1944 Volkswagen 166 Schwimmwagen for sale EUR 80,000

Seller's Description

VW Schwimmwagen, Type 166
Fallersleben, Germany, year of manufacture
First registered: 1944
Vehicle Identification Number: 7-009 494
Engine Number: N.A.
1.1 l Engine with 25 hp
Mileage: unreadable
Colour: black matt; Interior: black
Czech car registration letter
Certificate of Authenticity from the Volkswagen Foundation Auto Museum
The ultimate amphibious vehicle from Volkswagen
DEKRA reports, detail photos and various documents for this vehicle may be requested.
Shipping cost is free if collected by buyer. Otherwise a shipping rate, in accordance with effort, will be added.
Special condition: only 10% buyer´s premium plus VAT.

This floating car was completely restored a few years ago by its current owner. The highest priority was placed on the parts used being original parts. The owner took part in several amphibious vehicles meetings and events and received the most attention in the water and on land.

The Volkswagen Type 166 is a buoyant SUV with all-wheel drive. It was developed on the basis of the KDF car and the Volkswagen Type 82 for the pre WW2 German army and Special Forces. From autumn 1942 to summer 1944, over 14,000 units were produced in the Volkswagen plant at Faller life. Colloquially, the Type 166 is also referred to as VW swimmer or commonly known as swimming car (Schwimmwagen).

Based on the experiences during the Polish campaign, the German General Staff of the Army demanded a mid-1940 Olympic swimming and off-road capable car for the motorized infantry units. The Porsche KG with its all-wheel drive type 87 is a swimming prototype based on the VW-bucket car type 82. The main features of the new "floating car" type 128 were its well-shaped body, a downwards spinning three blade propeller at the rear and a modified piston engine with 1131 cc (25 hp). The rear screw allowed just the required speed of 10 kmh on the water. Together with the company Drauz from Heilbronn, a first prototype was completed and immediately tested on the Max-Eyth Lake in Stuttgart on September 21, 1940. After the start of production of this series, Porsche proved themselves in the field but there were still some shortcomings.

In April 1941, the development of type 166 began. The wheelbase was shortened to exactly 2 meters (KdF-Wagen, Type 128 and Type 82: 2.4 meters) and the tub was shorter by 37.5 centimeters. This resulted in increased body stability and improved rough terrain. In August 1941 the first prototype was ready and at Porsche KG a preliminary series of 125 pieces was commissioned. After the Army decrease on May 29th 1942, the series production at the Volkswagen plant in Fallersleben began in the fall of 1942. Unlike the jeep type 82, whose structure was prepared at Ambi Budd in Berlin, VW produced the bodies themselves. In an allied air raid on the VW plant on August 5th 1944, the production facilities in the body shop were so badly damaged that further production did not come into question. Then only a small number could be produced. The production of the bucket car Type 82 hand worked at the VW plant until April 10, 1945. A total of 14,276 Schwimmwagen type 166 were produced from 1942 to 1944 at the Volkswagen plant.

Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.

Contact seller for more details via Classic Driver