Wednesday, March 24, 2021

DKW F1, F7

 

1937 F7

Far ahead of its time, the popular DKW F series of the 30s were small simple cars featuring the now standard layout of a transverse front-mounted engine with front wheel drive, that's about 30 years before the Mini. 

The 600cc two stroke twin engine was in unit with the 3 speed transmission and differential giving a top speed of about 80 kph. The plywood bodied F1 below was introduced in 1931. By 1937, the body was still wood but now covered with steel panels (above).


The F1 twin-member chassis above had been simplified to the version below by 1937 but would still support a ludicrous amount of people for a silly photo, though no one seems amused..




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6 comments:

  1. pzakMarch 25, 2021 at 8:53 AM

    I have an 1934 F5 Meisterklasse (masterclass! Ha! interesting name) so I have seen this picture before. The consensus is that it has been altered. If you look under the car there is a strange looking area that has been retouched. The suspension is not compressed at all, clearly not possible with that load. Whether the chassis was blocked up only or additional supports also retouched out is open to question. There are some strange shadows on the car that have not been removed, Also why is the sun visor down? Possibly to conceal additional supports inside the car? Whatever it is a great picture and great car!

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    1. Paul MarkhamMay 22, 2023 at 10:52 AM

      There were several photos taken for the photo shoot which reveal that the car was actually placed on blocks which distributed the weight, which explains your observation that the suspension is not compressed. Similarly, the wooden platform was fitted to the roof so again the weight was distributed. One of the photos shows the car on its roof and the men standing on the underside of the car.

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  2. Mister GMarch 25, 2021 at 10:13 AM

    Controversy! Love it. From what I read, the car is interesting, very advanced and wonderfully simple. I've never seen one here in Canada

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  3. VectorWarbirdsMarch 25, 2021 at 12:45 PM

    I agree Pzak something is definitely fishy in Chemnitz:)

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  4. pzakMarch 25, 2021 at 1:54 PM

    Mine is actually a 1934 Jawa 700 ( yes that Jawa built cars also) which is a DKW F5 built under license in the Czech Republic. They lengthened it slightly and replaced the fabric with steel panels in some models ,still over wood. The cabin was plywood with fabric covering on all models, Otherwise the same car with DKW logos on the engine, etc. The Germans did not confiscate most of these for the war effort as they deemed a 2 stroke unsuitable for a car,hence many survived. Here is a picture .Not mine but off the web. https://www.eurooldtimers.com/eng/galerie-stroj/2362-1934-jawa-700-.html

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  5. Paul WilkinsonMay 4, 2021 at 6:08 AM

    Neither of the chassis shown represent the F1 model. At least as I know it.

    In my garage lies the remains of an original F1 which has two parallel chassis rails of a very crude ladder layout.

    However I have found it difficult to get any technical drawings/manuals for this car.

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