previous owner and features black steel bumpers and a cedar cargo bed with removable side panels. The 14″ steel wheels are mounted with 205/70 General AltiMAX RT43 tires. The five-digit odometer shows 48 thousand kilometers. It is unknown if this is the total mileage.
With a length of 4,114 mm and a weight of 1,200 kg, the Hormiga reached a maximum speed of 85 km/h, although according to information from the brand itself it was capable of traveling at 98 km/h with the fourth gear engaged on the 4,000 rpm. Instead, the cargo capacity was 750 kg plus the weight of the three crew members. In the end, the equation yielded a total ballast of one thousand kilograms. A surprising fact is its fuel consumption of 8.5 km/l, a figure that was very efficient at the time.
At the end, This Volkswagen Ant was sold to Bring a Trailer user Bartman11 for $21,250., which at the current exchange rate would be approximately $413,700 Mexican pesos. A high figure, but one that any collector is willing to pay, especially if it is a model rarer than several Ferraris or Porsches.