TheSamba.com :: View topic - Replica T-166 Schwimmwagen

Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:41 pm

There's a thread in the Dune Buggy forum where a guy is building a 4WD dune buggy with Subaru drivetrain, if I recall correctly he paid somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 grand to have a new set of gears cut, and made adapters to mount VW CV joints.

Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:46 pm

Shadd wrote: Inspiration:

This kind of gives me an idea. Instead of buying a lift, throw the car in the pool.

Sat Oct 31, 2009 5:23 pm

Kraftfahrer wrote: Wow ! can´t wait to see the finished schwimmwagen ! It would be cheaper to produce it just with rearwheel drive, though...
I´m curious how much they will ask for the schwimm ?
keep us updated !

I've gone over this in my head many times on how I would build my own version. I agree with the RWD approach. I would use hydraulic motors on the front wheels to help get it out of the water. Maybe even use a hydraulic motor to drive the prop. My version would be a loosely adapted modern version of the swimmer

Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:49 pm

yeah, a kinda hybrid schwimmer with "Kraft durch batterie" up front and the original rearwheel drive in the back !... :) ...just to be more effective getting out of the water.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:04 pm

it wouldn't be effective for battlefield use but you could always get an ore and paddle the back end toward the ramp. Then just stick it in reverse and and go. Or make some sort of reversible drive for the prop.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:03 pm

I think the seller had one on Ebay a few months back and I thought they were up and running already. My favorite shot of the Schwimmwagen is that you tube link.

Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:25 am

These guys even have a VW-based kit, or at least they say they do. I don't think they're actually manufacturing them yet. The "Gator."

The Schwimmer is way cooler.

johnshenry wrote: http://watercars.com/

If you want a fast one....

Fri Dec 25, 2009 9:08 am

:shock: this first schwim will indeed have the four wheel drive set up out of an original. cant wait to build it, it should be quite the undertaking, i will post pictures as we go so all can see. just finished up a subaru powered kooblekar that went to italy. now just skined a t825 extended cab that looks pretty good, 2 komanderkars going to germany soon. i will start to post pictures of what i am curently working on soon.

Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:31 pm

You need it 4wd. Getting out of the water without it would be hell. Otherwise you need to get out and pull it so that both back wheels are touching the ground. As my mate set sail in his Buggy, it floated OK. You think it will be just a case of driving out, but waves and not having a LSD make a nice shower.

There are plenty of 4wd set ups that you could use, Vanagon/Subaru/Porsche anything is possible, they did it 69 years ago :wink:

Fri Dec 25, 2009 8:23 pm

Hey Steven, Welcome to the samba.

Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:22 pm

Guys,

Go to the Panzerwerks.net web site to see some old photos of Perry's "VolksSchwimmer" project. New photos will be posted soon, when he has a runner. The running prototype was sold off and he didn't make any videos before it left the country. He has sold only body shells since then.

The hand laid fiberglass body with the steel frame is about 10K. He has no plans to build it in all wheel drive. He does have an original Type-166 and a complete Transporter Syncro drive line for reference. The 166 drive line is too rare and too expensive for a project like this. The Syncro stuff may be just as rare now, is too large, and too completely independent (as in CV joints etc). A Subaru drive line, with all due respect, would be blasphemous.

As far as being amphibious, he did own a boat company once. However, his intent was never to put these in the water. I'm sure it could be done, but that would be left up to who ever builds the complete vehicle. Officially, it's for off road use only, not an amphibian.

I would recommend 2-wheel drive with a limited slip. Probably a 4:86 ring & pinion, even with the reduction gears.

Perry's "VolksSchwimmer" web site is under construction, and should be ready by early March 2010.

Turn-key runners will be available from Dennis at the KoobleKar Skunkewerkes.

Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:25 pm

I tested my own home made 4x2 166 earlier this week.

