View source for Volkswagen Kübelwagen

{{About|the Volkswagen Kübelwagen|other Kübelwagen vehicles|Kübelwagen (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=September 2009}}
{{Infobox automobile
| image        = VW Kuebelwagen 1.jpg
| name         = VW Type 82 "Kübelwagen"
| manufacturer = [[Volkswagen| Volkswagenwerk GmbH]]
| aka          = Safari, 'Bucket/Tub car'
| production   = 1940–1945<br />'''~ 53,000''' built, consisting of:<br />– 50,435 for war (1940–1945)<br />– 2,490 for U.K. Army (1945) <ref name="KeyMil"/>
| assembly     = Germany: [[Wolfsburg|Stadt des KDF-Wagens]]
| predecessor  = 
| successor    = [[DKW Munga]] (in German military)<br />[[Volkswagen 181|VW type 181 Thing]] / 182 Trekker
| class        = [[List of military vehicles|Military vehicle]]
| body_style       = 4-door utility [[Roadster (automobile)|roadster]]
| layout           = [[RR layout]]
| platform         = VW Type 1 [[Kdf-Wagen]]
| engine           = {{ubl
  | 985 cc air-cooled [[Flat-four engine|H4]]
  | 1,131 cc air-cooled [[Volkswagen air-cooled engine|H4]]
  }}
| transmission     = 4-speed manual;<br />self-[[locking differential]]<br />[[portal gear]] reduction by 1.4:1
| wheelbase        = {{convert|2400|mm|in|abbr = on}}
| length           = {{convert|3740|mm|in|abbr = on}}
| width            = {{convert |1600|mm|in|abbr = on}}
| height           = {{convert |1650|mm|in|abbr = on}} (top up);<br />{{convert |1110|mm|in| abbr = on}} collapsible
| weight           = {{convert |725|kg|lb| abbr = on}} empty <br />GVW = {{convert |1160|kg|lb| abbr = on}}
| related          = [[Volkswagen Kommandeurswagen|VW 87 Kommandeurswagen]]<br />[[Volkswagen Schwimmwagen|VW 166 ''Schwimmwagen'']]<br />[[VW 276 Schlepperfahrzeug|VW 276 ''Schlepperfahrzeug'']]
| designer         = Ferdinand Porsche
}}
The '''Volkswagen Type 82 ''Kübelwagen''''' ({{Audio|GT Kübelwagen.ogg|listen}}), or simply '''''Kübel''''',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bishop |first1=Chris |title=The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II |date=2002 |publisher=Sterling Publishing |isbn=9781586637620 |pages=102–103 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MuGsf0psjvcC&pg=PA102 |access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> contractions of the original German word ''Kübelsitzwagen'' (translated: 'bucket-seat car' — but when the contractions are translated literally a [[back-formation]] of 'bucket' or 'tub'-car results),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heitmann |display-authors=etal |title=German Weapons during WWII |url=https://www.feldgrau.com/ww2-german-infantry-weapons-rifles/ |website=Feldgrau |date=4 August 2020 |access-date=8 August 2021 |quote="..Kübel meaning tub, bucket, or pail." |archive-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728163548/https://www.feldgrau.com/WW2-German-Infantry-Weapons-Rifles/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> is a [[military vehicle|military]] [[Military light utility vehicle|light utility vehicle]] designed by [[Ferdinand Porsche]] and built by [[Volkswagen]] during [[World War II]] for use by the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] military (both ''[[Wehrmacht]]'' and ''[[Waffen-SS]]''). Based heavily on the [[Volkswagen Beetle]], it was prototyped and first deployed in Poland as the '''Type 62''', but following improvements entered full-scale production as the '''Type 82'''. Several derivative models, such as the [[Volkswagen Kommandeurswagen|''Kommandeurswagen'']], were also built in hundreds, or in dozens.

