2013/05/21 12:21 pm

KUBELWAGEN

VOLKSWAGEN 82 "KUBELWAGEN" Rommel was the first general to use the Volkswagen during the military operation in France. He was so impressed by it that he afterwards when he was in charge of the Afrika Korps, reordered an ever increasing number of these vehicles. The Kubeiwagen distinguished itself immediately by its enormous efficiency on all kinds of terrain, in spite of its small horse power (hardly 24 HP) and the drive on the rear-wheels only. The project dated back to December 1939, when Ferdinand Porsche designed a military version of the Volkswagen, an automobile, which he himself had created upon Hitier's personal request for a cheap car which the average family could afford. In the beginning, the vehicle, called Volkswagen 82 "Kubeiwagen" was not hailed with enthusiasm. The military staff were rather sceptical about the rear position of the air-cooled motor and the lack of a 4-wheel drive. But after it had proved useful during the invasion of Poland, all doubts were dismissed and its qualities were considered the same as of any other cross-country vehicle ori 4 wheels. From that time on, the car was distributed to all Wehrmacht units. And in course of the time, it replaced the motorcycles of re-connaissance and liaison units, and with the commands. By the end of the war, the total output of the factory at Woifsburg were 52000 Volkswagen 82. The vehicle could be armed with a machine gun type MG 34. TECHNICAL DATA: Engine: 4-cyiindre-985 cc VW 23.5 HP at 3000 RPM, production until March 1943. Afterwards 1131 cc engi'- ne with 25 HP at 3000 RPM. Weight: 725 Kg. Max. Weight: 11 75 Kg. Drive: 4 x 2. Gears: 4 forward, 1 reverse. Speed 80 Km/h. Fuel consumption: 8.5 1/100 Km. Length: 3740 mm. Width.. 1600 mm. Height: 1650 mm. Total output 52000 units.

098-0312

KUBELWAGEN