Collectors\' Motor Cars and Automobilia

MOTOR CARS | 127

Its name roughly translating as 'hunting car', the Jagdwagen was a
light military vehicle designed to fill much the same role as the Jeep,
VW Kubelwagen, and Land Rover. Porsche developed the prototype
in the early 1950s in response to a request from the German Army,
although the cheaper DKW Munga was preferred and the Jagdwagen
was never produced in significant numbers. 0n any case, Porsche had
nothing like the production capacity required to meet the Army's needs
in the proposed time scale. Development costs were estimated to be
approximately 1.8 million Deutschmarks.

The vehicle was propelled by the Porsche 356 sports car's air-cooled
Åat-four engine, which was located at the rear as in the donor car. Early
versions has the 1.5-litre engine, later ones the 1.6-litre unit, the latter's
50 horsepower maximum being good enough for a top speed of around
100kmh (2mph). Weighing 990 kilograms, the Jagdwagen featured
a five-speed manual gearbox with additional on-the-Åy twofour-wheel-
drive shifting. With a wheelbase of only 2,060mm, the vehicle could climb
gradients as steep as 65%.

The prototype body was manufactured by Porsche in Stuttgart with
later versions (featuring torsion-bar stabilisers) made by coachbuilders
Karmann. The monocoque bodychassis lacked doors, passengers
having to climb in and out over the high sills.

One advantage of this design was that the body was buoyant, making

the Jagdwagen effectively amphibious. Later versions came with doors

and a reshaped bonnet and front wings.

Only 71 Porsche 597s were manufactured between 1955 and 1958, 49

of which were built for the civilian market. Some within Porsche hoped

that the company would produce an updated vehicle based on the 597

platform with a strengthened chassis, extended wheelbase of 2,400mm,

and a range of five different body types. However, the proQect was

eventually cancelled and this new vehicle never saw the light of day.

Sold new in Germany, this rare Jagdwagen is one of those supplied for

private use rather than military purposes. It was purchased by the current

owner in Japan in 2012 following a worldwide search, and since then

has been used sparingly. The vehicle runs and drives and is described

as in very good cosmetic condition. 0t is only offered for sale because

the vendor has decided it is too precious to use on his country estate,

despite the fact that it was built for Qust such a purpose The ideal

acquisition for the Porsche collector who thought they had everything.

£170,000 - 200,000

€200,000 - 230,000