Historic Vehicles story By Victor Ma T-L
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1942 WWII Porsche 166 Schwimmwagen
prototype
Model: Porsche TYP 166 prototype (1942)
Body Style: Boat like hull, only 125 made
by hand at Stuttgart by Porsches engineer.
Construction: Hand made steel body.( Ambi-Budd
build the body for VW166 by June 6 1942 )
Engine: Air cooled horizontally opposed 4
cylinder, 1130cc 25 hp
Transmission: 4 speed part time 4 wd
Gearbox with one low gear for towing or Max power. 2 self
locking diff (LSD) at each Axle & plus hub reduction at
rear suspension.4
Suspension: 4wheel independent suspension
front two transverse rocker arm with torsion and shock
absorbers, rear double joint swing axle with trailing arm
with torsion bar and camtype hydraulic damper.
Brake system: 4 wheel
Drum brake cable control mechanic type
Max speed: 80 Km/h on land & 10-12km/h in
water
History: As the Volkswagen 82 Kubelwagen
VW 82e VW 87 proved very successful during the campaign in
Poland, France and Africa, it was necessary to produce
more this kind of small all terrian cross-country vehicle
for the army. Hitler know Professor Ferdinand Porsche is a
right engineering to designed and build prototype. That
year 1942, had not been a good one for Hitlar, But his
army had held on outside Moscow during the previous winter
and was still making some headway against Russia. His army
need a reliable all terrain small amphibious. The Type 128
base on a VW87(same as 82e but with front drive axle ) 4wd
chassis with a 1131CC new air cooled 4 cylinder engine,
(before use a 985CC ) made for test at land and river,
with a boat like body. Only 30 unit been made for
Test. Professor Porsche and his son Ferry Porsche thought
that the type 128 was too long for off road, Porsche start
to make a small schwimmwagen, that is the project #166. It
was
400mm
short than Type 128, but also 4 wheel drive, the weight
only got no more than 900kg,Max weight GVW at 1345kg. A
very good ture cross-country vehicle with a crew of 4
soldiers and carrier MG34 and some anti-tank cannon. 4
wheel independent suspension with a new 1131cc air cool
overhead-valve flat four cylinder engine at back, power
through a 5 speed gear box. the boat like body make the
car water proof and it was driven through water by the
propeller, which was swung down by hand onto a dog clutch,
connecting it to the engine's crankshaft, the steering
used the front wheels as rudders, drive in water like
drive on land. speed on land is 80km/h and on water is
10-12km/h. A machine gun MG34 can mounted next to the
driver or at back. This 125 vehicle were designed and
produced by the Porsche engineers made by hand at
Stuttgart. This 166 chassis #0166/115
is one of the phototype build by Porsche at 1942 most for
Waffa SS divisions units to Moscow and few for the
General. Since the VW works engaged in manufacturing
another 14276 unit of VW166 between 1942-1944.( body made
by another Ambi Budd Co in Berlin). This was one of
the most interesting useful vehicle of World War II made
by German.
In the same time US build a
GPA sea going jeep, Base on Ford GPW.
This amphibious were near double weight as VW166, it was
not a great vehicle for the job, also not easy climb out
of river bank. unless use belt
drive PTO capstan winch. Ford build 12785 GPA from 1942
until September 1943.
By
the end of 1944 VW 166 had been finished in Wolfsburg,
some without rear propeller unit, because no more alloy
parts, then production had to be halted because of heavy
bombing of the factory. The building suffered heavy air
raids between April 8th and May5th in 1944.A US. Strategic
Bombing survey reported 20% of total floor area destroyed,
13.5% heavily damaged, near 21% lightly damaged, and 20%
of machine destroyed. In the uneasy war situation, the
considerable outlay of materials and man power for the
complicated vehicle was no possible. The factory only
making the simple 82 Kubelwagen until the spring of 1945.
for Euro and Russia to cross the river and rough muddy
area. Many Schwimmwagens were used by the German Army in
Africa with Rommel's Afrika Korps and in the Eastern
front, most service at SS divisions, as the Totenkopfs
Third Panzer Division, also the SS Panzer Division in
Normandy, Some service at Germany
army engineer units. The difference between Porsch
prototype and VW166, the round front tube bumper, the
front wing angle, rear tow hook and side step handle, some
early TYP166 have difference body for machine Gun MG34
etc. wheel & tire also not the same size as VW166 .After
the War, British Army want to produce this 166, but it is
not possible, because some off road parts maker at Red
Army control area. Today only 3~~~~4 Porsche TYP166 have
survived in the world, Because most use by SS officers and
SS command late send to Russia already. At the end of war,
most TYP 166 destroyer by Russia army or captured by
Russia Army. The Red Army use them until end of 50s and
use their metal/alloy to build other modern machine at
60s. This lucky TYP 166/115 keep in Euro after the War.
Until 2001 we bought this vehicle form a amphibious
vehicle collector Mr. Jarren at Germany. Today you can see
few VW made VW166 at VW museum,
auto
museum and some at WWII German Vehicle collectors
hand. The cost is up and up at past 10 year. If you like
to know more about the amphibious, or German jeep like
VW82, VW82e and VW87 please go to our another amphibious
website. (
www.amphibious4wd.com )Today probably only 3 Porsches
prototype complete vehicle survived in the world. One
0166/81 at France in poor condition. One 0166/91 in
German, one 0166/115 in Hong Kong China and one very poor
rust body no axle, no gear box, no motor chassis #0166/123
at Poland. This car now got a hand made new body. VW 166
got more than 100 unit survived. We also have two 1943
VW82e and two VW82,one 1943 made, one 1945 made.
A final note, sadly Mr. Jarren passed
away in Feb 2008 at his home. He apparently really loved
the car and I will maintain it and enjoy it with him in
mind.
If you got any Kdf parts for War time
VW60,VW82,VW82e,VW87,VW166, just email us. we will pay
cash to buy them. Our email:
wwiivehicle@yahoo.com
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