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1942 WWII Porsche 166 Schwimmwagen prototype
Model: Porsche TYP 166 prototype (1942)
Body Style: Boat like hull, only 125 made by hand at Stuttgart by Porsches engineer.
Constraction: Hand made steel body.
Engine: Air cooled horizontally opposed 4 cylinder, 1130cc 25 hp
Transmission: 4 speed part time 4 wd Gearbox with 2 LSD at each Axle & plus hub reduction at rear suspension.
Suspension: 4 wheel Drum brake cable control mechanic type
Max speed: 80 Km/h on land & 10Km/h on water
History: As the Volkswagen 82 Kubelwagen VW 82e VW 87 proved very successful during the campaign in Poland and Africa,it was necessary to produce more this kind of small cross-country vehicle for the army.Hitler know Professor Ferdinand Porsche is a right engineering to designed and build prototype.That year,1942,had not been a good one for Hitlar,But his army had held on outside Moscow during the previous winter and was still making some headway against Russia.His army need a all terrain small amphibious. Type 128 base on a VW87(same as 82e but with front diff ) 4wd chassis made for test at land and river,with a boat like body. Professor Porsche thought that the type 128 was too long for off road, Porsche start to a small schwimmwagen, that is the project #166. It was  400mm short than Type 128, but also 4 wheel drive, the weight only got no more than 900kg,Max weight at 1345kg. 4 wheel indenpendent suspension with a 1131cc air cool 4 cylinder box engine at back, power through a 5 speed gear box.the boat like body make the car water proof and it was driven through water by the propeller.speed on land is 80km/h and on water is 10km/h.a machine gun MG34 can mounted next to the driver or at back. This 125 vehicle were designed and produced by the Porsche engineers by hand at stuttgart. This 166 chass is #0166/115 is one of the phototype build by Porsche at 1942 most for Waffa SS units to Moscow and few for the General.Since the VW works engaged in manufacturing another 14276 unit of VW166 ( body made by another Ambi Budd Co in Berlin) between 1942~~~~1944 ( By the end of 1944 vw 166 had been finished in Wolfsburg, some without rear properller unit.because no more alloy parts, then production had to be halted because of heavy bombing of the factory.In the uneasy war situation, the considerable outlay of materials and man power for the complicated vehicle was no possible.The factory only making the simple 82 Kubelwagen until the spring of 1945.) for Euro and Russia to cross the river and rough muddy area. The difference between Porsch prototype and VW166, the round front tube bumper, the front wing angle, rear tow hook and side step handle, some early TYP166 have difference body for machine Gun MG34 etc. wheel & tire also not the same size as VW166 . Today only 3~~~~4 Porsche TYP166 in the world, Because most use by SS officers and SS command late send to Russia already. At the end of war, most TYP 166 destroyer by Russia army or captured by Russia Army. The Red Army use them until end of  50s and use their metal/alloy to build other moden machine at 60s. This lucky TYP 166/115 keep in Euro after the War.Until 2001 we bought this vehicle form a collector Mr.Jarren at Germany.Today you can see VW166 at auto museum and some WWII German Vehicle collectors.The cost is up and up at past 10 year. If you like to know more about the amphibious, or german jeep like VW82, VW82e and VW87 please go to our another amphibious website Today only 3 prototype complete vehicle in the world.one 0166/81 at France,in poor condition.one 0166/91 in German,one 0166/115 in Hong Kong China and one very poor rust body 0166/123 at Poland.We also have two 1943 VW82e and two VW82 one 1943 made, one 1945.
(http://www.4wdco.com/history01.asp)
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