Motor-Kritik was regarded in Germany as a neutral yardstick when it came to testing cars and motorcycles. The magazine became big under Josef Ganz, who is not without good reason considered to be the forerunner of Ralph Nader, as he felt a real need to relentlessly expose the weaknesses of automobiles at the time. This not only led to many legal actions against him, but also to the great popularity of the magazine "Motor-Kritik", of which Ganz was editor-in-chief until the Nazis drove him out. Josef Ganz is also regarded as one of the masterminds behind the Volkswagen. His ideas were realized in the Rapid small car, among others, although it was not a great success.
Meticulous tests
Heel-Verlag has compiled the test results from 1938 and 1939, which were published in the magazine at the time, in a clearly laid out book. Each of the 108 test card reprints, 60% of which deal with automobiles and 40% with motorcycles, comprises two pages. The first page shows the basic technical data, the second page the results of the driving test. For example, you can find out the top speed, but also the fuel consumption, braking distance (from 30 km/h) or assessments of gear shifting, space or road holding.
For friends of late pre-war cars (and motorcycles)
If you are only interested in Fiat, Peugeot or Rover, this book is just as unsuitable for you as it is for people who are not interested in cars from the late 1930s. This is because the test drivers naturally only dealt with vehicles that were built and put on the road in 1938 and 1939. In the 264-page anthology, we therefore find brands such as Adler, Audi, BMW, DKW, Hanomag, Hansa, Maybach Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Ford, Steyr, Stoewer, Wanderer, as well as motorcycle manufacturers of the time, i.e. all vehicles that were manufactured in Germany.
Interesting and curious facts
Anyone who delves into the book will discover many interesting details, such as the fact that the seats of the BMW 320 were somewhat firmly upholstered, but could even be adjusted while seated. Or that the braking distance of the Opel 2 liter with caravan "Landyacht" was over five meters. It is impressive that the streamlined Adler 2.5 liter could reach 125 km/h with its 58 hp, while the Mercedes-Benz 320 had to muster 78 hp for the same speed .... (etc. etc.)
It's fun to read the test results of the old cars, provided you are interested in these cars and the measurement methods that were used back then.
Bibliographic information
- Title: Motor-Kritik-Testbuch - Reprint of the originals from 1938 & 1939
- Language: German
- Publisher: Heel
- Format: Hardcover
- Size: 264 pages, approx. 380 illustrations, 170 x 263 mm,
- ISBN: 978-3-95843-152-2
- Price: EUR 19.99
- Buy/order: Online at Heel-Verlag, at amazon.deor in bookstores
