TheAustralianNationalResearchExpeditionreallyhadnochoice.
Theywantedacarthat “anymemberofthepartycouldhopintoanddriveoffwithoutamomentshesitation.”
AndtheVolkswagenjusthappenstofillthebill.
ThebigtrickistheVWsair-cooledrearengine. Ithasnoradiator. Itusesnowaterorantifreeze. Itjustgoes.
(Antarctica #1stoodfordaysin50degreebelowzeroweatherandstartedwithoutatremble.)
TherearenginegavetheVWsomuchextratractionitclimbed “straightupanddowntheslopes.” (Buttheycheatedalittle; sometimestheyputchainsonthebackwheels.)
AnotherreasontheVWwentwhereeventhedogswouldn‘tisthesealedbottom. Ittookanawfulbeating, butthat’swhatitstherefor; Toprotecttheworksinsideagainsttheweatheroutside.
Theconditionsgotsofiercethatonemansaid, “NowweknowwhatitllbelikewhenHellfreezesover.”
Soifiteverdoes, youknowwhatcartobuy.
