Volkswagen Kubelwagen 1945
Recreate a familiar Wehrmacht utility vehicle with this detailed model of the 1945 Volkswagen Type 82 Kübelwagen. Representing a late-war configuration from the final year of World War II, this model carries the LATE WAR badge specifically because of its 1945 configuration.
Historical Role
The Kübelwagen served as a lightweight military transport for the Wehrmacht. Used for liaison work, dispatch duties, reconnaissance, staff transport and general utility tasks, it provided German units with a practical vehicle capable of operating over difficult roads and rough ground. Its simple construction and air-cooled engine suited varied wartime conditions.
Distinctive Appearance
The vehicle is immediately recognisable by its angular open-topped body, four side doors, folding windscreen and rear-mounted engine layout. Ribbed body panels, pronounced wheel arches, a spare wheel mounted at the front and the compact canvas hood give the Kübelwagen its characteristic functional appearance.
Variant Differences
The Type 82 was developed from Volkswagen’s KdF-Wagen mechanical design for military service. In place of the civilian car body, it received a lightweight, open utility body, increased ground clearance and reduction gearing at the wheel hubs. These changes improved mobility while creating the upright, slab-sided silhouette associated with the wartime Kübelwagen.
Modelling Uses
This 1945 vehicle is well suited to late-war German dioramas, roadside scenes, headquarters settings and vehicle columns. The smaller scales are ideal for model railways and compact wargaming displays, while the larger versions offer greater visual presence for painters, military vehicle enthusiasts and collectors.
Fun Fact
The name “Kübelwagen” came from “Kübelsitzwagen,” referring to military cars fitted with bucket-style seats. The term existed before the Volkswagen Type 82, but became closely associated with this distinctive vehicle.
Available Scales
1:87, 1:76, 1:72, 1:48 and 1:35.
Finish Options
Cleaned Resin Grey, Grey Primed - Ready for Painting, and Historical Base Colour.
Very small details may vary slightly depending on the scale selected.
