Specification Crew : 4 Engine power : 120 hp Combat weight :5.35 to 6.00 tons Max speed : road . 70 km/h Range : 300 km Length : 5.57 m Width : 1.82 m Height : 2.25 m Main gun : One 20mm KwK30 L/55 : One 7.92mm MG13 Armour : 5 mm to 8mm

The development of an armored car based on the chassis of a 6x4 truck was ordered in 1929.The three companies involved in the manufacture of the trucks were given contracts to modify their truck chassis to adapt them to a six-wheeled armored car.Thus , these early armored cars were basically an armored body fitted to a slightly modified truck chassis. The engine was still mounted in the front as in normal trucks.The chassis was strengthened to take the additional weight and a second steering control was added at the rear. The Sd Kfz 231 was issued to the motorized Aufklärungs detachments of the developing motorized forces in the German Army.The six-wheeled Panzerspähwagen were withdrawn from front-line service in 1940 because of their limited mobility off the road.