Schwimmwagen Type 166

The Volkswagen Beetle, which has been called a German national car, was conceived and designed in 1938 by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, the originator of the famous sports car manufacturer, "Porsche". The Beetle"s excellent features were matchless durability and inexpensiveness. Then, the German Army decided to develop a military vehicle based on this small, tough and inexpensive car. As a result, several kinds of military vehicles were manufactured for trial. The amphibious Schwimmwagen type 128 was one of them.. After further refinements, the vehicle was officially designated the "Schwimmwagen type 166" and mass production began in 1942. Its high-set exhaust pipe at the rear looked quite humorous but of course it was so set in anticipation of the vehicle"s use on the water. The rear mounted, air-cooled 4 cylinder engine had a displacement of 1,130cm and output of 25 horse power, propelling the car up to 80km/h on land, while on the water, to 10km/h. When running on the water, the vehicle used a screw at the rear. It was raised above the rear engine deck, once it was back on dry land. The steering on the water was done just like when it was on land by change of directions of front wheels, which served as a rudder. In total 14,276 type 166"s were produced by the end of 1944, and those were actively employed to fulfil reconnaissance, liaison and various other duties during World War II.

Access Models offers efficient delivery services within the UK and overseas, aiming to dispatch orders within 48 hours of receipt, contingent on payment confirmation. Standard UK deliveries are conducted via Royal Mail, typically arriving within 2-3 days, though customers are advised to allow up to 5 days. For expedited deliveries, the express service ensures next-day delivery for orders placed before 1pm, with specific provisions for orders placed over the weekend or on bank holidays.

Shipping charges vary based on the order value and destination. UK standard shipping costs range from £4.99 to £7.99, with additional surcharges for heavy items and non-mainland UK destinations, including specific regions like Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Jersey. We do not ship to PO Boxes and BFPO addresses.

For heavy, bulky, or restricted items such as large model kits and items containing hazardous materials, special shipping considerations apply. International shipping starts at £18, with varying costs and delivery times based on destination zones. Access Models does not ship to certain countries including Spain, USA, and Australia.

Customers may encounter customs fees on international orders, which are not included in our shipping costs and are the responsibility of the customer. In case of postal losses or damage, claims may take up to 30 days to process, and we require customer confirmation to initiate this process.

Returns are accepted within 14 days for change of mind and 30 days for faulty items, in line with the EU Distance Selling Directive. Access Models offers repair, exchange, or refund for eligible returns, excluding faults due to misuse or wear and tear. Customers are responsible for return postage costs, except in cases of damage or fault. Refunds are issued in accordance with the returns policy, excluding opened packages unless they are faulty.