Tamiya German Kubelwagen Type 82 (1/35)

This item is sold brand new. It is ordered on demand from our supplier and is usually dispatched within 3 - 5 working days

After embarking on the construction of the "Autobahn" motorway in 1933,

development of a "people's car - Volkswagen" was declared at the

following year's Berlin motor show. The "People's Car" project was

immediately carried out and in February 1936, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche

presented his first prototype, which was the very root of the fabulous

Volkswagen "Beetle". However, along with the outbreak of the World War

2, all manufacturing of the Volkswagen was immediately turned to

military production. It was in January 1938, when the German Defence

Forces presented specifications for a military version of this

practical vehicle. In November of the same year, a prototype model was

completed and it was officially designated the Pkw. K1 "Kubelwagen"

Type 82. The vehicle used a light but sturdy, monocoque construction

with fold-able canvas top. The rear mounted, air-cooled 4 cylinder

engine had a displacement of 985cc and output of 23.5hp at 3,000rpm,

propelling the car up to 80km/h. The four wheels were supported by a

torsion bar suspension system. The Kubelwagen was initially deployed to

the Reconnaissance battalions. With its reliable engine and heavy duty

suspension, the Kubelwagen immediately came to be used by every unit,

from the scorching desert of Africa to the frozen Russian Eastern

Front. About 51,000 Kubelwagens, including several variations, were

rolled out from the factory by the end of WW2.