Not too many people knew that German Army at 1935 got a Standardized  Wehermacht design (Einheits-Pkw.)or(Leicher Einheits-Pkw / LEPkw) Produced worlds first small 4wd of road vehicle with 4wsteering, between 1936-1940 Stoewer, Hanomag and BMW and Mercedes  build 8400 unit of Kfz1 R180,R200,B20,325(4 seat).Kfz2 R180,R200,B20,325(3 seat Radio, Maint, Repair),Kfz3 R180,R200,B20,325(light surveying car)and G5 all full time 4wd, with parts time 4 wheel steering, 4 wheel independent double A arm suspension,3 selflocking diff,5 speed gear box. You may not believe your eyes, because it is more good than Today's 4x4and SUV, but this is true and because it is too expensive and use too many metal to build a such small 4x4 off roader at war time, the Army try to build another VW82 light weight low cost off roader at 1940.Between 1940-43 Stoewer still build another 4700 unit of Kfz R200 type 40 ( similar version except some small parts and without 4 wheel steering model ),Today only a few early Kfz Pkw and G5 4x4x4 model have survived.

Kfz2 R180,R200,B20,325

Kfz3 R180,R200,B20,325

VW 82 Kuebelwagen

Porsche spent 9 months to develop a super- lightweight 2WD buggy called the Kuebelwagen. Because it was a two-wheel drive, the Kuebelwagen weighed 668 kg only. Porsche also lifted its suspension by another gear under the rear drive shaft (rear portal axle) to give it an additional about 4 inches of ground clearance. It's gear ratio was also slightly lower than that in standard box.

Porsche Type VW128 Schwimmwagen

propeller at the rear of the vehicle. It weighed 900 kg only, could top a land speed of 80km/h and water speed of 10km/h. In 1942, the first type 166 was tested by Porsche's engineers. They believed 166 was better than 128 because it was lighter, smaller, and has a shorter wheelbase by 400mm. This became

Willys MB/Ford GPW Jeep

Jeep has been a very new name at the beginning of WWII. Today, everybody knows it is a small and useful all wheel drive car that can go anywhere. Ford called this vehicle a General Purpose vehicle and from these 2 initials (GP) the name "Jeep" derived. In the U.S.A., Ford built 300,000 jeeps, Willys-overland built 300,000 from 1941 to 1945 (British Empire MB x 104, 430 and GPA x 852;

part time 4WD and a maximum speed of 100km/h. There were variations from this basic prototype: Jeep Trailer and Gun Tractor, Jeep Commando, Jeep Airborne, Fast Attack Vehicle (that can carry cal 50 M2HB, cal 30 machine gun), Radio Jeep, 105 mm Recoilless, Rifle Jeep Rocket Carrier, and Ambulance. All VW 82,82e, 87,166, Kfz 2 Jeep MB/GPW been use at North Africa and across Europe,it was the very reliable and useful small cross country vehicle. Every Country army want build their new light off road vehicle at that time. In the same time,Japanese army,Soviet army and Chinese army mainly  use a lof of horse and house power wagon, not the truck.

VW166 in German Museum

Today the Humvee copy Toyota Mega Cruiser Used the portal axle like VW166. 4 wheel indenpendent suspension  4 wheel steering and diff locks like  German 1936 Kfz Pkw R180/B20/325 and Mercedes G5

Toyota also built the BJ, a Jeep look-alike model. In 1948, Nissan made the Patrol, a Jeep patrol look- alike. India manufactured its own Jeep under license from Willys and called it the Mahindra CJ-3A. East Germany also built the PZM from 1955 onwards. West Germany started to build the Auto-Union Mungab in 1954. After WWII, the US army tried to develop a more reliable small Jeep, the M38 waterproof model. By mid-1941, after German building swimming wagon,

6x6 Swimming Truck

better amphibious for military purposes than the GPA particularly in terms of running ability, weight, overall length and engine reliability. However, in water, GPA was not bad in performance. Volkswagen 87 use all wheel independent suspension with (motorcycle type) oscillating levers enabling high speed off road, a higher ground clearance and front and rear LSD. Its engine is small and it weighs 21% less that the MB/GPW's 1,120 kg. In addition, its air-cooled engine meant no overheating

GPA

GPA vs. VW 166

VW166

US Ford GPA see going jeep

The GPA uses (PTO) to drive the rear propeller and, similarly to a boat, the rear rudder for steering. Its water-cooled engine will overheat if the car is used in the sea for long time. Rudder for steering is very good but is not suitable for off-road since rudder and propeller can be easily broken.

