Volkswagen Kubelwagen VW.

Volkswagen made approximately 52,000 Kubelwagens for the German Army in the 1930s and during World War II. The Kubelwagen is rear engined and rear wheel drive - 4x2 only - based on the famous Volkswagen people's car or "VW Beetle". As such its offroad performance was no match for the four wheel drive Jeep MB.

This Volkswagen Kubelwagen was at the Museum of Army Transport Beverley.

- 4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html

Volkswagen Kubelwagen:
loa: 3740mm, width: 1600mm, height: 1650mm, wheel-base:2400mm
engine: air-cooled 4-cyl, 985cc, 24hp at 2000rpm transmission: rear engined, rear wheel drive, 4x2

8/1997, Jeff Tickner writes:

Actually a very few 4WD Kubelwagen were produced from 1944-45. They were 4WD in first gear only. They were based on the design of the Schwimwagen, the amphibious version of the Kublewagen. It has a prop that swings down and connects directly to the crank via a square-drive socket. The Schwimwagen was made 4WD in first gear so you could get out of the water. VW also made the Komanderwagen, which was sort of a jacked-up VW Beetle, also 4WD in first gear in very limited quantities. Hot VWs Magazine has covered these vehicles, including a collection in Norway that consists of one of each of these rare vehicles (although the Kubelwagen is not 4WD).

2/1999, Arild Danielson [writes...]

Go to the Volkswagen, VW 181 or Military Vehicles pages