Kubelwagen Type 82 Afrika-Corps sPzAbt 501 HQ Company Maintenance Service Unit, Tunisia 1943 Scale 1:48 Die Cast Model HG1202

Kubelwagen Type 82 Afrika-Corps sPzAbt 501 HQ Company Maintenance Service Unit, Tunisia 1943 Scale 1:48 Die Cast Model True 1/48 scale. Professionally painted. Weathered finish. Great attention to detail. All markings are Tampoed (pad applied). Rubber wheels roll. Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic. Highly collectable. In November 1938 Porsche completed a prototype vehicle based on the Volkswagen designated the Kubelwagen Type 62. Kubelwagen is short for Kübelsitzwagen, (bucket seat car). The Type 62 lacked good cross-country performance so ground clearance was increased and a modified gear ratio. This gave birth to the Type 82 and in 1940 mass production began at the Volkswagen factory. By early 1943 20,000 vehicles were produced with the total reaching 50,435 by the end of WWII. The Kubelwagen was to Germany what the jeep was to the Allies. A special vehicle was required to withstand the harsh desert environment. The Kubelwagen was chosen because the engine was air cooled, light weight, good ground clearance and easy to maintain. In addition the desert Kubelwagens were equipped with large balloon-like tires that made it easy to operate in sand. The job of the sPzAbt 501 HQ Company Maintenance Service Unit was to keep Rommel’s Tigers operating during the last battles in Tunisia. The “J” on the doors signified the vehicle belonged to the Werkstatt (Maintenance Company).