after  WWII privately owned Wehrmacht Volkswagens at Europe history

 
Story by Victor Ma T-L

Minority Wehrmacht Volkswagens survived in Europe after WWII. All VW82, 82e, VW166 were almost been in service with the occupying armies until 1948. These vehicles were used by Fire Department, Forest Control etc. until the mid 1950s. Due to the creation of many new "modern" Tempo/Land Rover series I, Delahaye VLR-D Mod.51,Hotchkiss/willys M201,Alfa Romeo AR51,Willys M38/M38A1,Gaz-69A,Gaz-M-72,Rover MKI ,Austin Champ, they had replaced VW82, VW166, ,VW82e and VW87. The old VW Kubelwagen VW82 and Schwimmwagen VW166 were later on snapped up onto private owners hands in auctions. The pervious Wehrmacht Volkswagen is reliable, easy mantainance, less fuel consumption with powerful 1st gear, off road performance, convertible. The vehicle became so popular across West Europe due to its affordable price. These West European countries including, Germany,Itlay,France,Greece,Norway,Netherlands,Belgium at (Nato Country).
Used VW82 and VW166 can still be used as parts repair for the "new" Beetle. However, the vehicle would low down approximately 40mm because new civilian beetles from axle and gearbox have different design. Majority of Wehrmacht VW were used as camping car, used by farmers and industry. Alternatively, some people will purchase Schwimmwagen in rough condition from scrap junkyard and take the front drive shaft, front axle and 4 wheel drive gear box away, to put into their Kubelwagen or VW82e.
These vehicles were used for expeditions in Africa and many others in the mid 50s. Often, some owner would re-furmised the chrome bumper or even modified the body to a hard top or make a new door for VW166. This type of modification make the car more friendly user. Cutting, welding job can always seen on an used Swchwimmwagen and Kubelwagen or even a pick up body on VW82e.Many people do not want drive a Hitler's vehicle,like VW82 kubelwagen,vw166 schwimmwageb,VW82e Staff car but they knew that type of off road vehicle has a very good off road performance,very reliable, with good drivetrain, Rebody job is very popular,they like to buy a new body to convert on VW off road chassis.Today you still can see a little of them use War time Kdf off road chassis,engine vehicle.The used Wehrmacht Volkswagen in East European countries such as Hungary,Bulgaria,Romania,Poland,Yugoslavia,Czechoslovakia and Russia.

The Wehrmacht Volkswagen at East Europe were very long lasting because of the poor economic and there were not new cars to replace them. Most of the VW82, VW82e,VW166  had been used until 1990. Without parts to repair such car can still been used for half century. Any types of parts can be used on these vehicles for repair.  It is imaginable that those vehicles are incomplete and not in their original condition. The lack of material after the war had became an issue on the supplement of parts, which not only tires but also bearing, suspension, brake parts and motor oil. Nowadays, it is unbelievable that   at the time even the simplest bolt, nut or a brake cable repairing materials was absent. The lack of material issue is even worst in East Europe, many Kubelwagen were often turned into "limousines" through remarkable rebuilding a new hard top and a full metal door, front door with Vent for summer use. Those historic vehicles can still been seen for daily use until early 90s. All those Kubel in East Europe had a tough time, most of them sold to West Europe in mid 90s. Handmade soft top, no more spare tire at hood,non off road front axle, non off road gear box been used, home made hard top, home made metal door,15 inch wheel tire,truck type head lamp and home made floor been used. It is predictable that there is not many well preserved and well-kept used Kubelwagen in East Europe.               

Wehrmacht VW in Russia had the worst destiny, only minority were kept in Military Museum, the rest been melted due to the lack of metal to become new Soviet GAZ-46,GAZ-69A or Gaz-63A truck,ZIL-151 2.5 ton 6x6 truck. Cars which made between 1930s-1940s disappeared on the streets in early 60s. After two decades of service, most of them were scrapped in West Europe due to body rust, axle broken, gear box not working properly, motor no more power, clutch slipped. After several thousand thousand kilometers of servicing who would willing to overhaul? It will cost about the same price or equal to a new beetle at late 60s. A small group of enthusiasts had taken an interest on the Schwimmwagen and Kubelwagen,they purchase 2 or 3 VW166/82 to rebuild it by themself, use 2 or 3 gear box to make one working gear box. They use 50s-60s VW engine and repair body and paint back War time German Grey or Sand colour. However most elderly do not like such old mouse grey as they still remenber War time the Volkswagen service by Hitler's Nazi Waffen-SS.Some museum try to buy some of renewed VW166 and VW82 from the market to put them at the back corner. During the 80s, lot of rebuilded VW 82,166 used by the young people for fun and vintage military collection club event.Until 1990s after the opening of the Eastern Bloc, they need cash to buy a new modern small car,many bad condition used Wehrmacht Volkswagens been offered for sale at the market again for some military vehicle lover/collector to restore.
I recall a nice Kubel price just a little higher than a nice willys MB/GPW jeep in 1987.Nowadays a nice Kubel is about 2.5-3 times expensive than a MB Jeep as war time German vehicle are rarer than a Jeep.

The War time cross country beetle /Kubel got more "modern technology" than a jeep, and only very little number survived.
About War time off road beetle only very few of type 877 (4 wheel drive beetle) and very small number 82e (4x2 off road beetle) that can be seen today in original condition, one of them is in Germany Wolfsburg VW factory auto museum is not original, this car is one of the two build by British Army after war. Another one at Austria Porsche hometown Gmund auto museum is a nice 1943 made VW877. The earliest one 1941 prototype was sold by a War time VW collector Mr Maik at German to Hong Kong China ,now becomes part of my collections.
Many of those War time off road beetle have a newer VW body (1946-1952) on the Kubel chassis,or only a Kubel axle and gear box on a 46-52 Beetle or even some use early bus axle on a early civilian Beetle,or use Schwimmwagen axle to put at early civilian beetle.
In 2000, the restored Wehrmacht schwimmwagen and Kubelwagen price increase a lot.Most owners are elderly therefore they would be willing to sell their collection at a fair price (market price). I am lucky to become the owner of 1942 Typ 166 prototype form Mr Jarren in Germany, he was 78 years old. Today nearly all VW 166 had changed to a young owner. The value in the past 12 years increased approximate 300-400% in a unpredictable speed. One of a VW166 in its good original condition current price is up to 200000USD. Due to its value, those were buried underground is now seeing the light again (mainly in East Europe). In 2000, only about 100 good conditions VW166 exist in the world however 12 years later, 50 units more were found. Brand new VW82 and VW166 body can be purchased in East Europe however since they are not original make therefore this is devaluing its price. In addition, more replica been found in the market, those replica are formed by VW166 body or VW82 body 70s beetle axle, gear box and engine to aimed at those who could not afford an authentic one.