Leichter Panzerspähwagen

We have been collecting German armoured car parts for nearly 20 years. Many of the parts we have been offered, came without the knowledge of which Serie or variant the parts or panels related to. They are inevitably sold as German armoured car parts unless located through a specified search. Many of our Sd.Kfz.223 items, including turrets and a complete vehicle have been referred to as Sd.Kfz 221 parts by others. We have accepted everything regardless of whether they are for an early or late Sd.Kfz.223, Sd.Kfz.222 or Sd.Kfz.260 variant.

The reality is we are unable to predict what parts would be the next to appear, so have avoided turning down offers in the leichte Spähwagen range. We now as a result have many Sd.Kfz 234 parts, which we are very unlikely to use. The same happened with the Sd.Kfz.261 Ausf. B (5 Serie ) armoured car. Over time, more and more parts and body panels arrived, which were stored. Then one day a chassis was offered, which we accepted, and was subsequently delivered.

The Sd.Kfz.261 chassis was in two halves, having been split due to a traumatic event during WWII. At some point the chassis had also been stripped. This proves extremely unhelpful, as the earlier chassis components make it easier to track down components by comparison. However, we have subsequently had some success in locating many of the chassis components.

Research is a key part of any of our restoration projects. We investigate the development history of the vehicle, as well as its full history and where it served if possible.

Our initial survey showed that the design of the chassis had not stood the test of time. Exposure to rain or being buried underground for 70 years, had taken its toll. It had not weathered as well as the various earlier s.Pkw.I Fahrgestell Typ 801 chassis in our possession. The build design for the earlier chassis, appears to have been made from thicker channel section material.

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