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Historic Vehicles story By Victor Ma
1942 WWII Porsche 166 Schwimmwagen
prototype 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 PTO 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 and in
the East, 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 . Today
only 3~~~~4 Porsche TYP166 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
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 VW 82,92e,87,166, just email us. we will pay cash to buy them. Our e mail: wwiivehicle@yahoo.com
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VW 82e VW 87 proved very successful during the campaign in
Poland and Africa, it was necessary to produce more this kind
of small 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 all terrain small amphibious. Type 128
base on a VW87(same as 82e but with front diff axle ) 4wd
chassis with a 1131CC new 4 cylinder engine,( befo
400mm
short than Type 128, but also 4 wheel drive, the weight only
got no more than 900kg,Max weight GVW at 1345kg. 4 wheel
independent suspension with a new 1131cc air cool 4 cylinder
box 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).
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 collector Mr.Jarren at
Germany. Today you can see VW166 at auto museum and some WWII
German Vehicle collectors. 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 Today only 3 prototype complete vehicle 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 0166/123 at Poland. This car now got a
hand made new body. We also have two 1943 VW82e and two
VW82 three 1943 made, one 1945 made.
