A selection of my personal photos covering the WWII German Opel Blitz truck. Offered as reference for the model builder.

All photos unless otherwise credited: Copyright Michael Koenig 2014 All Rights Reserved.
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Blitz 4x2 towing the Museum's 75mm PAK 40 - Seen at Ft. Knox military event.


Blitz 4x4 (notice shadow of front differential) towing 75mm PAK 40 - Seen at Lowell, Indiana military event: Buckley Homestead


Blitz 4x4 towing 75mm PAK 40 - Seen at Lowell, Indiana military event: Buckley Homestead.


Blitz 4x2 SEEN IN PARKING LOT of Patton Museum, Ft. Knox. KY.
Note: Front mounted tow hitch for easy positioning of towed gun and bumper mounted horn!



Blitz 4x2 SEEN IN PARKING LOT of Patton Museum, Ft. Knox. KY.
Note: Notice how the front fenders intrude up into the bottom edge of the hood. (bonnett) A clear indicator that this is a 4x2 Blitz.

Mike Koenig Photos - All Rights Reserved

very nice , thank you. So tiny of a truck. Is that a Pak 38? Seem's too small for a Pak 40?

Beautifully clean 4x4 Blitz, also with front mounted hitch. Seen at Lowell, IN military event; Buckley Homestead

Note: The 4x4 Blitz sits higher therefore the front fenders are placed lower down and further to the rear. The bottom edge of the hood (bonnett) is straight and does not have the upwards arch as seen on the 4x2 truck. Also note the construction of the front bumper on the 4x4. It is an integrual part of the front body rather than just a curved strap of metal as on the 4x2.
(Photo Mike Koenig)

Another clean Opel 4x4 seen at the Lowell, IN. event.
Note: Straight line of bottom edge of hood denoting a four wheel drive vehicle.
(All photos Mike Koenig)


And the interior.
Note: Top gun rack bracket just to the left of the glove box grab handle. Also notice electric defroster glass mounted to inside of driver's side windshield.


Spot Light.
Note: Driver's side vent wing window - a detail left out of many models!)


Load box mounted semaphore style turn signal.


Transfer case front view.
Note: Opel was owned by GM both before and after the war. Transfer case is very similar to that of Canadian built Chevy CMP 100 cwt. truck. (Just in case you were looking for an Italeri model you can steal one from!)


Rear view of transmission showing driveshaft to transfer case and also driveshaft to front axle differental.


Rear of transfer case showing mounting bolts and rear axle driveshaft.


Another view of rear of transmission showing short shaft driveshaft going to transfer case.


Drivers side view of 4x4 Opel Blitz.


Rear view of load box. Note: Spare tire mount.

Mike Koenig Photos - All Rights Reserved

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An example of European WWII style "trafficators" as seen below:

Definately a PAK 40.

VERY RARE, long frame, 3 ton Opel Blitz 4x2. Built on surplus Opel bus frames, the vehicle utilized a special cab referred to as the "Omnibus Cab". Seen here at the Victory Museum, Auburn, IN.
(All photo Michael Koenig)


Victory Museum, Auburn, IN.


Rear arched frame cross member, common on the Blitz bus (and on these long frame "Omnibus" trucks.)


Londitudal frame members were also arched over the rear axle area allowing the bus frame to ride lower over the rear axle giving the taller bus body a lower overall center of gravity.
Note: Underslung leaf springs that mount below the axle to again lower the overall height of the vehicle.


Looking over the driver's side running board we see the depressed frame arching up just under cab firewall in the front as well.


Note: "Trailer in Tow" warning sign in the retracted position on top of the cab roof.
Also of Note: "Suicide" doors!


Interior view, Omnibus Cab. Victory Museum, Aurburn, IN.


Cab running board supports. (Front of vehicle is to the left.)


Center frame cross member. The Omnibus had a split rear driveshaft with an additional bearing (pillow block) located approximately one-third of the way back the length of the shaft.
All above Mike Koenig Photos - All Rights Reserved

Box art of 1/72nd scale Blitz bus model manufactured by RODEN.






