By Alyssa Riggs


Kubelwagen is the name of a vehicle manufactured by Volkswagen. Over 50,000 of these military vehicles were produced between 1940 and 1945. The literal translation of its name is tub truck, this is because of its resemblance to a bathtub on wheels. Also called the Safari, this vehicle was designed by a man named Ferdinand Porsche.

Volkswagen started producing the cars during World War II. These were specifically made for the military forces in Germany. The design was largely borrowed from that of the VW Beetle. It was originally referred to as Type 62 and sometimes Type 82.

This vehicle was to Germans what the jeep was for Allies. Its mechanics and rolling chassis were constructed by Stadt des KdF-Wagens. The body was built by Ambi Budd Presswerke, an American-owned firm located in Berlin.

Adolf Hitler discussed his desired plans with Porsche in 1938. He wanted a design that was inexpensive to make and light weight. The vehicle needed to be capable of operating on and off the road, in extreme terrains and conditions. It was then decided that the Beetle framework would be used as a main guide for this vehicle. Porsche began to work on the project and drafted a prototype in just a month. During this time, he realized that the chassis of the Beetle would not work well for the military application and began to make some changes.

The testing of prototypes started at the end of the year 1938. The car was liked for its ability to move efficiently in differing terrains. It included self-locking differential, which made up for the 4x4 capabilities it lacked. It also weighed little. In 1943, the American military forces did tests on Type 82s that were captured in North Africa. In doing this, they realized that the vehicle was more comfortable, simple and faster, and easier to make and maintain than the jeeps they were using.

Further developments were made on Type 62 in 1939 and in 1940, full-scale production of Type 82 was underway. There were no major alterations made before the production of this model ended in 1945. After the war, VW took the basic design of this vehicle and used it when developing Type 181. Although this had a similar design and look, virtually none of the same parts were interchangeable with those of Type 82.

This vehicle was considered an effective vehicle for military use. There were several design features that contributed to the overall performance of the Kubelwagen. It weighed very little, over 660 lbs or 300 kg lighter than Willys MB. It had a smooth and flat underbody, which allowed it to slide over a surface. It also had a notable ground clearance, approximately 11 in or 28 cm.

The Kubelwagen military vehicle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche who was recruited by Adolf Hitler. This vehicle was made between 1940 and 1945. It included numerous traits that made it ideal for use by military forces. It was also referred to as Tub or Bucket Car, Type 62, and Type 82. The design was primarily modeled after the VW Beetle, although some alterations were made.




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