Has anyone been to the War Memorial in Canberra recently?

I took this photo there in 1993 when I visited. The Kubelwagen was on display in the North Africa gallery. From my understanding, the Kubel was originally imported into Australia by the Army in the late 1940s. As you can see, it was barricaded off so I couldn't crawl around on the floor under it. But it does look like it's been heavily repainted, and not in running condition.

I know the War Memorial has been extensively renovated over the last 10 years. Is this Kubel still on display?

I was there a couple of years ago and didn't see it. Might have missed it though as I am sure I didn't get to every area in there but I was looking for it.

Cheers

Yogie

I went there 2 years ago for year 6 canberra trip and noooo it was'nt there i would have noticed it. Sad it's not still there. From Dylan

The Australian War Memorial do still have it, but their display changes periodically. They have an enormous collection of vehicles and artifacts being maintained in storage, several times larger than what they can display.

After typing the above, I just went and had a quick search of their database. It's definitely still around, as shown here: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/REL/12478.001 

The page says that it's been restored by the RAEME with a modern Beetle engine, post-war NATO tyres and new canvas seat covers. It's also apparently missing the original dashboard, wiper motor and wiper arms, side mirrors and door handles.

Thanks for the link - brilliant. Glad to see the AWM is well organised and they do a brilliant job. Their photo database has plenty of photos of Aussie soldiers in North Africa with captured Kubelwagens. Pity it's not on display at the moment, but yes it's quite understandable that they could only show a fraction of their collection at any one time. The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney has the same problem, and I'm told that the Smithsonian can only display 1% of theirs.

That Kubel was the first VW to ever come to Australia so it's a very historic vehicle.

So there's the AWM Kubel, and Ray Black's one that he imported in the 1980s. Are there any other genuine Kubels in Australia that you know of?

Hi Phil,

My parents were down in Canberra last year and went to an open day of the War Memorial warehouse. My Dad took some photos of the Kubelwagen, which I have on the computer at home. I'll try and dig them out.

Cheers
Craig

I may be incorrect with my time scale,
but in about 1984 I went to the war museum here on the gold coast
and that kubel was on display at that time...it had been there for years.
I had heard that the War Memorial purchased it from the fellow not long afterward.
I am sure the original owner of the War Museum here on the GC is still in the same location,
but would likely be in his mid 70s by now.
His daughter went to miami high shool from memory....but he may have more on he story of when, and how he acquired it.

Where is the War Memorial's warehouse?

That would be very interesting Dave, as it would indicate that the AWM's Kubel might not be the one the Army brought here in 1945 - or at least that the Army didn't give it to the AWM in 1945. The Army might have sold it first (the two Beetles they brought here in 1946 were put to auction) and it might have done the rounds of various owners and museums. I can remember seeing a Kubel on display in a garage in Dover Heights in the early 1970s; it might be the same one, later to end up in QLD and then the AWM. Who knows but it sounds like there is a story waiting to be uncovered...

QLD had some interesting cars in museums in the 1980s. Gilltrap's museum had the Haenel's '46 Beetle (now in the York museum in WA), as well as the 'Genevieve' Darracq from the film, and one of the genuine movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bangs. All gone now though.

I went last week and i did not see it, I might have missed it,
but that would be highly unlikely

The AWM has a storage annex at Mitchell in the north of Canberra. Originally this was only used as a works area for the AWM but in the mid 90's they changed part of it to a viewing area for the public, to be opened on rare occasions. These days it opens twice a year and the public is able to look at certain items on display in part of the Mitchell annex.

I talked to a member of the AWM a year ago about the Kubel, it had been moved to Mitchell during a routine rotation of display items (as described above), and they were also looking at maybe giving it a cleanup at that point. I was told by a friend who went to the last public day (late 09) that the Kubel was on display in the Mitchell area.

No doubt one day it will return to the main AWM display.

Here are the photos my Dad took last May (same day as the Nationals) at the AWM storage facility. You can see in one the photos that the Kubel is marking its territory on the floor. I do have the full size images if anyone is interested.

Visited the Australian War Memorial and checked out their Kublewagon, bit hard to take pictures but here we go.

If that's a Type 82 Kubelwagen, shouldn't it be RHD?

Umm, but that's two different vehicles or at least two different plates. The kubel was there about a year ago - not at the annex but in the main building. Will try to stop by tomorrow after work and take a look.

Phil74camper, in answer to your query about others , I had mine here for about 22 years and sold it to Tony in New Zealand about 2008.
He has restored and registered it.

As it was........

As it is now.........

Okay the one in the actual War Memorial (as opposed to out at the Annex at Mitchell) is still there and it is the one pictured above by dubbyfan with the swastika flag on the front bonnet. Not sure what is out at Mitchell as they only open that once per year and its in September.

whats the swastika and palm tree mean?