I have the Best Wife in the World

[Mike Sal]

I had convinced Sonya that we should take some saved money that's earning nothing in the bank & invest it in some toys that will provide a better return.  I told her we could have fun with the BMW & when finished with it, it would be worth more than when we purchased.......sounded good until I smashed it up last saturday & she began questioning why she married me.......

But, Sunday we took a bike ride down to Clarksville, Tn to visit a reenacting buddy who had another toy for sale......and now we own a reproduction Kubelwagen.  I know it's not a motorcycle, but thought you folks would get a kick out of seeing.  It needs some cleaning up, but as long as I don't smash it up on a trailer, we should be able to have some fun with it.

Have I mentioned how much I love my wife?
Mike Sal

[Ricks]

Nice Mike.  VW's is where I got my start.

Here were my last 2 projects before the simplex fever took hold.

[Mike Sal]

Very cool cars Rick.  I had forgotten you were a peoples car guy.  I always had a weak spot for the carman ghia.

I will probably try picking your brain sooner or later, as I've never owned one before.  One question I know I have is how difficult is it to install a limited slip differential?  The original Kübel was the first production use of the limited slip from what I've read.  The chassis & engine this rig is built on is supposed to be a '72.
Mike Sal

[Ricks]

Very cool cars Rick.  I had forgotten you were a peoples car guy.  I always had a weak spot for the carman ghia.

I will probably try picking your brain sooner or later, as I've never owned one before.  One question I know I have is how difficult is it to install a limited slip differential?  The original Kübel was the first production use of the limited slip from what I've read.  The chassis & engine this rig is built on is supposed to be a '72.
Mike Sal

A factory limited slip is just about impossible to find.  They were built by ZF, and I think the supply dried up years ago.  At one time they were the hot ticket for drag cars, but have been replace by the aluminum spool.  I think Quaife is the only maker now, but be ready for sticker shock.  They are around $1300! 

[Mike Sal]

Story of my life.....dollar short & a dollar late.....

There is a local business in our area that used to be big into VW's  They probably had 3 acres of beetles & vans in their salvage pile.  These days the lot is mostly grown up in weeds & a lot of the cars were scrapped.  I'll have to check with them to see if they've got anything laying around. 
Mike Sal

[Bruce]

Isn't that one of those cars that gave the " thing" a start?

[Ricks]

Isn't that one of those cars that gave the " thing" a start?

I'd bet that car is a Thing that has been converted to resemble a real kubel.

[WillH]

Looks like a genuine Type 82 "bucket car".

Will

[Stafford]

Hi Mike,
Glad to hear you bounced back and on you feet and running.
No need to get down over spoiled grapes or broken BMWs.
I think yow just might be the living proof of the old saying,
                   HAPPY WIFE - HAPPY LIFE
There was a guy in Houston that ran around in a Kubelwagon years ago.
Everywhere he went it always drew a crowd.
I'll bet you will have as much fun with it as you do with all your toys.
Make sure you take Ms. Sonya to dinner and buy her flowers.
Cheers
Stafford

[Mike Sal]

The VW thing is a similar decendant of the type 82.  Parked side by side there are significant differences (the thing is much bigger).  The original Kübel prototypes didn't have doors.  For some reason regulations said that vehicles with out doors had to have bucket seats....that's where the nickname "bucket wagen" came from.

These reproductions are very close to the originals & you have to know the vehicles to spot the differences.  They were built by an outfit in Arizona that specializes in making reproduction military vehicles.  My buddy was going thru some financial hard times & made me a deal I couldn't refuse.  I had ridden in this vehicle at several reenactments, so I knew it was reliable.

Amen brother about the wife....she's a keeper.  I'm taking her this afternoon to Peoria, IL for a ww2 reenactment this weekend!  She's got her period dress all ready for the uso dance!

I found a guy in the states that has some of the parts I need to fix the bike, so that will reduce the cost of the repair parts somewhat.....shipping from europe is terrible.....but then I got reminded from a buddy in new Zealand about how easy we have it here in the states.....
Mike Sal
Mike Sal                                                                                         

[bjm]

you guys are killin me with the wife stuff

[Stafford]

Hey Mike,
I see you like the WW-2 reenactment stuff.
A few years ago I got to go to the Tora Tora Air Show pilots party in Houston.
These guys may have a few years on them but man do they know how to party.
We're talking everything from fly bys  to firing cannons.
I think I know why they are known as the "Greatest Generation"
They compromise nothing even their fun.
Cheers
Stafford