By Maz Woolley
Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.
In my two previous articles on the two stroke car I looked at the development of two stroke engined cars in the pre-war years which was dominated by DKW, Germany’s second biggest car firm in the pre-war era, and Czech firms heavily influenced by their technology. The three wheel utility vehicles made by Tempo which also had two stroke engines were passed over but their post-war revival is covered in this article.
Although I will do my best to cover all the mainstream two-stroke cars and light commercials, and their models, my coverage will inevitably be incomplete. Readers with greater knowledge, or photographs of models that I have missed out, are invited to write to MAR Online to supplement the tale that I tell.
This article looks at the immediate post-war years, and in particular the return to production of two stroke powered vehicles in the areas occupied by the Western Allies. The rebirth of DKW is a significant part of this story, but others like Tempo and Goliath also form part of the tale. Another article will look at the immediate post-war two-stroke vehicle production in the DDR (East Germany).
The war ends
In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War Germany was a shattered country with extensive war damage and was divided into zones of occupation of the armed forces of the Allies: French, British, American and Soviet.
Map printed in 1945 from https://www.geographicus.com/ website
Production of civilian vehicles in the Western zones of Germany was slow to restart during the years of occupation as the need to clear the devastation and re-build basic services, agriculture, and accommodation was paramount. Even in the early 1950s many West Germans were still living in temporary accommodation, in huts and old military barracks for example. New cars and motorbikes were a luxury few could afford. Keeping pre-war and adapted ex-military vehicles running, getting public transport back in service, and providing commercial and construction vehicles, were the priority in these early years.
In late 1945 many Germans taken prisoners of war were held in labour camps in the zones of occupation, people had fled westwards with the advance of the Soviets too, so the workforce was displaced around the country. Germany had lost over 8% of its population in the Second World War and agricultural output had fallen to about a third of pre-war levels. This affected all the occupied zones. all sectors were affected by the loss of territory to Poland and the Soviet Union in the east and France in the west. This created an influx of German speaking refugees from those areas to the nearest zone of occupation putting still further pressure on resources in a shattered country.
The Allies systematically collected war reparations. The Americans focusing on obtaining designs and engineers in key industrial segments where they knew Nazi Germany had been leading scientific developments. Rocket Science was one where German Scientists and patents were gathered together and shipped to the US. The British did obtain some designs and use them but were less active than the Americans.
In contrast the Soviets focused on shipping as much industrial materiel back to the Soviet Union as it could, this was needed to bolster the output of its industrial sector. Skilled Engineers, industrial tooling, assembly lines and designs were shipped back to the Soviet Union on long and arduous railway journeys. Significant parts of the optical industries, many having been based around Dresden within the Soviet Zone, were moved to the Soviet Union for example. The Opel Kadett production line and machinery was put on railway trucks and taken to the Soviet Union where the car would later be modified and produced as a Moskvitch.
Even in the areas occupied by the British, French and Americans production of vehicles was slow to start. Volkswagen (British Sector) and Daimler-Benz (American Sector) re-started to service the armies of occupation. Volkswagen started off in a small way supplying batches of Beetles to the British Army who were short of vehicles for their policing tasks. Mercedes-Benz factories began production slowly depending on a substantial contract to service American Army vehicles having been stripped of all their factories except for the original four based in southern Germany in the American sector.
One of the direct impacts of war reparations was that DKW lost its patents and design rights. Copies of the popular pre-war RT Motorcycles were produced in Russia (Minsk, MMZ et al), Poland (SHL and Sokol), the Soviet zone of occupation (Motorad Zchopau), Britain (BSA Bantam), and America (Harley Davidson Hummer). A little later Yamaha used the free to all RT designs to create its first motorcycle: the Yamaha YA-1.
Pre-war DKW RT125 Brochure cover
As far as the production of cars and bikes were concerned the Auto Union company found its Chemnitz headquarters and the Wanderer, Horsch and DKW factories within the Russian Zone. Most pre-war engineers and workers had been conscripted into the Armed Forces. Those remaining running the factories during the war were often conscripted labour, including Poles and others, who left Germany at the end of the war. The Management and many remaining German workers in factories in Saxony had fled the advancing Russians if they could do so. By the end of the Second World War the factories in Saxony were badly damaged or destroyed, first by Allied bombing and then by the advancing Soviet forces, and their workforce dispersed. The future looked very bleak and it would have been no surprise if DKW and its cars had failed to re-emerge after the end of the Second World War.
