Kubelwagen Replica Legal in U.S?

So , today I was surfing the Internet , and I got curious how much a Kubelwagen or a replica would cost. According to various sites , it would be at least 15k. But that also got me wondering : if you had a Kubelwagen or replica , would it be street legal to just drive around and see the looks on people's faces?
If you got your hands on one of the Kubelwagens that had MG 42s or MG 34s , would that be legal to drive around (pretending to be Wehrmacht soldiers and driving around and yelling German around would be fun...)

 

Umm...if the car was registerable (as a normal car) - Some places have vintage car plates...as for the MG42? No...most places ban replica weapons.
Just my two cents...

 

They used to sell Kubelwagens in the 60's and 70's as the Volkswagen "Thing." They were quite inexpensive - about the same price as the "Bug." You could probably pick up a used one for a lot less than 15K.

As for mounting an MG42, it would depend on what state you live in. Here in Arizona, if you had a legal full auto MG42 it would be perfectly legal to drive around with it mounted on your car. I suppose you'd have to aim it skyward to avoid pointing at anyone because that might be interpreted as "brandishing" a weapon. In liberal states, even a replica might be banned.

 

Okay. As for the MG , I didn't actually plan on buying one and mounting it or getting a replica Porsche model with a MG on it. How much do you think I could get a Volkswagen KdF wagen?

 

The VW type 82 is the original WW2 design. The VW 181 was the "Thing" the version produced for the Bundeswehr in the 1970s and built in the US and Mexico. Should be plenty of these around. You can fit your MG42 to a type 82 for authenticity or an MG3 to a type 181 as an erzatz wehrmacht - authentic Bundeswehr look.

 

I slept several times in a VW 181 during exercises as a soldier of the Bundeswehr. I would not like to own one, even for free. It was unreliable and freezing cold in there, air cooled engines doesn't heat.
It was slow, thirsty, fragil, loud, the seats were rubbish - a horrible car.

 

All of those things were true about the original Willies Jeep, except for the reliability part. They were loud, badly suspended and uncomfortable. Most people on this side of the pond would want one in spite of all that. It has appeal just for the simplicity. None of that is true of the newer Jeeps - they are entirely different vehicles, just using the same body shape.

I understand why the OP would want a Kubelwagen. It has the same basic simplicity as the old Jeep. Four wheels and a motor.

 

The difference between a VW 181 and the Jeep: it is hideous.

If you want simplicity an the "kreng, kreng" sound of the old air cooled Volkswagens, then buy a usual beetle.
This is a proper car with the same engine, as easy to repair and to maintain as the VW 181.

The only appeal of the militäry version is, that you can remove the top - in a few minutes. Maybe it is a funny car in California.
The VW 181 is RWD only, offroad-capability is limited.

For those, who don't know what it looks like:
http://ww3.autoscout24.de/classified/274389068?asrc=st|as

 

I love the look! Minimalist...

You wouldn't buy an old Willies or the "Thing" (as it was marketed in the US) as your primary vehicle. You'd buy it to restore to original condition (ask our member George Patton about that) and to drive with the top down on a sunny summer day.

There's even a HUGE market for old VW vans here in the US. They are very underpowered, and the engine inside the driving compartment is noisy enough to make you insane. Yet, somebody is always finding a rusted out old VW van in a barn someplace then spending tens of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours of time and work to restore them to original condition. You can't explain that. Certain vehicles just have a cult following and most military vehicles fall into that category.

 

I've known several people with Kubles, and one used to drive his downtown often. He had historic plates for it that he would remove for reenactments. I rode with him, and he would get strange looks from some people, most just didn't know what to do, except get out of the way. Most of the looks came when he wore his uniform too.

 

http://www.ww2f.com/topic/50582-building-a-willys-mb-jeep-from-scratch/

I did drive it in the winter once - during a light snow - just to get the full "Ardennes Experience". On a totally unrelated note, that was the last time I'll do that.

 

If you absolutely must have a Beetle, and thus want to feel like you're sitting slumped sideways inside a giant vibrator, you might as well make it an interesting Beetle:
1941 Type 877






I wouldn't dismiss Type 82 style Kubelwagen's off-road ability too easily either.
Not 4wd, but very light. I've seen them pull off quite impressive mud-plugging and hill-climbing. Something to be said for light and simple; Beetles, counter-intuitively, used to be highly recommended for Africa/rough country trekking.

 

Like for like, I think the 1/2 or 3/4 tonne Landrover was better. My driver once advertised his for sale in the small adds column of the UK forces newpaper. "3 litre convertible, fitted for radio, in tasteful British radio green and black". For the cold war experience a Daimler ferret or a CVRT would be more fun. Both serious sports car pedigree engines, but like much briotish engineering a nightmare to maintain.

This 1954 Ferret (the Daimler "181" to Daimler Dingo "82" would cost £3,500 which is not a lot for a classic Daimler. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C628360 The description of the "engine turns etc" tells me that the fluid flywheel is XXXXed the typical 9and expensive) problem.

This is a classic for the German autobahn or Paris driving. With the govenor removed it would easily do 100kph - just don't try to corner . One of ours was being chased by an impatient Ford Capri driver tailgating and flashing his lights. A touch on the disc brakes resulted in the front end of the capri looking rather crumpled and some paint scratches on the 1/2 armour plate.The absence of any crumple zones means that whoever hits you comes off worst, but little need to risk the no claims bonus

I can recommend the CVRT series originally powered by the 4.2;l engine in the 1960s Jaguar. These would do over 70 mph (120 kph) - as reported as they were cught speeding on a motorway. Sod the replical MG42, Go for a 30mm or 76mm main armament. http://www.tanksforsale.co.uk/CVRT_Sabre%20British%20tank%20for%20sale.html

Or how about £12,500 for a low mileage an off road RV/ Mobile panic room ideal for the survivalist tourist?.
http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/related/46202/Alvis_Stormer.htm
The Stomer is the coupe version , for slightly more you could have the Estate version which might be licenced for use on British roads.
http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/related/71822/Spartan_CVRT.htm

For £55,000 you can buy one already fitted to sleep. http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/,37,/63835/CVRT_Samaritan_Fully_reconditioned.htm

Being British they all are fitted with kettles/ deep fat fryers to supply tea and fish and chips on the move.

 

Here's a real interesting one. The twin carb Radclyde Roadster built for Col Radclyffe in 1946 when the British REME were running the VW factory

 

Major Hirst and his boys did a very magnanimous thing at VW.
Or a bloody irritating thing.
I can never quite decide...