First a test drive - it is really very good cross country, runs nice and very comfortable ride. :D
Then a water test - still not brave enough to do it without a rope attached. I did have a guy on the shore that was instructed to keep the rope tight so it would not get dragged into the prop. Also, if things went wrong, we would have a line ready to take a chain out. However, all went without problem - and it was not a big deal getting out with only rear wheel drive - and that is without a fast run in.

Anyway, forgive the excitement.......and that broad Suffolk (UK) bumkin accent ;) It is the result of a years work.

It all went very well, so I look forward to having a good untethered trip along the river next time :D

There is a thread on here detailing the build.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=389726&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
I'm not sure how many of you guys have seen it.

Sun Jul 18, 2010 2:49 pm

Fantastic job Mr Slug :-D

Michael

Sun Jul 18, 2010 7:53 pm

That is SO cool. Thanks for sharing the video. I'd be a bit excited myself. I like how you have to race into he drives seat as soon as you drop the prop as it just kind of starts moving at idle..!

Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:17 am

Great work you have done...

/Magnus

Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:44 am

Thanks Guys - your very kind.

I didn't fully appreciate just how much fun these little trucks could be.
This one was very much an experiment, and I had intended it to be a one off - however, my PM box is filling up with so many offers to buy it, I am very seriously considering making a batch.

I'd appreciate any thoughts any of you had on that - PM me by all means.

Thanks again,

Mr Schlug. Direktor Shlugsburg Motor Werks :D

Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:18 pm

Mr Slug wrote: Thanks Guys - your very kind.

I didn't fully appreciate just how much fun these little trucks could be.
This one was very much an experiment, and I had intended it to be a one off - however, my PM box is filling up with so many offers to buy it, I am very seriously considering making a batch.

I'd appreciate any thoughts any of you had on that - PM me by all means.

Thanks again,

Mr Schlug. Direktor Shlugsburg Motor Werks :D

First off great job!!!!
second how much would you be selling them for?

Sun Aug 15, 2010 6:57 pm

Hey guys for those of you that are wondering about 4WD Subaru drivelines.
I have a build thread going "4WD conversion begins" where I am building a 4WD Manx using Subaru components. This could be replicated fairly easily for a Schwimmwagen I would think.

My website www.subarugears.com now sells reversed R & P sets for Subaru gearboxes. These can be used in 2WD and/or 4WD versions. $1500 USD including postage to your door. I would think though that you would want to transplant the complete 4WD setup though, to get in and out of muddy banks.

I am also working on an adaptor plate/bellhousing so you can hang a VW aircooled motor off the Subaru driveline, retaining as much 'VWness' as possible, if you're not a fan of the Subaru water cooled boxer motor. We are doing our first prototype now.

Swingaxle will be somewhat of a challenge, someone will need to think about how to use axles and CV's in a Shwimmwagen and make it all work with trailing arms or otherwise....

Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:19 pm

This makes me wish i took better care of my G.I. Joe Schwimmwagen.

Thu Aug 19, 2010 5:30 am

Neto wrote: Mr Slug wrote: Thanks Guys - your very kind.

I didn't fully appreciate just how much fun these little trucks could be.
This one was very much an experiment, and I had intended it to be a one off - however, my PM box is filling up with so many offers to buy it, I am very seriously considering making a batch.

I'd appreciate any thoughts any of you had on that - PM me by all means.

Thanks again,

Mr Schlug. Direktor Shlugsburg Motor Werks :D

First off great job!!!!
second how much would you be selling them for?

Well, I just now trying to figure that out. I know I could make one for about £25,000 - but I feel that is too much money, so am trying to get a better price from the subcontractor for 10 sets of the steel sub frames, floor pans, and all the steel body fabrication to be done.

Give me a week or so.

It is a difficult thing, because the more I make the cheaper they are - the cheaper they are the more I can make.

There has been so much interest that I am thinking maybe 10 is the amount I can sell. That helps with the cost because the former cost is devided by 10, not 5 so the amount applicable to each vehicle is halved. etc

Any one be interested ?