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3-cylinder, 2-stroke, 1-cylinder - DKW special class (historical test)

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Created on April 1, 1954

Text:

Heinz Sponsel

Photos:

Archiv

29

Archiv

29

DKW Sonderklasse (1953) - makes a neat impression

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DKW three-cylinder type SM (1954) - orchestrated beach scene

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DKW Special Class (1953) - Transparency drawing

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DKW Special Class (1953) - View through

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DKW Sonderklasse (1953) - engine, transmission and differential form a single block

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DKW 3=6 (1956) - front-wheel drive, three cylinders, two-stroke principle - also the basis for the successors 1000 S and 1000 SP

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DKW Karmann Cabriolet (1953) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1953 - Side, 3-cylinder engine

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DKW (1955) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1955 - The new DKW with lighter radiator grille

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DKW Limousine de Luxe Type "SM" (1953) - all-view limousine - idyllically photographed

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DKW Cabriolet (1955) - the sun may come

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DKW Special Class (1953) - View into the engine compartment

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DKW Sonderklasse (1956) - the four-door version

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DKW Special Class (1954) - easy entry

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DKW Special Class (1954) - tidy interior

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DKW Special Class (1953) - Dashboard

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DKW Special Class (1954) - the driver looks at two large and glare-free round instruments

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DKW Sonderklasse (1955) - neither gearshift nor handbrake in the footwell

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DKW Sonderklasse (1955) - with steering wheel gearshift

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DKW Sonderklasse (1957) - a small engine is hidden under the large hood

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DKW Sonderklasse (1954) - View of the water-cooled three-cylinder two-stroke engine

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DKW Sonderklasse (1954) - the doors open to the rear

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DKW Sonderklasse (1954) - they were called suicide doors

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DKW Sonderklasse (1954) - the trunk and the spare wheel in the rear

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DKW Sonderklasse (1956) - a bird's eye view of the four-door version

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DKW 3=6 Cabriolet (1956) - also appealed to the ladies

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DKW 3=6 Cabriolet (1956) - particularly attractive as a convertible

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DKW 3=6 Luxury Coupé (1955) - the luxury coupé with two-tone paintwork

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DKW 3=6 Sedan (1956) - the extension of the wheelbase by 100 mm gained a lot of space

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DKW 3=6 Sedan (1956) - the four-door version is a full ten centimeters longer

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DKW Sonderklasse (1953) - Durchsichtszeichnung

DKW Sonderklasse (1953) - Durchsichtsdarstellung

DKW Sonderklasse (1953) - Motor, Getriebe und Differential bilden einen gemeinsamen Block

DKW 3=6 (1956) - Frontantrieb, drei Zylinder, Zweitaktprinzip - so auch die Basis für die Nachfolger 1000 S und 1000 SP

DKW Karmann Cabriolet (1953) - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1953 - Seite, 3-Zyl-Motor

DKW (1955) - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1955 - Der neue DKW mit leichterem Kühlergrill

Summary

DKW broke completely new ground with the special class. The two-stroke with 896 cm3 and 34 hp reached 120 km/h, but the competition had to make a big effort if they wanted to keep up. And obviously no one in the 1950s was complaining about the unusual driving noise or the special scent, but 'hobby' test driver Sponsel was delighted with the new model. This article reproduces the original wording of the test at the time and shows the DKW special class in a wealth of historical images, including original brochures.

This article contains the following chapters

Quiet and powerful
Unrivaled performance
Safety above all else
Powerful brakes
And yet comfort
Technical profile

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The conditions under which the 'hobby' tester took over the 3-cylinder DKW special class were the most unfavorable imaginable: freezing frost, icy roads, wind that sometimes almost turned into a hurricane. The acid test that the test car had to undergo could not have been tougher, quite apart from the fact that testers take a car more severely than it is normally driven anyway. First of all, however, a widespread misconception must be corrected: the basic design of the 3-cylinder engine of the DKW Special Class was already a reality around 1939 and had already successfully passed its first factory test at that time. The outbreak of war prevented it from going into series production.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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Images of this article

DKW Sonderklasse (1953) - Durchsichtszeichnung

DKW Sonderklasse (1953) - Durchsichtsdarstellung

DKW Sonderklasse (1953) - Motor, Getriebe und Differential bilden einen gemeinsamen Block

DKW 3=6 (1956) - Frontantrieb, drei Zylinder, Zweitaktprinzip - so auch die Basis für die Nachfolger 1000 S und 1000 SP

DKW Karmann Cabriolet (1953) - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1953 - Seite, 3-Zyl-Motor

DKW (1955) - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1955 - Der neue DKW mit leichterem Kühlergrill

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