DKW is still participating
in the Monte-Carlo Rally
Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique
by Morten Finborud
Almost from childhood, the Rallye Monte-Carlo has been "THE RALLY",
an almost mythical event starting in snow and cold weather and ending up
in the subtropical climate of Monaco. Starting from Oslo in Norway,
driving all way through Sweden, Denmark, Germany and France, and
finally ending up by the deep blue sea of the Mediterranean. I guess it
started when I was told that my granddad participated in the Monte-
Carlo back in 53 and 54, first time with an IFA F9, the last time with a
DKW F91. The story about him receiving the Cup for the best of the
Oslo starters from Prince Rainier has of course been a great driving
force for me.
Let's jump about...
DKW Enzmann 500 Spider
Developed and Built in Switzerland
by Dr Emil Enzmann
If you know the whereabouts of a
DKW Enzmann 500 Spider, please notify us!
1970 DKW TS159
DKW started Motorcycle production in 1919 at
Zschopau, Germany. By the 1930’s DKW was the
world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer and one of
the leading motorcycle racing teams.
1958 DKW RT200VS
1958 DKW RT200VS
1970 DKW TS159
1954 DKW RT125
1957 DKW Hobby
1958 DKW Hummel
1938 Auto Union D-Type
We express our sincere thanks to Gregor Schulz who’s
photographs, taken at the 1999 Goodwood Festival of Speed,
have substantially contributed to the content of this page!
Few people realise today, how successful
Auto Union was in dominating Grand
Prix racing during the thirties and how
many World Records, with speeds of up
to 440km/h they held, and how Audi is
continuing this racing tradition
Auto Union developed a revolutionary new Grand Prix car, under the
direction of Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, with 12- and 16-cylinder engines
installed behind the driver, with independent suspension and
aerodynamic bodies. These cars dominated car racing and set a host
of world records during the late thirties.
In 1937 Auto Union
amazed the world with these
12- & 16- cylinder Ra...
1931 DKW F-1 600cc
This car is one of the pioneers of front wheel drive,
which has continued to be used to this day by Audi.
Jörgen Skafte
Rasmussen
Danish engineer Jörgen Skafte Rasmussen was the originator of the
DKW, derived from Dampf – Kraft – Wagen (Steam powered
vehicle), since Rasmussen’s first design was a light steam car,
produced in 1916.
Rasmussen’s DKW engine, which went into production as a
motorcycle engine in 1919 in Zschopau, Germany, was a
very important development. By the 1930’s DKW was the
world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer.
The 1927/28 DKW P-15
with rear wheel drive and
a 500cc engine
In 1928 the engine was upgraded to power the first DKW car.
The same engine design was later adapted to power SAAB
motorcars and the Trabant in East Germany, where it conti...
DKW & Auto Union – Jörgen Skafte Rasmussen – This Danish born engineer
moved to Germany where he wanted to build a motorcar but fuel was almost
unobtainable at that time, so his first venture was the DKW, or Dampf – Kraft –
Wagen (Steam powered vehicle) in 1916. The steam car was not a success, as it needed
a constant supply of wood and water, which was not very practical. At this time he
became interested in the two stroke engine, which lead to the production of a small
18cc DKW toy engine in 1918, which was named “Des Knaben Wunsch”
(Every Boy’s Dream) and became an instant hit. When further developed, it was sold
as an auxiliary engine for bicycles in 1919, marketed as “Das Kleine Wunder” (The
Little Marvel) which was a great success, and was also sup...
Early (1929) two cylinder DKW rear wheel drive
Rasmussens DKW engine was a simple, but effective
design, with very few moving parts, which powered his
motorcycles from 1919. By 1929 DKW was the world’s
largest motorcycle manufacturer. The same basic engine
design was adapted for the DKW and Auto Union cars
and later also for SAAB and Trabant
The first 1927 DKW car engine,
which is the 2-stroke 2-cylinder 500cc unit for the F1
rear wheel drive car
The 2-stroke 2-cylinder 690cc F-7 Engine of Boet Ferreira’s
1937 DKW Racing Special
The 2-stroke 3-cylinder
900cc DKW Engine
The 2-stroke 3-cylinder
1000cc DKW Engine
The 2-stroke 3-cylinder
1200cc Engine
of the DKW F-102
The 2-stroke
V-6, 1300cc Engine
Photo: Martin Hesse
A 1000cc 2-stroke V-6 engine was developed for additi...
Coenraad Spamer racing his 1957 DKW 1000
With this 40 year old DKW Coenraad
was the Class Winner of the 1998 Season
Few people realise how successful
DKW is in winning races in South Africa,
since the thirties to this day
DKW's already made a name for themselves during the mid thirties.
One of these occasions was when a Mr V. Short in 1936 established
a new record at an average speed of 46 mph, taking 4 hours and
33 Minutes from Johannesburg to Pietersburg.
Coenraad Spamer's
First DKW Racing Car in 1964
DKW simply was the best racing car!
A young car enthusiast, Coenraad Spamer, travelled to Switzerland
and Germany in 1958. While in Europe, Coenraad was determined
to see some of the big car races at Zandvoort in Holland. He grabbed
the first opportunity to expe...
Side View of Boet Ferreira's 1937 DKW Racing Special
driven by present owner Hubert Ten Doeschate
The remarkable story
of this unique F-7 racing car
With the return of motorsport to South Africa after the second world
war, and the relative scarcity of suitable vehicles and funds, it was
customary to build 'specials' with pre-war car parts.
Front View of
Boet Ferreira's
1937 DKW Racing Special
One very ambitious young racer, "Boet" Ferreira, decided to build
such a racer with pre-war DKW parts. He also hoped to impress the
Auto Union factory in Germany, and get the agency for DKW. Boet
was a partner in Peter Gauche Motors, the DKW specialists in
Johannesburg, at that time. He was also motorcycle race champion in
1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953 and had his National racing colours...
