
While the American Willys Jeep was one of the most iconic vehicles of WWII, on the German side the Volkswagen Type 166 Schwimmwagen (literally “swimming/floating car”) is also very famous. In fact, it’s the most widely produced amphibious car in history, with upwards of 15,000 produced from 1941-44! The 4x4 Schwimmwagen features a tub-like body that was necessary in order to render it waterproof, while the engine and mechanicals were taken from the VW Type 86 Kübelwagen. The Type 166 was fitted with a screw propeller on a swinging arm at the rear of the body to give it forward propulsion, while steering in water was accomplished via the front wheels. Weighing only 910kg, the Schwimmwagen could achieve amphibious speeds of up to 11km/h.