The four-wheel drivetrain that was prototyped in the rejected '''Type&nbsp;86''' version went into mass production in the [[Volkswagen Schwimmwagen|''Schwimmwagen'']]. The Type 86 performed better in comparative testing, but the additional costs of the more complex four-wheel drivetrain (both financial, as well as making the light car heavier and thirstier) did not outweigh the benefits from the German viewpoint. The Kübelwagen was intended to be able to be manhandled by its crew if they got stuck. Easily seating four men, the {{cvt|725|kg|lbs|-1}} empty weight ''Kübel'' was easier to lift than the {{cvt|300|kg|lbs|-1}} heavier jeep. The rear bench would seat three in a pinch, for a total of five inside.<ref name="KeyMil"/>

''Kübelwagen'' is a contraction of ''Kübelsitzwagen'', meaning "bucket-seat car". Before the war, this term became popular in Germany for light open-topped cross-country and military field cars without doors, because these were typically equipped with [[bucket seat]]s to help keep occupants on board, necessary in an era before the adoption of [[seat belt]]s.<ref name="Ludvigsen-2018">{{cite book |last1=Ludvigsen |first1=Karl |title=Professor Porsche's Wars |date=2018 |publisher=Pen & Sword Books, Ltd. |location=UK |isbn=9781526726797 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bLYqswEACAAJ |pages=78, 116, 132, 136 |access-date=14 February 2019}}</ref>{{sfnp |ref=MayerStein93|Mayer-Stein |1993 |p=22}} This body style had first been developed by {{ill|Karosseriefabrik Nikolaus Trutz|de|lt=Karosseriefabrik N. Trutz}} in 1923.<ref name="Ludvigsen-2018"/>{{RP|78}} The first Porsche Type 62 test vehicles had no doors and were therefore fitted with bucket seats as ''Kübelsitzwagen'', later shortened to ''Kübelwagen''.<ref name="Ludvigsen-2018"/>{{RP|136}} Despite later acquiring doors, and more regular, lower seats, the name "''Kübelwagen''" was retained. Besides the Volkswagen plant, [[Mercedes-Benz W136#170 VK Kübelwagen|Mercedes-Benz]], [[Opel]], and [[Tatra 57#History|Tatra]] also built ''Kübel(sitz)wagen'',<ref name = "HG.M-S." >{{Citation | page = 5 | title = Volkswagens of the Wehrmacht: A Photo Chronicle | first = H.G. | last = Mayer-Stein | publisher = Schiffer | place = Stuttgart | year = 1991 | isbn = 978-0-88740684-3}}</ref> though they were all rear-wheel drive models only.

The ''Kübelwagen''<nowiki/>'s rolling chassis and mechanics were built at what was then the [[Wolfsburg|Stadt des KdF-Wagens]], ("City of the 'Strength through Joy'-Car") – renamed Wolfsburg after 1945 – and its body was built by U.S.-owned firm [[Ambi Budd]] Presswerke in Berlin.<ref>{{Citation | place = UK | url = http://www.ltv-vwc.org.uk/wheelspin/ws_july_2000/Wierd05_Military01.htm | title = The Weird and Wonderful pt4 Military VWs | newspaper = Wheelspin | publisher = LTV VWC | date = July 2000 | access-date = 16 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141209082701/http://www.ltv-vwc.org.uk/wheelspin/ws_july_2000/Wierd05_Military01.htm | archive-date = 9 December 2014 | url-status = dead }}.</ref> The ''Kübelwagen''<nowiki/>'s role as a light multi-purpose military vehicle made it the German equivalent to the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Willys MB]] "jeep" and the [[GAZ-67]], after previous efforts to mass-produce [[Einheits-PKW der Wehrmacht|standardized military four-wheel drives]] for the ''Wehrmacht'' had largely failed.

==History==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-022-2926-07, Russland, Unternehmen "Zitadelle", VW Kübelwagen.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Feldgendarmerie]] (military police) ''Kübelwagen'' on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] in 1943]]
[[File:Vwkybelwagen2.jpg|thumb|right|1951 Volkswagen ''Kübelwagen'']]

Although [[Adolf Hitler]] had discussed the possibility of military application of the Volkswagen with [[Ferdinand Porsche]] as early as April 1934, it was not until January 1938 that high-ranking ''[[Waffenamt|Heereswaffenamt]]'' officials formally approached Porsche about designing an inexpensive, lightweight military transport vehicle that could operate reliably both on- and off-road, in even the most extreme conditions.

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 just 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&nbsp;cc FMCV 1 engine, it would have to be lightweight. In fact, the army had stipulated a gross weight of {{convert|950|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, including four battle-dressed troops, which meant that the vehicle itself should not weigh more than {{convert|550|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. 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]], the vehicle proved very competent at maneuvering its way over rough terrain, even in a direct comparison with a contemporary [[Einheits-PKW der Wehrmacht|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 a four-wheel drive.