Bombed out DKW Factory and destroyed DKW F8 vehicles – Photograph from https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/
After considerable tensions and conflict over the future of Germany between the French on the one hand, and the British and American on the other, the three western zones came together in early 1947 as a single entity. This was in response to the breakdown of any common ideas for the future of Germany with the Soviets who had imposed nationalisation, re-distribution of land, and communist organisational structures in their zone. Against that background the western allies supported the creation of the German Federal Republic, often called West Germany, in May 1947. In response the Soviet Union created a new state in their zone of occupation called the German Democratic Republic , also known as East Germany in the West. This state was created with state structures based on Soviet principles and was firmly within the Soviet sphere of influence.
DKW’s re-birth in Federal Germany
In the new West Germany Auto Union did not even exist as a company until it was formed in 1949. It was created initially to provide parts to keep the many pre-war DKW cars and bikes serviceable. But once established it began to produce vehicles again. Inevitably the revival of the two stroke RT Motorcycle range was a mainstay of the business and was undertaken in Ingolstadt which today is the headquarters of Audi. These included the pre-war 125 but gradually grew in size to meet market demands with the RT 175 being a popular model.
DKW RT175 1956 – from yesterdays.nl website
DKW Motorcycle Models
The 1952 DKW 175 featured in the Atlas Classic Motorcycles series made by PCT Industries who also made the related Ixo Museum Motorcycle models. This was made of diecast metal and plastic in China to 1:24 scale for Atlas of Switzerland.
Atlas (PCT Industries) DKW 125
Schuco also make a number of DKW Motorcycles from the post-war era and several to 1:43 scale feature in their PIccolo range as well being used as loads for commercial vehicles in their Edition 43 range..
Schuco Piccolo DKW RT 125
On the four wheel front the company had no tooling or production lines, though of course they had access to the pre-war DKW designs which were now ‘free to copy’ for anyone. This included the prototype F9 designs as well as the pre-war F8 designs.
Rather than put the now rather dated F8 back into production they decided to address the need for small delivery vans as they were urgently needed and few were being produced. The DKW Schnellaster, literally ‘Fast Truck’, also known as the DKW F89 L, was the result of this decision. This was produced in Ingolstadt from 1949 to 1962 and fitted with two stroke engines of between 700cc and 900cc. It was later produced in South America, Finland and Spain. The van was front wheel drive so it had a low flat floor making it easy to use and practical. Its comparatively small size was an advantage in narrow urban areas. It was also produced as a minibus and as a flatbed.
DKW Schnellaster restored by Audi from Dyler website
DKW Schnellaster brochure from The Truth About Cars website
Models of the DKW F89 Schnellaster
There are many ranges which have featured DKW Schnellaster right up to the present day.
The Schuco Piccolo range features vintage style solid metal models made to approximately 1:90 scale. The F89 has appeared in several liveries. Some photographs of these are shown below
F89 From eBay
F89 Piccolo in Schuco Livery – photo from eBay
F89 Schuco in Lufthansa Livery – photo from eBay
F89 towing speedboat in livery of Motor Klassik a German Magazine about Collectors cars
The ToyEko brand continues to make models in Spain which were originally made in the Anguplas range in the 1960s. It has a number of DKW Schnellaster models made in plastic in Spain to 1:86 scale which are pictured below.
Photographs from ToyEko website.
Other producers of models in 1:87 scale have also made Schnellaster vehicles, often in many different liveries.
Wiking F89 truck – an early unglazed model – image from invaluable.com
Wiking F89 Van – recent release – photograph FMB-Shop
Wiking DKW F89 in DKW livery – photograph Wiking
Wiking DKW Bus – recent release – photograph Wiking
Praline 1:87 scale F89 Schnellaster in Persil Livery
The photographs above are of a Praline model of the F89 which was made before the reunification of Germany as it is marked W. Germany on its baseplate. Of course Praline eventually became Busch and this range still sells DKW models today like the one shown below:
There are also several DKW Schnellaster models made to 1:43 scale. The number available is partly because the DKW vans were made in Spain as well as Germany. This means that Altaya, the Spanish face of De Agostini, have made several models as they appeal to the Spanish market.
A few models made to 1:43 scale are shown below.
F89 Promotional model marked Pro-Innovation Gmbh and made in China
The model shown above was acquired by the author from eBay and appears to be a promotional model available at a ‘Night at the Museum‘ event in 2006. Presumably at the preserved factory in central Ingolstadt where DKW production was located for many years. This is a simple model but captures the lines of the F89 well.