Note: Usually the spare tire was stowed up under the rear of the bus in the body cutout that you see here. But obivously in some cases a frame extension and tow hitch were added for towing a trailer.






All photos above found on internet.
Old, old, OLD 1/35th scale Vac-form kit for the Blitz bus in process.

Photographed at Lowell, IN. Buckley Homestead.
Mike Koenig Photo - All Rights Reserved




Another nice 4x4 Blitz from the Lowell event.


I show this last, somewhat fuzzy photo primarily because a high level shot is so rare to see.
(Once again, all photos copyright Michael Koenig)

Light weight Opel Blitz 1500 - smaller and lighter than the standard 3 ton rated Blitz 2000.


Vistory Museum, Aurburn, IN. (Mike Koenig Photos)

An Italeri Blitz where I cut down the load box to make the low bodied "curbside" version of this vehicle.
(Those rear wheels certainly need some additional weathering! - - I'll get right on it!)

The standard Opel Blitz "Mule" or Multier.
KRUSE Victory Museum, Auburn, IN.
Mike Koenig Photo - All Rights Reserved

Opel Blitz 4x4 towing 37mm PAK 36 Anti-tank gun. Buckley Homestead; Lowell, IN.
Mike Koenig Photo - All Rights Reserved

Vehicle is converted from Italeri 4x2 into 4x4 Opel Blitz with trailer in 1/35th scale.
Modified driveline parts were taken from the Italeri Chevy CMP 100wct. British truck. (Opel was owned by Chevy in the US prior to the war so it is reasonalble to think the 4x4 components would be the same or at least similar.) The Opel fenders, hood and bumper were modified and/or scratch built. Trailer chassis was scratch built. Trailer load box is standard Opel Blitz load body.
(Model and photography by Mike Koenig)

4x4 conversion for Opel Blitz Ambulance under construction.
The body still needs to sit lower on the chassis and the height of the shelter body needs to be reduced by removing the 6"-8" of wall height above the windows. (See prototype photo that follows.)








Completed 4x4 driveline for Ambulance.
(Model and photos above Michael Koenig)

2x4 Blitz. Note front mounted hitch and placement of vehicle horn.
Mike Koenig Photo - All Rights Reserved

Standard 3 ton 4x2 Opel Blitz - Victory Museum, Auburn, IN.
Mike Koenig Photo - All Rights Reserved

Patton Museum Event, Ft. Knox, KY.
Mike Koenig Photo - All Rights Reserved

Tons of conversion possibilities!










This last photo is credited to Sante Candia

Most of these photos were taken by the fellow who owns this vehicle, whom I met online. Sorry but if I can I will pull up his name from my files.

The early Blitz had a three ton rating. Compare that to the 2 1/2 ton rating of the GMC Deuce and a half. The Blitz was routenely overloaded and with the later addition of rear booster springs the vehicle received a FOUR ton load rating.

So . . . Not so small after all.

Here is a link to a nice Opel Blitz page that shows several good photos of the rear axle booster leaf springs:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1305114119/Tamiya+Opel+Blitz+questions

Blitz seen at Lowell, IN. event.
Mike Koenig Photo - All Rights Reserved

V-2 cable service vehicle.






Latest Blitz offering from Dragon

And while we are on shelter bodies and unlimited variants!








All photos found on internet. Last photo from Sinsheim Museum - Photographers unknown.


Photo for discussion only - Copyright Dennis Matthies

Absence of "Opel Blitz" logo on front radiator cowl usually indicates a vehicle built under license by Mercedes.

KRUSE Victory Museum - Auburn, IN.

These photos show the detailing of the shelter box body. I do realize this example is mounted on a 4x2 Mercedes chassis. However given the number of Mercedes WWII trucks out there in model form I think the reference still applies.








Mike Koenig Photos - All Rights Reserved

Shelter box details:





KRUSE Victory Museum, Auburn, IN.
(All photos Mike Koenig)