Further development of the Type 62 took place during 1939, including a more angular body design, and pre-production models were field-tested in the [[invasion of Poland]] that started in September that year. Despite their overall satisfaction with the vehicle's performance, military commanders demanded a few important changes: the lowest speed of the vehicle had to be reduced from {{convert|8|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} to {{convert|4|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} as an adjustment to the marching pace of soldiers.{{efn|The German army was not fully mechanised and most troops moved on foot or by horse}} Second, it needed some further improvement of its cross-country mobility. Porsche responded to both requests by mounting new axles with [[portal axle|gear-reduction hubs]], providing the car with more torque while at the same time increasing its ground clearance. Revised dampers, {{convert|41|cm|in|abbr=on}} wheels, and a [[limited-slip differential]], as well as countless small modifications completed the specification. In order to reflect the changes, the vehicle was renamed Type 82.

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 others 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, so these designs went nowhere. As of March 1943, the car received a revised dash and the bigger 1,131&nbsp;cc engine, developed for the ''[[Schwimmwagen]]'', that produced more torque and power than the original 985&nbsp;cc unit. Power of the original, 1-litre engine is {{cvt|23.5|PS|kW hp|1}}, while the larger, 1.1-litre unit offered {{cvt|25|PS|kW hp|1}}.

When Volkswagen production ceased at the end of the war, 50,435 ''Kübelwagen'' vehicles had been produced,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071106155618/http://mitglied.lycos.de/Geschichtsverein/vwik.html]</ref> and the vehicle had proven to be surprisingly useful, reliable, and durable.

[[File:Deutschland Besatzungszonen 8 Jun 1947 - 22 Apr 1949.svg|thumb|200px|{{Nowrap|Wolfsburg lies in the<br />{{Legend2|#008000|British occupation zone}}}}, close to the border of the<br />{{Legend2|#FF0000|Soviet German zone{{Efn|The quadripartite area shown within the Soviet zone is Berlin.}}}} —<br />{{Legend2|#ffa500|The American zone}} and {{Legend2|#0000ff|the French}} had the south.]]

===Post-war===
Upon conquest of Germany by the Allies, the country was [[Allied occupation of Germany|occupied in four sectors]]: a U.S., Soviet, U.K. and French sector respectively, and the massive Volkswagen factory and the town built for its workers, [[Wolfsburg]], fell into the British sector. U.K. Major [[Ivan Hirst]] was put in charge of the factory and workers. He is largely credited with production resuming, and reopening the VW factory. He organized the clearance of bomb damage, and had the buildings repaired. He recommissioned machine tools, body presses and assembly jigs; he concerned himself with improving the quality of the civilian car, including starting a sales and service network and starting exports.<ref name="KeyMil">{{cite web |last1=Carroll |first1=John |title=Industry and Style |url=https://www.keymilitary.com/article/industry-and-style |website=Key Military |access-date=18 February 2022 |date=17 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218150953/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:kqeF2rHnKn8J:https://www.keymilitary.com/article/industry-and-style+&cd=1&hl=nl&ct=clnk&gl=nl |archive-date=2022-02-18}}</ref> Despite a damning report of Volkswagens by engineers from the British [[Rootes Group]] stating that: "the vehicle does not meet the fundamental technical requirement of a motorcar...", the British Army thought differently. When a surviving wartime Volkswagen was demonstrated to the British Rhine Army Group headquarters, the U.K. military ordered a batch of 20,000 similar vehicles. By the end of 1945, the factory had managed to put together 2,490 cars. Many of them were then bartered in exchange for materials to make more cars. Hirst turned production around to export civilian [[Volkswagen Beetle|Volkswagens]]; the first export went to the [[Netherlands]] in 1947.<ref name="KeyMil"/>

Long after the end of the war, VW resurrected the basic ''Kübelwagen'' design as the 1969 [[Volkswagen 181|Type 181]], developed for the [[Bundeswehr|German Federal Armed Forces]] and later also produced this model for the civilian market, which was 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 original Type 82.

