The　Australian　National　Research　Expedition　really　had　no　choice.

They　wanted　a　car　that　“any　member　of　the　party　could　hop　into　and　drive　off　without　a　moments　hesitation.”

And　the　Volkswagen　just　happens　to　fill　the　bill.

The　big　trick　is　the　VWs　air-cooled　rear　engine.　It　has　no　radiator.　It　uses　no　water　or　antifreeze.　It　just　goes.

(Antarctica　#1　stood　for　days　in　50　degree　below　zero　weather　and　started　without　a　tremble.)

The　rear　engine　gave　the　VW　so　much　extra　traction　it　climbed　“straight　up　and　down　the　slopes.”　(But　they　cheated　a　little;　sometimes　they　put　chains　on　the　back　wheels.)

Another　reason　the　VW　went　where　even　the　dogs　wouldn‘t　is　the　sealed　bottom.　It　took　an　awful　beating,　but　that’s　what　its　there　for;　To　protect　the　works　inside　against　the　weather　outside.

The　conditions　got　so　fierce　that　one　man　said,　“Now　we　know　what　itll　be　like　when　Hell　freezes　over.”

So　if　it　ever　does,　you　know　what　car　to　buy.