A few weeks ago, I ran a car show down in Florida called the VW Beach Bash. Among the large field of mostly air-cooled models were a handful of later water-cooled entries, my favorite of which had to be two very clean “Dokas,” which is another way of referring to a Transporter with a pickup bed. Of course, these novel four-door pickups were never sold in the U.S., so if you ever see one here, it’s likely been imported via a business specializing in vehicle importation or brought over by a service member which is how this turbodiesel-equipped Transporter ended up in Texas. Find it here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $18,900.

My favorite feature of these six-seater pickups is the bedside panels that fold down for easier access to the rear cargo area. This was introduced on the earliest Transporter pickup bodies, along with storage cubbies underneath the bed. The Doka was used for heavy-duty tasks overseas, which is why so many of them were used by military outfits. The ultimate expression of a Doka is one equipped with Volkswagen’s Synco four-wheel-drive system, and those examples are quite sought after today while commanding a strong sale price if you can find one. They’ve become quite popular as “overland” vehicles in addition to being the star of your local VW show given how few have found their way here.

The two-wheel drive versions may not have the same reputation for go-anywhere abilities, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking this one out. In fact, given it’s not a Syncro, I feel the next owner has free rein to drop the suspension and update the Doka with some period-correct wheels. I’d feel bad hacking up a 4WD model but much less so with one like this. Plus, given how tired the cosmetics are, a lowered stance combined with the camouflage patina seems like a terrific combination to me. Now, the seller admits that you’re going to have to trailer this Doka home no matter what your plans are, owing to the fact that the transmission has lost second gear and because it’s not running at the moment.

The seller notes he imported the Doka from a U.S. military base in Germany, but that he has not had time to work on his unusual project since getting it stateside. Since then, he’s encountered some hardships which are forcing him to sell his project truck. The VW is located near Blanco, Texas with 210,000 kilometers on the clock. The seller indicates he has a small collection of classic VWs, and it may just be time to let go of the projects that need more love than he has the time or resources for. This Doka would be a smart buy whether you’re hoping to flip it a few months later after it’s running and driving, or simply to hold onto it as a weekend adventure rig that will steadily appreciate.