[[Intermeccanica]] of Canada has been producing a Kübelwagen replica since 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://intermeccanica.com/athird.net/news/2009-eu-kubel.html|title=2009 EU Titled Liquid Cooled TYP82 Kubelwagen|publisher=Intermeccanica|access-date=25 December 2019|archive-date=25 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225205322/https://intermeccanica.com/athird.net/news/2009-eu-kubel.html }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://intermeccanica.com/athird.net/our-vehicles|title=Our Models|publisher=Intermeccanica|access-date=25 December 2019|archive-date=25 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225205325/https://intermeccanica.com/athird.net/our-vehicles }}</ref>

==Technology and performance==
[[File:Airborne Troops in Carentan Captured Kubelwagen (cropped).jpg|thumb|A ''Kübel'' seized by American paratroopers in [[Carentan]] during the [[Battle of Normandy]], 1944]]
When the German military took delivery of the first vehicles, it immediately put them to the test on- and off-road in snow and ice to test their capability at handling European winters. Several four-wheel-drive vehicles were used as reference points. The two-wheel-drive ''Kübelwagen'' surprised even those who had been a part of its development, as it easily out-performed the other vehicles in nearly every test. Most notably, thanks to its smooth, flat underbody, the ''Kübel'' would propel itself much like a motorised sled when the wheels sank into sand, snow, or mud, allowing it to follow tracked vehicles with remarkable tenacity.

[[File:Bundesarchiv N 1603 Bild-192, Sizilien, Reifenpanne mit VW-Kübelwagen.jpg|thumb|right|A soldier using a [[Jack (device)|jack]] to change a ''Kübel''<nowiki/>'s tire in [[Sicily]], 1943]]

In November 1943, the U.S. military conducted a series of tests as well on one or several Type 82s it had captured in [[North Africa campaign]].  This evaluation, done at the Army's [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]], resulted in the publication of War Department Technical Manual TM E9-803, 6&nbsp;June 1944 (on D-Day). The manual's publication date (D-Day) is assumed to be coincidental, but its TM number was identical to that of the American jeep, with the prefix 'E' for 'enemy'. It was intended for distribution after the 6&nbsp;June [[invasion of Normandy]] to US military personnel who might encounter ones that had been abandoned, possibly for lack of fuel or a minor technical problem, and with the help of this manual, might be put into service as additional vehicles. The TM calls the type 82 'a four-wheeled, rubbertyred, rear axle drive personnel carrier and reconnaissance car, comparable in purpose and size to the American 1/4 ton truck'.<ref name="KeyMil"/> So thorough was the analysis that it included information beyond what could be done as field servicing, plus ways of dealing with very low temperatures.  U.S. War Department Technical Manual TM-E 30-451, ''Handbook on German Military Forces'', (p.&nbsp;416), states: "The ''Volkswagen'', the German equivalent of the American "Jeep", is inferior in every way except in the comfort of its seating accommodations."<ref>U.S. War Department, 15 March 1945. Handbook on German Military Forces, [https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Germany/HB/HB-8.html TM-E 30-451, Chapter VIII, Section II: Automotive Equipment]</ref>

[[File:Kdf82 redukce.jpg|thumb|Two-gear reduction (15:21 teeth) portal hub of the VW Type 82 Kübel]]

At the same time, another ''Kübelwagen'', also captured in North Africa, had been dissected in Britain by engineers of the [[Humber Car Company]], whose report said it exhibited no "special brilliance" in design except in details and that "it is suggested that it is not to be regarded as an example of first class modern design to be copied by British industry".<ref>"Report of examination of a German Light Aid Detachment Vehicle type VW82", published by Humber Car Co. in 1943 (GB)</ref>

Among the design features that contributed to the ''Kübelwagen''{{'}}s performance were:

* Light weight. While it was some {{convert|41|cm|in|abbr=on}} longer than the [[Willys MB]], it weighed more than {{convert|300|kg|lb|abbr=on}} less.
* Very flat and smooth underbody that allowed the car to slide without snags over the surface it was traversing.
* Considerable ground clearance, roughly {{convert|28|cm|in|abbr=on}}, in part thanks to:
** The use of [[portal gear]] hub reduction, providing more torque and ride height simultaneously.
** Independent suspension on all four wheels.
** Self-locking differential, limiting slippage and retaining traction.

In addition, the air-cooled engine proved highly tolerant of hot and cold climates alike, and was less vulnerable to bullets due to the absence of a radiator. For starting under winter conditions, a special, highly volatile starting fuel was supplied from a small auxiliary tank.

As the body was not a load-bearing part of the structure of the vehicle, it could easily be modified to special purposes, just like the jeep's.

The ''Kübelwagen'', thanks to its geared hubs, could go as slow as marching troops {{convert|4|km/h|mph|1|abbr=on}}, yet reach a top speed of {{convert|80|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.

