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Car of the Day: August 20, 2015; Corgi '40 Volkswagen Kubelwagen
Topic Started: Aug 20 2015, 12:22 AM (481 Views)
Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
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Today's car of the day is from Ethanator's collection, and is Corgi's 1940 Volkswagen Kubelwagen.


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Wikipedia
 
The Volkswagen Kubelwagen (literally, "bucket car", previously mostly used for rail, industrial or agricultural hopper cars) was a light military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military (both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS). Based heavily on the Volkswagen Beetle, it was prototyped as the Type 62, but eventually became known internally as the Type 82. Kubelwagen is an abbreviation of Kubelsitzwagen, meaning "bucket-seat car" because all German light military vehicles that had no doors were fitted with bucket seats to prevent passengers from falling out. The first VW test vehicles had no doors and were therefore fitted with bucket seats, so acquiring the name VW Kubelsitzwagen that was later shortened to Kubelwagen. With its rolling chassis and mechanics built at Stadt des KdF-Wagens (renamed Wolfsburg after 1945), and its body built by US-owned firm Ambi Budd Presswerke in Berlin, the Kubelwagen was for the Germans what the Jeep and GAZ-67 were for the Allies. Full-scale production of the Type 82 Kubelwagen started in February 1940, as soon as the VW factories had become operational. No major changes took place before production ended in 1945. Long after the end of the war, VW resurrected the basic Kubelwagen design as the 1969 Type 181, developed for the German Federal Armed Forces and later also produced for the civilian market, known as "Thing" in the US, "Trekker" in the UK, and "Safari" in Mexico. Although similar in looks and design, almost no parts were interchangeable with the Type 82.



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For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: Volkswagen Kubelwagen


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Wikipedia
 
Although Adolf Hitler discussed with Ferdinand Porsche the possibility of military application of the Volkswagen as early as April 1934, it was not until January 1938, that high-ranking Third Reich army officials formally approached Porsche about designing an inexpensive, light-weight military transport vehicle, that could be operated reliably both on- and off-road, in even the most extreme conditions. This implied that the Beetle could provide the basis for such a vehicle. Porsche began work on the project immediately, having a prototype of the vehicle ready within the month, but realized during development that it would not be enough to reinforce the Beetle's chassis to handle the stresses that military use would place on it. In order to guarantee adequate off-road performance of a two-wheel-drive vehicle with a 1,000 cc FMCV 1 engine, it would have to be lightweight. In fact, the army had stipulated a laden weight of 950 kg (2,090 lb), including four battle-dressed troops, which meant that the vehicle itself should not weigh more than 550 kg (1,210 lb). Porsche therefore sub-contracted Trutz, an experienced military coachbuilder, to help out with the body design. Developmental testing by the military began after a presentation of the prototypes designated as Type 62 in November 1938. Despite lacking four wheel drive, a mainstay of the American military Jeeps, the vehicle proved very competent at maneuvering its way over rough terrain, even in a direct comparison with a contemporary standard German army 4x4, and the project was given the green light for further development. The vehicle's light weight and ZF self-locking differential compensated for the lack of 4x4 capabilities.



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corvairjim
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Fullsize
I have this "Thing" about models of vehicles used against us in wartime (Pun fully intended). So for me, there won't be any VW Kubelwagens, 6-wheel Mercedes or Maybachs, Messerschmidt 109's or Mitsubishi Zeroes. I did build a model of the Hindenburg as a boy, but that burned to the ground (due to the shortsightedness of the Nazis use of hydrogen instead of helium... Which the Hindenburg was designed to use. Ah, but they could buy enough hydrogen to get the thing across the Atlantic for a lot less than the helium would have cost them. Well, I guess they learned a new meaning for "Bang For Your Buck", er, Reichsmark). I have an uncle who very nearly lost his life as a carrier pilot in the Pacific. He was almost n ace (4 confirmed kills), but was shot down once by a Zero.

So yes, it IS a nice model. It's just that its a model of a subject that will never find its way into my house. Oh, and the windshield looks like it leans too far back. There goes that ol' nitpicker, Corvair Jim again!
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I suppose we all have our sore spots.

Of note...the *only* helium well in the world is in Texas...so one might say the US has a monopoly on helium, which pretty much forces anyone else to either buy from us or find an alternative, like hydrogen.

Since I like air cooled VWs, a lot, I do like this model quite a bit. I like my Corgi halftrack better though.
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Hobie-wan
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SUV
It's a good looking model. I love me some 'corrugated' vehicles.

If it makes you feel any better Jim, there is a nice Jeep in this "Fighting Machines" series too. :)
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