By James Hale, With permission from total VW Magazine www.totalvw.co.uk , Photos: Bart Lemmens

Subtitle:
Bob van Heyst is passionate about the vehicles in his large collection of
vintage VWs. As the head honcho of VW parts distributor BBT in Belgium, he has more reason than most to be seriously involved in the preservation of unique and historically interesting vehicles that have come from the VW factory. James Hale starts Total VW exclusive BBT Tour with the superb 1943 KdF Type 166 Schwimmwagen, one of a  barn-full of rare and collectable VWs that Bob has accumulated over the years.

What is more surprising, though, is that these are not just museum pieces they really do get used, as I found out at Euro 2000 in Holland, when Bob kindly took the Type 166 with myself and other passengers for a schwimm in the local lake. It was a truly awesome experience just driving a car into the water and then cruising around like a boat once the rear-mounted propellor was engaged. A side-mounted wooden oar was even thoughtfully provided in case we wanted to quietly paddle the boat without the engine, as would have been the case on wartime military manoeuvres after dark, or to reverse the vehicle.

The Schwimmwagen is certainly one of the most fascinating German wartime vehicles because of its amphibious and cross-country capability, facilitated by Porsche-designed technical advances. These included the four-wheel drive system that gave it such agility, the Zentralschmierung or centraloiling system that made it easy to lubricate all the moving parts after a dip in the water, and the use of the 25 bhp KdF engine which, at 1131cc (75 x 64mm), was the first VW to use this engine. 

Although some variants appeared for different wartime uses, and in different paint schemes, all those produced after March 1943 were coloured tan, with camouflage being applied in the field. Bobs schwimmer is this colour, and was left in Czechoslovakia at the  end of the war. Amazingly it wasn?t broken up or stripped for parts, and was used by a local fire brigade as a boat, so it remained watertight. There is still one of the original front seats in it, though the other front and two rear seats were replaced later. Bob told me that it is still possible to get Schwimmwagen panels reproduced in former Iron Curtain countries, though no-one has yet managed to reproduce this complete masterpiece of mechanical sophistication, designed by Ferdinand Porsche nearly 60 years ago. 
There were some 14,276 Schwimmwagens actually produced, but with a life expectancy of just three weeks when used in action, they are not exactly commonplace.  Since many of the vehicles left in the world are owned by such a diverse range of owners (museums, engineering collectors etc), it has always been difficult to establish just how many there actually are, and Bobs example was one of those that was previously unknown. His Schwimm was imported into Holland as late as 1976, where it was restored by an amphibious car club. Then in 1989 the owner died, and his wife sold the vehicle to Klaus Jansen, who continued the original restoration. He added the correct rudimentary dashboard, fitted an original tiny speedometer in the central switch panel housing, and repaired the propeller. This propeller, which has a protective guard around it to prevent damage in shallow water (and to keep fingers out) can be raised and lowered by a long hook device, and is secured by a strap when the car is driven on land.  With the propeller swung down into position, it engages into a drive shaft hub that is chain driven off the main crankshaft pulley at the rear of the vehicle.  This is directly in line with the crankshaft at the base of the large engine bay.  With its high sides well above water level, and top-engine access panel, the engine bay remains dry, and is fed with air courtesy of an air intake grille on the top of the body, and between the rear seats.Klaus eventually decided to sell the Schwimm, and Bob was first in the queue to buy it!  Back at BBT?s workshops, a set of original 7" x 16" original steel wheels were put on to replace the repros that it came with (the 166s were available with three wheel and tyre size combinations), plus some new 5.20 x 16" crossply Continental tyres. These German made tyres cost 450DM each, and they are only made once in every 10 years, which is why Bob doesn't use the Schwimm on roads too much, as they only last about 3000km. The front suspension was also restored, and new bearings were fitted at the back. The familiar king and linkpin front suspension design is modified, featuring a split, independent suspension for each wheel.  Front wheel traction is provided by a ZF limited slip differential giving the automatic self-locking feature that was a pre-requisite for full off-road capability.

At the rear, the swing-axle transmission is fitted with reduction boxes at each wheel for greater ground clearance, and ease of altering gear ratios. The non-synchromesh transmission provides four forward gears in both two and four-wheel drive, and an extra-low forward crawling'' gear (for climbing) which automatically engages four-wheel drive. The selector for the high and low ratios, and four wheel drive, is situated near the gear lever for ease of use, and an instruction plaque is fitted to the dashboard for the driver's attention. There is also a reverse though, as Bob pointed out, on water there are no gears just a speed up to 10km/h. 

The engine is equipped with an air cleaner drawing air from a chamber above water level, and should run a carburettor with twin float chambers to prevent fuel starvation during off-road activity. However, the last time Bob saw such a carb for sale it was about 1650 Dm (that is the equivalent price for a Weber 48IDA), so he?s still looking.  At the moment a standard unit performs the carb duties. The engine exhaust system is mounted laterally across the rear bodywork at the top of the vehicle to stop any water getting in, and is quite noisy, especially for those in the rear. 

The interior of Bob?s (and all) Schwimmwagens is relatively spartan, as you would expect for a wartime vehicle. Besides the four seats, there is a grab-rail just behind the front seats to help those in the rear climb in and out, whilst also using the minimalist mudguards as a step.

In fact, the mudguards are better used as a plimsol line to check the boats level when immersed in water. Also inside are the wooden duckboards on which the driver and passengers could rest their feet without getting them wet, as some water does come into the vehicle. A few leaks occur around the bonnet-mounted spare wheel bolt holes, but it only lets in about 1 litres per hour, and there is an outlet to let it out when on dry land.

The three-spoke steering wheel is the same as that used in the Kubelwagen, and is purely functional. Steering for the vehicle in water is also done with the same wheel, using the front wheels for direction, rather than a rudder. It certainly handles quickly in the water, and is very manouverable. Occupants have little protection from the elements except for a basic, folding hood. Raised on a metal frame.