==Variants==
[[File:MHV VW Käfer Typ 82 01.jpg|right|thumb|A VW Type 82E, a ''Kübelwagen'' chassis with a Beetle body]]
[[File:MHV VW Käfer Typ 82 02.jpg|right|thumb|Rear of a VW Type 82E]]

The following body types and variants of the Type 82 were produced:

* Type 62: Prototype ''Kübelwagen'', constructed from 15 May 1938; pre-production models (1939) field tested in the invasion of Poland
* Type 67: 2-stretcher ambulance; Type 60 Beetle chassis with modified Type 82 body
* Type 82/0: Basic, standard four seater
* Type 82/1: Three-seater; usually radio car
* Type 82/2: Sirencar (Siemens motor-driven siren mounted on passenger side in place of the rear seat)
* Type 82/3: Mock-up scout car / armoured vehicle, incl. gun-turret atop cabin – for decoy and training purposes
* Type 82/5: ''Kübelwagen'' chassis, with Type 60/LO{{efn|name=LO|LO for ''"Lieferwagen offen"''}} ''Pritschenwagen'' (Beetle pickup-truck) body.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.panzerbaer.de/models/35_cmk_vw_typ825-a.htm|title=VW-Typ 825 (WH) in 1/35|website=www.panzerbaer.de}}</ref>
* Type 82/6: ''"Tropenwagen"'': ''Kübelwagen'' chassis, with Beetle panel-van / box-van body
* Type 82/7: Three-seat 'Command car': a Type 82 chassis, fitted with a Beetle body and roll-up canvas roof section. These three-seaters had a single rear seat behind the driver, and a co-driver's seat with fully reclining backrest for a commanding officer.
* Type 82/8: Like regular open Type 82/0 ''Kübelwagen'', but with body made of wood, to save on scarce steel resources
* Type 82/E:{{efn|From April 1943. Until then known as Type 92 (SS) for closed body, or 92/O(ffen) for convertible.}} ''"Geländekäfer"'': ''Kübelwagen'' chassis with Beetle body (688 manufactured)
* Type 86: Four-wheel drive (six prototypes made)
* Type 87: "[[Volkswagen Kommandeurswagen|''Kommandeurwagen'']]": a Type 86 [[4WD]] ''Kübelwagen'' chassis with Beetle command car body. Fitted with [[running boards]], under-hood-mounted spare tire (accompanied by a gas can, a jack, a small tool kit, and a shovel), and widened fenders for its larger-diameter ''Kronprinz'' (Crown Prince) off-road tires. Some were provided to high-ranking officers, who could push through virtually any kind of terrain with them. (667 produced)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://silodrome.com/volkswagen-kommandeurwagen/|title=Volkswagen Kommandeurwagen|first=Ben|last=Branch|date=26 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://thevolkyland.com/site/military4.html |title=VW Kommandeurwagen Type 87 |access-date=2 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202164446/http://thevolkyland.com/site/military4.html |archive-date=2 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Type 89: Fitted with experimental [[automatic transmission]]
* Type 92/LO:{{efn|name=LO}}''deprecated'' — from April 1943 known as Type 82/5 {{sfnp |ref=MayerStein93|Mayer-Stein |1993 |p=30–31}}
* Type 92/O: ''"offen"'': ''Kübelwagen'' chassis, with Type 60/O (Beetle convertible) body
* Type 92/SS: (until April 1943): with interior attachments for fire-arms — from April 1943 deprecated, and known as Type 82/E {{sfnp |ref=MayerStein93|Mayer-Stein |1993 |p=30–31}}
* Type 98: Beetle body with roll-up roof, on the Type 86 ''Kübelwagen'' 4×4 drive train
* Type 106: Fitted with an experimental [[Transmission (mechanics)|transmission]] (assumed different from the Type 89)
* Type 107: Fitted with a [[turbocharger]]
* Type 115: Fitted with a [[supercharger]]
* Type 126: Fitted with a [[Manual transmission#Synchronized transmission|fully synchronized]] [[gearbox]] (assumed different from the Type 278)
* Type 155/1: [[Half-track]] / snow-track ''Kübelwagen'' prototype. Pictures of several track-set designs exist,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mudway |first1=Ray |title=The V.W. Typ-155 Half-Track Kübelwagen |url=http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/1167/evwtrack.html |website=Geocities |access-date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991103024417/http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/1167/evwtrack.html |archive-date=1999-11-03 |date=February 1999}}</ref> although it is possible, that these were consecutively fitted to the same prototype. Trials proved, that the Type 155 was able to cover the most difficult terrain, but the modifications necessary to the standard ''Kübelwagen'' were extensive and the resulting vehicle was both very slow and forbiddingly inefficient.
* Type 157: Railway car equipment, used for Types 82 and 87
* Type 164: Six-wheeled, twin engine, dual-control prototype; never entered production
* Type 177: Fitted with a five-speed transmission (as opposed to the standard four-speed unit)
* Type 179: Fitted with [[fuel-injected]] [[Volkswagen]] engine
* Type 179-F: Later updated directly to the ''[[Schwimmwagen]]'' (mentioned above)—Could cross water and temporarily be used as a small boat and/or landing craft. Because of a thick and bulletproof skid plate, the engine was protected and all valves in the rear were airtight. The engine had a flush-activated 179 fuel injected engine, that would act as a drainer to push water out and prevent the engine from flooding.
* Type 198: Fitted with a PTO and auxiliary gearbox for starting the engines of armoured fighting vehicles<ref>"Typ198 ''Anwerfgetriebe fur Kfz. Motoren''" published by ''Oberkommando der Heere'' in 1944, Berlin (D)</ref>
* Type 235: Fitted for power by an electric motor
* Type 239: Fitted for power by a wood-gas generator mounted on the nose (also listed as Type 230)
* Type 240: Fitted for power by bottled gas
* [[VW 276 Schlepperfahrzeug|Type 276: ''"Schlepperfahrzeug"'']]: Type 82 fitted with a towing hook to pull a [[3.7 cm Pak 36|3.7 cm 'PaK 36']] gun<ref>"''Der VW Kübelwagen Typ 82 im Zweiten Weltkrieg''" by Janusz Piekalkiewicz, published by Motorbuch, Stuttgart in 2002
{{ISBN|3-87943-468-9}}</ref>
* Type 278: Fitted with [[Manual transmission#Synchronized transmission|synchronized]] [[gearbox]]
* Type 307: Fitted with a heavy-duty [[carburetor]]
* Type 309: Prototype fitted with a [[diesel engine]]
* Type 331: Prototype fitted for power by a "native fuel system" (acetylene gas) engine (also listed as Type 231)
* Type 332: Fitted for power by [[anthracite]] coal

