Once again this year, the Hamburg Motor Classics invites numerous classic car owners and enthusiasts to come together. There will be high-quality old and youngtimers and classic motorcycles to buy and admire.
Experts as well as financing and insurance specialists will also be on site and can be consulted by interested parties at the same time.
A very special guest
This time, a very special guest will be on show; the VW Type 181, also known as the "Kübel". This for a special occasion. The Kübel is celebrating its fiftieth birthday in 2018 and naturally wants to be admired. There is an entertaining story about one of the VWs on display: at the beginning of the millennium, the bucket named Schröder was used by the Dethlefs couple to drive to the altar. A few years later, they bought the same vehicle and named it after the pastor who had married them.
Short history of the "Kübel
It was the German army that made the VW 181 possible in the first place. In 1967, they were looking for a successor to the Munga off-road vehicle from DKW, which was already hopelessly outdated at the time and whose production was to be discontinued in 1968.
Initially, the aim was for France, Italy and Germany to work together, but this "European Jeep" was ultimately shelved. Volkswagen was finally considered as an alternative, partly because time had become too short for a completely new design.
So Volkswagen was entrusted with the task of designing a multi-purpose vehicle for the military. VW already had experience with the VW Type 82 Kübelwagen from the Second World War. The new Kübelwagen was therefore very similar in appearance to its ancestor.
Technically, the floor assembly of the sporty Beetle offshoot Karman Ghia, the axles of the VW bus "Bulli", as well as the engine and technology from the Beetle were adopted.
Ultimately, the Bundeswehr was the main customer, but examples were also supplied to the fire department and disaster control services. Individual examples were also sold for civilian use, but this was limited. The price was set too high compared to the performance. However, it sold somewhat better abroad, e.g. in the USA or Indonesia.
Series production finally ended in 1978 and in the mid-1980sit was replaced by its successor model in the German armed forces.
Finally, this...
In addition to cars, numerous accessories, literature, art and retro toys will be on display.
Further information on the Hamburg Motor Classics can be found on the event website.
