Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943.
Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943.
Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943. Dave's Kubel was originally built in early 1943.

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The desire to own a Kubelwagen started for Dave Lawhead of Onsted, MI in the 1960's when he was working in Germany as a mechanical designer.   After he had been back home in the States for a while, he was finally in a position where he could afford to do something, so he contacted a friend who was, and still is very involved in restoring German vehicles, and a short time later, his friend told him about a project for sale in California.   "I contacted them and made the deal", Dave said.   When it arrived, it was completely in pieces.   Nothing was assembled but almost all of the parts were there.   Dave continued, "It even had a original 24 Hp motor from Porsche with it".   He had it delivered to his friend who did most of the assembly and restoration.   Dave also told me that during the project, someone contacted him and offered him a price he couldn't refuse for the original Porsche engine, so he sold it and ended up picking up a 1950 motor that looks exactly like the original, but has 36 Hp.   Dave rebuilt the transmission himself, although he said he had a real hard time finding the right bearings and other parts.   All told, the restoration took almost two years, and he still remembers what a huge thrill it was to take that first drive.




All told, the restoration took almost two years. All told, the restoration took almost two years. All told, the restoration took almost two years. All told, the restoration took almost two years. All told, the restoration took almost two years.
All told, the restoration took almost two years. All told, the restoration took almost two years. All told, the restoration took almost two years. All told, the restoration took almost two years. All told, the restoration took almost two years.




Working in Germany for many years has definitely come in handy for owning and working on his Kubel.   Dave speaks and reads German, and knows all about their drawing systems.   "This of course" Dave says, "is a big help in finding things in Germany, as I can correspond with them in their language, and also read any manuals or papers I get from Germany".   He says the only problem he has is with what they call old German, which was phased out in the 40's, and has a completely different writing style.




The interior is neat and clean, and very basic. The interior is neat and clean, and very basic. The interior is neat and clean, and very basic. The interior is neat and clean, and very basic. The interior is neat and clean, and very basic.
The interior is neat and clean, and very basic. The interior is neat and clean, and very basic. The interior is neat and clean, and very basic. The interior is neat and clean, and very basic. The interior is neat and clean, and very basic.




Because it only weighs 1475lbs., it is easy to transport on a trailer, which is how David takes it to shows.   As you can also imagine, gas mileage is pretty good, and because he trailers it around, he says that fuel is never a problem.   He fills the 10-gallon tank about twice a year, and does an oil change once a year, whether it needs it or not.   Besides that, a tune up, and lube and you're good to go.   As for emergency maintenance, he has had to re-thread the throttle cable thru the middle channel, and as I understand it, this is not an unheard of issue with this vehicle.






David tells me that diving the Kubel is a treat because you have to double clutch, as the transmission is not synchronized.   Also, because a couple of his combat wheels are slightly bent, it does shimmy a bit, but its only noticeable at high speeds, like over 40 miles per hour.   It will go almost anywhere as it has a slip differential and sets higher off the ground than a normal VW.   An interesting point is that this vehicle uses semaphores as turn signals.   Dave explains that when he turns a knob, a little arm flips up, indicating the direction he is turning.   The little arm is lighted, but it doesn't blink.


[Dave demonstrates the semaphore turn signals.]



The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II. The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II. The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II. The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II. The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II.
The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II. The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II. The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II. The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II. The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II.




Dave likes the fact that not everyone knows what the Kubel is, and that most think it is a VW "Thing" from the sixties.   He also enjoys all the very nice and friendly people that he has met through the club, which came as a result of owning his Kubelwagen.   Maybe most of all, he likes to drive his Kubel.   Dave told me, "I drive it as much as possible in the summer, even to the Post Office to pick up mail".   He says he takes it to several shows each year depending on his work schedule.   Besides the Kubel, Dave also owns a 1965 German Army Unimog, made by Mercedes.   It was a radio truck, but it didn't come with the communications equipment.




The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62. The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62. The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62. The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62. The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62.
The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62. The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62. The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62. The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62. The Type 82 Kubelwagen was actually an updated version of the Type 62.




The Kubelwagen was one of the most familiar vehicles of World War II.   The Type 82 was actually an updated version of the Type 62.   It was facilitated by Porsche in 1939 from a design that originated as early as 1934, under instructions from Hitler to develop a "peoples car".   The design was militarized, and then underwent advanced testing during the invasion of Poland.   The requested updates were then standardized as the Type 82.   The Kubelwagen was designed to be as lightweight, easy to manufacture and cheap to build as possible.   It employed an 18-gauge sheet metal body with 4 doors, and a folding canvas top.   Tubular struts supplied the basic structural support of the body, and the chassis was also constructed of welded steel tube.




Also stored in the engine compartment are a toolbox, an air pump, and a hand crank. The white cylinder, seen above on the left side of the engine compartment, is a spare liter of oil, and the little red can next to it is an oil can for hand use. Note the extra spark plugs, seen at the upper right.



The engine cylinders were in an "H" configuration and laid flat at the bottom of the car and the transmission used a single plate clutch that gave four forward and one reverse gear, with overdrive in the fourth gear.   The white cylinder, seen above on the left side of the engine compartment, is a spare liter of oil, and the little red can next to it is an oil can for hand use.   This was very hard to find, and for it's size was really expensive.   Note the extra spark plugs seen at the upper right of the compartment.   Also stored in the engine compartment are a toolbox, an air pump, and a hand crank.




Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted. Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted. Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted. Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted. Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted.
Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted. Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted. Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted. Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted. Earlier Kubels can be identified by the rear lights and license plate that over hang the body sides. On later models, these items were mounted firmly to the engine hatch, or omitted.




There were several variants produced, one of which was adapted to aid its poor performance in desert conditions.   This was referred to as the "Tropical" version and included larger sand tires.   By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built, compared to 600,000 American Jeeps, which showed the constraints placed on German machinery production.




By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built. By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built. By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built. By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built. By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built.
By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built. By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built. By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built. By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built. By the end of the war, roughly 55,000 Type 82 Kubels had been built.