Volkswagen Kommandeurswagen
The Volkswagen Typ 87, also known as the Kommandeurswagen, is a World War II, four-wheel-drive version of the Volkswagen Beetle. It was produced from 1941 to 1944 by the Volkswagen plant, primarily for high officers of the Wehrmacht (German armed forces). The Wehrmacht classified the Kommandeurswagen as leichter geländegängiger PKW, 4-sitziger, 4-radgetriebener Geländewagen Typ 87. ("light offroad passenger car, four seat, four-wheel drive offroad vehicle Type 87").
| Volkswagen Typ 87 | |
|---|---|
 VW Typ 87 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagenwerk GmbH |
| Also called | Kommandeurswagen |
| Production | 1941–1944 1946 (for UK army) |
| Assembly | Germany: Stadt des KdF-Wagens |
| Designer | Ferdinand Porsche |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Military vehicle |
| Body style | 2-door saloon 2-door coupe utility |
| Layout | Rear engine, four-wheel drive |
| Platform | VW Typ 166 / KdF-Wagen |
| Related | Volkswagen Typ 166 Schwimmwagen |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Volkswagen Type 1 petrol (1131 cc, 18 kW) |
| Transmission | 4+1-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,400 mm (94.5 in) |
| Length | 3,830 mm (12 ft 6.8 in) |
| Width | 1,620 mm (5 ft 3.8 in) |
| Height | 1,720 mm (5 ft 7.7 in) |
The engine and drive-train, including portal geared wheel hubs, are the same as in the Volkswagen Typ 166 Schwimmwagen amphibious vehicle. 564 units of the Kommandeurswagen were produced; in November 1946, the Volkswagen plant — by then under British control — produced two more vehicles using spare parts from stores.
Description
The Typ 87 is a two-door offroad saloon. The visual appearance is similar to the KdF-Wagen, because the KdF-Wagen body was also used for the Typ 87. Due to the 5+1⁄4-16 offroad tyres, the wings had to be increased in width. The running boards were also made wider. While the boot of the KdF-Wagen holds a spare wheel in front of the fuel tank, the Typ 87 has an additional 20 L (4+1⁄2 imp gal; 5+1⁄2 US gal) fuel canister instead at the same place. The spare wheel is located on top of the 40 L (9 imp gal; 10+1⁄2 US gal) fuel tank, which has a modified filler neck. Chassis and body are connected with screws. By default, the Kommandeurswagen has a sunroof.
Like the VW Typ 166, the Typ 87 has a modified KdF-Wagen chassis. The backbone tube was increased in diameter to hold the additional drive shaft for the front wheels. A worm and sector steering was used, and the steering knuckles were modified to fit driveshafts for the front-wheel drive. The rear axle is equipped with reduction gears, both front and rear axle differentials are lockable. A single disc Fichtel & Sachs K10 dry clutch transmits the torque from the engine to the manual Porsche four-speed (plus reverse) gearbox, which is equipped with an additional offroad gear. The lever that engaged the offroad gear also engaged the front wheel drive. With four wheel drive engaged, the top speed is 10 km/h (6 mph) and the maximum slope climbing angle is 33.75°.
The Typ 87 is powered by an air-cooled flat four-cylinder 1,131 cc (69 cu in) four-stroke OHV petrol engine fed by a single Solex 26 VF3 carburettor. It is rated at 18 kW (24 PS; 24 hp).
Vehicles made for the German Afrika Korps were often equipped with tropical equipment which protected the air filter, the carburettor and the electrics from dust; in addition to that, they were fitted with Kronprinz sand tyres.
Technical specifications
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Volkswagen air-cooled engine |
| Engine layout | Four-cylinder, flat engine (spark-ignition (Otto)) |
| Cooling | Air-cooling with fan |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel system | Carburettor Solex 26 VF3 |
| Firing order | 1-4-3-2 |
| Bore × Stroke | 75 mm × 64 mm (3.0 in × 2.5 in) |
| Displacement | 1,131 cc |
| Rated power | 18 kW (24 hp) at 3,000 rpm |
| Drivetrain | |
| Clutch | Single disc dry clutch Fichtel & Sachs K10 |
| Gearbox | Porsche 4-speed gearbox with additional offroad and reverse gear |
| Drive | Rear wheel drive with switchable front wheel drive and locking differentials |
| Chassis | |
| Frame | Backbone tube chassis |
| Front springs | Torsion bar |
| Rear springs | |
| Steering | Worm and nut |
| Brake system | Drum brakes |
| Tyres | front and rear 5,25-16 or 200-16 |
| Dimensions and weights | |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 3,830 mm (151 in) × 1,620 mm (64 in) × 1,720 mm (68 in) |
| Ground clearance | 255 mm (10.0 in) |
| Wheelbase | 2,400 mm (94 in) |
| Track width | front: 1,356 mm (53.4 in) rear: 1,360 mm (54 in) |
| Turning radius | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Max. allowed weight | 1,240 kg (2,734 lb) |
| Max. payload | 450 kg (992 lb) |
| Additional data | |
| Fuel consumption | 8.5 L/100 km |
| Oil consumption | 0.12 L/100 km |
| Fuel tank | 40 L + 20 L canister |
| Top speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) |
| Battery | Lead-acid, 6 V, 75 Ah |
| Starter | Bosch EED 0,4/6 |
| Generator | Bosch REDK 130/6/2600 |
References
- Mayer, p 30
- In lowest gear(s) only.
- Mayer, p.34
- Mayer, p.33
- Mayer, p.47
- Mayer, p.32
- Mayer, p.31
Bibliography
- Hans-Georg Mayer: Der VW-Käfer im Kriege und im militärischen Einsatz danach. Band 114 aus der Reihe Waffen-Arsenal, Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Dorheim 1988, ISBN 3-7909-0357-4. (in German)
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