A partwork model of the F89 Van in the Spanish motorcycle manufacturer Derbi’s livery.
The model shown above is produced to a high standard, probably by PCT Industries, for a partwork publisher. There are a number of other liveries available on the same casting. Although the model has lots of detail items like wing mirrors, light lenses, neat number plates etc. it curiously lacks red lens detail at the rear.
DKW Partwork model F89 – photograph modelcarworld.de
Another partwork model but with several differences in the finish to the first one. Chrome grille rather than black, no lower body silver finish, and only one rear view mirror.
Schuco F89 in Zundapp motorcycle livery
Schuco F89 van towing a trailer with DKW motorcycles
Schuco Workers-Aid service F89 Van
Büssing Service Van Schuco F89
Schuco F89 as a flatbed coal delivery vehicle.
Schuco F89 Bus
Schuco F89 Ambulance
Schuco F89 truck with canvas tilt
Schuco have made full use of their 1:43 scale DKW castings with all the main variations of the body modelled in attractive and historical liveries.
Opening bonnet and engine modelling shown – photograph amazon.co.uk
Premium Classix F89 Livestock truck – photographs above from awesomediecast.com
Premium Classix DKW F89 Flatbed with tilt – photo from eBay
Premium Classix F89 in Lehner pens livery with advertising roof fitting – photo from eBay
Premium Classix is a premium brand made for modelcarworld of Germany in China to 1:43 scale. They feature a considerable level of detail and are price on a par with Maxichamps from Minichamps.
Other two stroke light commercials
DKW were not alone in making light commercials with two stroke engines in post war West Germany. The pre-war Tempo vehicles were relaunched after the war. The A400 Athlet was introduced in 1938 and was made after the war until 1948 largely unchanged. A twin cylinder two stroke engine was attached to the single front wheel and hinged off the bulkhead. Some documents fond on the web suggest that Tempo used versions of DKW engines to power their trucks.
Pre-war A400 Tempo Box van – photo from scrapushka-nsk.ru
In 1949 the Tempo Hanseat replaced the A400. Few differences between the models were obvious. It was powered by a two cylinder 396 cc, two stroke engine and power was transmitted through a 4 speed gear box to the front wheel through a chain drive arrangement. A 200 cc engine was also offered to allow younger drivers holding a German Class IV license to drive the pick ups.
Tempo Hanseat photograph detectandpreserve
The three wheeler, two stroke powered Goliath GD750 was a direct competitor for the Tempo Hanseat. Introduced in 1949 by the Borgward Group of Bremen. In total over 39,000 were made. Unlike the Hanseat the GD750 was rear wheel drive. It was powered by a 398 cc two stroke two cylinder engine, which drove the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual gearbox. A more powerful 465cc engine could be ordered if more power was needed.
Goliath GD750 box van -photograph Rudolf Simon
Restored Goliath GD750 in more common truck version showing rear wheel drive – photograph Lothar Spurzem
Other Two Stroke Utility Vehicles – Models
Again a large number of models in various scales are available. The ability to produce them in a wide range of liveries means that anyone that makes a model will make many variations.
Tempo Hanseat Models
Revell Praline Tempo Drierad 1:87
Busch Tempo Hanseat 1:87 – Photograph from DCC Train Automation website
Tempo Hanseat Wiking 1:87 – photograph from eBay
Tempo Hanseat Schuco 1:43 – photograph from eBay
Schuco 1:43 Tempo Hanseat – photograph nashhan.com
Goliath GD750 Models
Wiking 1:87 scale – Photograph eBay
NPE models 1:87 GD750 Flower Van
NPE models 1:87 GD750 Box van
NPE models 1:87 GD750 Newspaper delivery van
NPE models 1:87 GD750 Bakery van
Rendering of forthcoming NPE models 1:87 GD750 as Transporter
Rendering of forthcoming NPE models 1:87 GD750
Goliath GD750 Siku Museum exhibit – 1:60 scale – photograph Siku museum Netherlands
Norev 1:43 Goliath GD750 – photograph Budig Modellautos
Atlas Editions 1:43 Goliath GD750
Grell Nostalgia model 1:43 scale GD750 Beer delivery truck
Pola 1:22.5 scale Goliath GD750 – photograph amazon.co.uk
The photographs above show that there have been an abundance of models made of both the Tempo Hanseat and the Goliath GD750.
The next part of this series will look at the immediate post-war period in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and its slow return to two stroke car manufacture.
Acknowledgements
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