Buggy Name - GEKO UTE
Built By - Custom Offroad / Custom Vee Dub
Builders Website - www.customveedub.com.au
Number Built - 2
State Built - QLD
The Geko Ute as it is now known was originally built back in the late 90's by the then Custom Off Road Components (now Custom Vee Dub - www.customveedub.com.au).
The concept of the initial vehicle was quite simple, build a very basic vehicle that could be used by the local rural and farming community to move around the properties, carry a load and stand up to the abuse of daily farm life.
The concept proved to be very successful and the REWOP was born. REWOP has been said to stand for many things Rear Engine Powered Operating Platform was just one of the many ideas. In fact it was simply the name of on of the creators spelt backwards (Power).
Although the concept was successful and the REWOP was very capable, the ability to market and sell the units was lacking. Disagreement between partners saw only two REWOP’s ever built. This one which is REWOP #2 was dragged from long grass and rubbish in 2003 when Custom Off Road changed hands.
Once the the REWOP was back in the shop at Stafford a few heads where scratch and ideas thrown around. One of the owners (Dyno) thought it was just plain ugly and should be put back in the paddock, the other owner (Brad) thought it was cool and needed some love.
Once the decision had been made Brad spent the next few years rebuilding it as it transformed from VW powered to Subaru Powered to a team race car (www.gekoracing.com) and then into a daily driver.
The Geko is fully Road registered in QLD and currently used as a daily driver with the EJ 22 and 2l Kombi transmission running without fault.
More info will be posted on the history later. I have a heap of the original paperwork which is quite interesting.
he GEKO as it is now known and was the REWOP before that, actually started life as MeUte with the slogan "You and MeUte can do just about anything.
It is quite funny when you consider that James Power probably drew it and gave it to George Croucher (Custom Offroad Components) to build.
So there is was, designed a MeUte, Built as a REWOP and the road registered variant is a GEKO or Manx Utility.
It even had a newspaper article about it.