Full-scale production of the Type 82 Kübelwagen started in February 1940, as soon as the VW factories had become operational. No major changes took place before production ended in 1945, only small modifications were implemented, mostly eliminating unnecessary parts and reinforcing others which had proved unequal to the task. Prototype versions were assembled with four-wheel-drive (Type 86) and different engines, but none offered a significant increase in performance or capability over the existing Type 82, so these designs went nowhere. As of March 1943, the car received a revised dash and the bigger 1,131cc engine, developed for the Schwimmwagen, that produced more torque and power than the original 985cc unit. When Volkswagen production ceased at the end of the war, 50,435 Kübelwagen vehicles had been produced, [8] and the vehicle had proven to be surprisingly useful, reliable, and durable.

Included in the sale is a 1131cc flat-four said to produce 25 horsepower and was rebuilt by Dave Crampton in the style of a KdF factory engine. Various spare parts and cans of touch-up paint also come with the vehicle. Also included is a copy of technical manual TM E9-803, which was written by the US War Department based on the evaluation of Kübelwagens captured in North Africa. Mass-production started in February 1940, literally at the opening of the VW factories (known as Wolfsburg after the war), while the bodywork was produced by Ambi Budd Presswerke in Berlin. The design ws such a success that no major changes was required until it ended in 1945. The few minor modifications were aimed at simplifying the design (unnecessary parts) or strengthening some. I don’t speak a word of German, other than the clichés, but I often find words in the German language pretty entertaining. See, in the English language, we have the Jeep, and the origin of that word is either a contraction of Ford’s GP vehicle designation, or some untraceable soldiers’ slang. But in the German language, this wouldn’t fly. Caleb Larson holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy. He lives in Berlin and writes on U.S. and Russian foreign and defense policy, German politics, and culture. We took a brief spin in the rig, fittingly near the U.S. War College in Carlisle, PA, with a de-commissioned Howitzer aimed our way. As noted in the initial testing of captured Type 82, the ride and seating of this replica version is indeed comfortable, although more so, thanks to Intermeccanica’s modernization of the design. While the acceleration is moderate at best, the handling is smooth and predictable, and right in keeping with all-terrain intentions of the original design.After field trials, the car still needed upgrades to further refine and improve its off-road capability. The ground clearance went up, and the addition of gear reduction hubs and a modified first gear slowed down speed to match the walking pace of infantry. With these changes, the Type 82 was put into mass production in early 1940 with enough time to ramp up production for the invasion of France. Variants of the Type 82 would see service in every front with the Wehrmacht and would serve roles as troop transports, radio and command cars, ambulance, and more. Originally called the Kübelsitzwagen, the name was shortened to Kübelwagen as the Type 82 went into full production at VW factories in February 1940, with only modest modifications being made throughout the war until Germany was defeated in 1945. The biggest change came in 1943 when a new dashboard was introduced and the engine was upgraded from 985cc to 1,131cc by fitting one designed for the Shwimmwagen. A sturdier platform frame, and the use of reduction gears on the ends of the rear axle shafts were the most significant and critical changes. The reduction gears not only brought the gearing down for the walking tempo, but was more favorable in war terrain overall. And they had the benefit of increasing ground clearance, along with corresponding change in the front suspension mounting location. And it received a more substantial body, which was built by Ambi-Budd, an American-owned company. The Europa Jeep was the result of a NATO plan to have a vehicle whereby each European NATO makers all combined to build a light-duty patrol vehicle. The Sherman was a poor tank, too high, gun not powerful enough, insufficient armour and ran on petrol. The Germans called them Ronsons or Tommy cookers. The T34 also had its faults. However both were produced cheaply in massive numbers thus overwhelming the opposition.

Very flat and smooth underbody that allowed the car to slide without snags over the surface it was traversing. Humber, meanwhile, wrote a lengthy report that same year on a ‘German Light Aid Detachment Vehicle’ seized in the Middle East. Post-war, the Volkswagen ceased production of the Kübelwagen, at which point over 50,000 wagens had been built and the Kübelwagen’s reputation for reliability and doggedness was secure. In 1969, Volkswagen released the outwardly similar Type 181, known in the United States as the Thing, though the Thing and the Kübelwagen shared very few parts. Today, a Canadian firm offers reproduction Kübelwagens for sale. Military vehicles from Germany haven’t been featured on nearly such a scale at Amelia, but in a couple weeks, Bonhams will be offering a few interesting and rarely seen pieces of such World War II hardware. All three examples featured below are from the impressive collection of Gerhard Schnuerer and are offered without reserve—an exciting opportunity for military collectors everywhere. 1945 NSU SdKfz 2 “Kettenkrad”Replacing a fender rather than endlessly re-working a damaged original is often the best way through the task. Porsche chief designer Erwin Komenda had to design a completely new structure, as early tests with converting a Kübelwagen showed its smooth underbody to be totally unsuitable to moving through water. So a shorter, more boat-like unitized structure was designed, and it used the four wheel drive system from the Type 87 Kommandeurwagen. The transaxle and front suspension are reportedly original to the car as is the impressively solid floorpans. Mayer-Stein, Dr. Hans-Georg (1993). Volkswagen Militärfahrzeuge 1938–1948 (PDF) (in German). Karl Müller Verlag. ISBN 3860708619 . Retrieved 7 August 2021.

Type 92/SS: (until April 1943): with interior attachments for fire-arms — from April 1943 deprecated, and known as Type 82/E [16] The Volkswagen Type 181 is a two-wheel drive, four-door, convertible, manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen from 1968 until 1983. Originally developed for the West German Army, the Type 181 also entered the civilian market as the Kurierwagen (“courier car”) in West Germany, the Trekker (RHD Type 182) in the United Kingdom, the Thing in the United States (1973–74), the Safari in Mexico and South America, and Pescaccia in Italy. Civilian sales ended after model year 1980. Despite not having four-wheel drive, the Kübelwagen excelled off-road thanks to a limited slip differential and extremely low weight. Off-roading was made easier by the Kübelwagen’s flat underbelly. Unlike other four wheel drive vehicles, the Kübelwagen was rear-wheel drive, and could slide over snow or mud, instead of becoming bogged down. It had four gears plus reverse, and top speed was about 50 miles, or 80 kilometers per hour. My father’s memories of the Kubel from his childhood were more attached to the political and military aspect, so very negative, but the vehicle itself won him over. Following this experience we found the premier Kubelwagen restorer in Michigan, Dave Crompton. Kübelwagens were present in every single unit of the German Army and served on all fronts to the last day of the war and beyond. Thousands found their way on the civilian market, many were converted to other duties, and others ended in museums and made the delight of private owners around the world. Their long postwar life was helped by the solid fanbase of the VW Beetle which shared many parts with it. This vehicle was not armored, not armed by default, so it has no place in the regular encyclopedia.

Operational life

After the war it was left there and the car does have some historical papers showing it was registered in