The Volkswagen Typ 87, also known as the Kommandeurswagen, is a World War II, four-wheel-drive version of the Volkswagen Beetle.[1] It was produced from 1941 to 1944 by the Volkswagen plant, primarily for high officers of the Wehrmacht (German armed forces).[1] The Wehrmacht classified the Kommandeurswagen as leichter geländegängiger PKW, 4-sitziger, 4-radgetriebener Geländewagen Typ 87.[3] ("light offroad passenger car, four seat, four-wheel drive offroad vehicle Type 87").
The engine and drive-train, including portal geared wheel hubs, are the same as in the Volkswagen Typ 166 Schwimmwagen amphibious vehicle.[1] 564 units of the Kommandeurswagen were produced;[4] in November 1946,[5] the Volkswagen plant — by then under British control — produced two more vehicles using spare parts from stores.
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 5¼-16 offroad tyres, the wings had to be increased in width.[1] The running boards were also made wider.[6] 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 (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal) fuel canister instead at the same place. The spare wheel is located on top of the 40 L (8.8 imp gal; 11 US gal) fuel tank, which has a modified filler neck.[6] Chassis and body are connected with screws. By default, the Kommandeurswagen has a sunroof.[6]
Like the VW Typ 166, the Typ 87 has a modified KdF-Wagen chassis.[1] The backbone tube was increased in diameter to hold the additional drive shaft for the front wheels.[1] A worm and sector steering was used,[3] and the steering knuckles were modified to fit driveshafts for the front-wheel drive.[1] The rear axle is equipped with reduction gears, both front and rear axle differentials are lockable.[1] A single disc Fichtel & Sachs K10 dry clutch[3] transmits the torque from the engine to the manual Porsche four-speed (plus reverse) gearbox, which is equipped with an additional offroad gear.[1] The lever that engaged the offroad gear also engaged the front wheel drive.[1] With four wheel drive engaged, the top speed is 10 km/h (6.2 mph) and the maximum slope climbing angle is 33.75°.
The Typ 87 is powered by an air-cooled flat four-cylinder 1,131 cm3 (69 in3) four-stroke OHV petrol engine fed by a single Solex 26 VF3 carburettor. It is rated at 18 kW (24 PS; 24 hp).[6]
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;[6] in addition to that, they were fitted with Kronprinz sand tyres.[7]