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:1943 Kübelwagen 25HP 1131cc.jpg|1943 Kübelwagen in grey camouflage
File:Austria Gmuend Porsche Museum07.jpg|Type 82 on display at the {{ill|Porsche museum Gmünd|de|Porsche Automuseum Gmünd}}
File:VW Kuebelwagen 2.jpg| Interior detail 
File:Kübelwagen.jpg| Side profile 
File:Kubelwagen.jpg|Type 82 replica built by Intermeccanica
</gallery>

==See also==
{{columns-list |colwidth= |
* [[Einheits-PKW der Wehrmacht]]
* [[Military light utility vehicle]]
* [[Volkswagen Beetle]]
* [[Volkswagen Schwimmwagen]]
* [[Volkswagen 181]]
* [[FMC XR311]]
* [[Mercedes-Benz W136#170 VK Kübelwagen|Mercedes-Benz 170 VK]]
* [[Tatra 57#History|Tatra 57K]]
}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book |ref=MayerStein93 |last=Mayer-Stein |first=Dr. Hans-Georg |title=Volkswagen Militärfahrzeuge 1938–1948 |year=1993 |publisher=Karl Müller Verlag |isbn=3860708619 |page= |language=de |url=https://porschecarshistory.com/wp-content/old/biblio/01/Volkswagen%20Militarfahrzeuge%201938-1948.pdf |access-date=7 August 2021}}

==Further reading==
*Taylor, Blaine (2004). ''Volkswagen Military Vehicles of the Third Reich''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. {{ISBN|0-306-81313-0}}.  {{oclc|55534990}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Volkswagen Kübelwagen}}
*[http://vw82.free.fr  Kübelwagen Restoration with many details]
*[http://www.vw166.com/ Kübelwagen Registry]
*[https://archive.org/details/TechnicalManualTmE9-803GermanVolkswagen Volkswagen Kübelwagen Technical Manual TM E9-803], US War Department, June 1944
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160822010223/http://intermeccanica.com/athird.net/our-vehicles/kubelwagen Intermeccanica Kübelwagen]

{{Volkswagen}}
{{WWIIGermanVehicles}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:World War II vehicles of Germany]]
[[Category:Volkswagen Beetle|Kubelwagen]]
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[[Category:Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944]]
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