Kübelwagen
Type 82 Restoration
The Volkswagen Kübelwagen (literally translated as “bucket car”, for its resemblance to a
metal bathtub on wheels) was a light military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by
Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military.
Based heavily on the Volkswagen Beetle, it was prototyped as the Type 62, but eventually
became known internally as the Type 82. 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 Kübelwagen was for the Germans, what the jeep was for
the Allies.
Full scale production of the Type 82 Kübelwagen started in February 1940, as soon as the VW
factories had become operational. No major changes took place before production ended in
1945. Only small modifications were implemented, mostly eliminating unnecessary parts and
reinforcing some, which had proved unequal to the task.
Prototype versions were assembled with four-wheel-drive (Type 86) and different engines, but
none offered a significant increase in performance or capability over the existing Type 82 and the
designs were never implemented. As of March 1943, the car received a revised dash and the
bigger 1,131 cc engine, developed for the Schwimmwagen that produced more torque and power
than the original 985 cc unit.
When Volkswagen production ceased at the end of the war, 50,435 Kübelwagen vehicles had
been produced, and the vehicle had proven itself to be surprisingly useful, reliable, and durable.
There are believed to be less than 100 left in the world, with the majority in Museums.
VW1942 First registered in
New Zealand April 2012.
This Kübelwagen was built on 1st December 1942 and completed and left the factory on 3rd
December 1942.
Vehicle number 2-013 528 and engine number 2-015 779.
She was supposed to be shipped to North Afrika but was held back and re-assigned to Flak
Bestandelager, Halle as a staff car until 1945. This makes her the oldest VW in New Zealand.
The photos below showc before she landed in New Zealand (July 2008) and then at Hampton
Downs Vintage Car
Show (2014).
This Kübelwagen was fully restored over a 2 year period by Anthony Katterns, owner of Custom
Metalshapers Limited.
