World-famous WWII Air-Cooled VW collection on display at Funfest

EFFINGHAM, Ill. – Mid America Motorworks, Air-Cooled Volkswagen aftermarket parts and accessories company, will display rare and unique WWII style vehicles at Funfest for Air-Cooled VW 2013. A selection from the world-famous collection of Dr. Mac Jones will make the journey to Effingham for the 15th annual event May 31-June 2.

Included in the display will be a Kübelwagen, Schwimmwagen and KdF-Wagen. All three of these vehicles were produced by VW and used by the German military during WWII. The Volkswagen Kübelwagen, literally translated as “tub truck,” for its resemblance to a metal bathtub on wheels, was based heavily on Ferdinand Porsche’s early Beetle designs and became a light military vehicle known internally as the Type 82. The VW Thing sold in the 1970s and used by many European countries as a responder and military vehicle was clearly designed along the simple lines of the Kubelwagen. 50,435 Kubels were produced. It is estimated that there are 150 in the United States and approximately 1,000 worldwide.

The Volkswagen Type 166 Schwimmwagen is an amphibious four-wheel drive off-road vehicle used extensively during the war with a unitized bodytub structure for smooth movement through the water. The VW Type 166 is the most numerous mass-produced amphibious car in history. 15,584 “Schwimms” were produced. There are approximately 100 on the Schwimmwagen registry including 1 in New Zealand and another in Japan.

The KdF-Wagen was set up by Hitler’s “Strength through Joy” organization as an affordable car for the people. Due to the shift to wartime production, no consumers ever received a KdF-Wagen; only a few military personnel had possession of the vehicle. After WWII, the vehicles were ordered destroyed which makes them extremely rare. This vehicle was the closest predecessor of what we now know as the Volkswagen Beetle. There are just 50 KdF-Wagens on the register with 5 of them listed under the Dr. Mac Jones collection.

Mid America Motorworks is celebrating the event’s 15th Anniversary with a Magical Mystery Funfest. In addition to this unique collection of Air-Cooled VW’s the event will include Celebrity Choice car judging and slalom races. Funfest will also bring an all new line up of seminars with a new location and will be exhibiting more suppliers and vendors than ever.

For the latest updates and to register, visit www.funfestacvw.com. All participants registered by May 15, 2013 will receive preferred pricing on weekend admission and the Funfest t-shirt and a goody bag, while supplies last.