4×4S.ORGTHE REGISTRY NAMED MODEL · 1940–41
NAMED MODELGermany

Type 128 prototype (1940–41)

The Schwimmwagen prototype: a longer-wheelbase amphibian on Type 86 mechanicals, from which the production Type 166 was shortened and lightened.

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Sources & evidence
BASE VEHICLEType 166 Schwimmwagen (1941–44)BUILT BYPorsche, StuttgartIN SERVICE1940–41PRODUCTIONPrototypeLAYOUT4 wheels · 79″

The record

The Type 128 proved the idea and failed on the detail — the hull cracked under cross-country loads — so the Type 166 was drawn smaller. Both came from Porsche’s work at Stuttgart.

Research status: draft — identification, dates or figures could not all be pinned down; the summary says what is unresolved.

Specification

MANUFACTURED1940–41
ENGINE1,131 cc air-cooled flat-fourVolkswagen 1,131 cc flat-four
PRODUCTION RUNPrototype
COUNTRY OF ORIGINGermany
STATUSprototype
RECORD KINDNamed model
MODEL LINEWartime
FAMILYWartime
WHEELS4
NOMINAL WHEELBASE79″
BODY STYLEamphibious

Catalogue fields describe the vehicle's structure and body as this registry records it. They are not certified factory measurements, and no performance figures are published here.

Variants & colours

Base model variants

Factory colours

  • Panzergrau

Codes on hover. Hex values are representative approximations of period paint unless a source states a measured value.

AI rendering impression

An AI rendering impression starts from a 3D model of this vehicle, which an image model then paints into a scene. It is an artist's impression of the type, made to give a feel for the vehicle in its element — not a photograph, and not a record of any particular vehicle.

Proportions, fittings, markings, colours and the setting can all drift from the original in the process. For the vehicle's actual details, rely on the specification, the photographs and the cited sources on this page.

Sources

  1. 1Volkswagen Schwimmwagen ↗Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-23SOURCE

Registry record updated 2026-09-23 · status: draft