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A quiet farewell - DKW F 102 in (historic) test

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Created on April 2, 1965

Text:

Clauspeter Becker

Photos:

Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

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Motorbuch Verlag (div. Bildautoren)

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Archiv

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Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

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Motorbuch Verlag (div. Bildautoren)

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Archiv

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DKW F 102 (1964) - streamlined elegance

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DKW F 102 (1964) - still without chrome stripes on the flank

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DKW F 102 (1963) - with two-stroke engine

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DKW F 102 (1964) - rear - the similarity to the Mercedes prototype W 119 is obvious

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DKW F 102 (1964) - 1.2-liter three-cylinder two-stroke engine with 60 hp, on the left the tank of the fresh oil automatic transmission

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DKW F 102 (1964) - The factory promised 600 liters of trunk space, the Automobil-Illustrierte measured around 440 usable liters

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DKW F 102 (1964) - Bolted mudguards save time, money and effort

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DKW F 102 (1964) - A perfect synthesis of practicality and comfort in the interior

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DKW F 102 (1964) - tailor-made perfection

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DKW F 102 (1964) - the four-door saloon from the front

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DKW F 102 (1964) - the four-door version

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DKW F 102 (1964) - the four-door sedan

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DKW F 102 (1964) - the four-door saloon from the diagonal rear

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DKW F 102 (1964) - Factory photo with lady

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DKW F 102 (1964) - Factory photo with lady

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DKW F 102 (1963) - International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) in Frankfurt 1963 - high quality small sedan

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DKW F 102 (1964) - new to the model range as a two- or four-door model and equipped with the 1175 cm3 three-cylinder two-stroke engine - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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DKW F102 (1965) - still with three-cylinder two-stroke engine - Geneva Motor Show 1965

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DKW F 102 (1964) - early version without side trim strip

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DKW F 102 (1964) - with counter-rotating windshield wipers

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DKW F 102 (1964) - View under the hood, on the left the 4.5 liter tank of the fresh oil automatic transmission

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DKW F 102 (1964) - no-frills rear end with narrow lights and high loading sill

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DKW F 102 (1964) - impractically high loading sill

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DKW F 102 (1964) - easy-to-reach lever for seat adjustment

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DKW F 102 (1965) - Trunk with uncovered side panels

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DKW F 102 (1965) - in a short test by Automobil-Revue

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DKW F 102 (1964) - Dimensional drawings

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DKW F 102 (1964) - Sectional drawing of the side view

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DKW F 102 (1964) - The fresh oil automatic

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DKW F 102 (1964) - and the Auto-Union program 1964: Munga, 1000 SP, DKW F 11, DKW F 12 as sedan and roadster as well as the new Schnellaster as panel van and platform truck

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Although Mercedes-Benz, as the owner of Auto Union, demanded a four-stroke engine for the DKW F 102, the DKW management stuck with the two-stroke. That was the end. The F 102 became an Audi with a four-stroke engine developed by Mercedes

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Summary

When everyone else had long since given up on the two-stroke engine, DKW stuck to its guns. In the mid-sixties, they had even developed it into an engine that was almost competitive again: quiet, high-torque, refined - if only it hadn't been for the enormous mixture thirst. The engine prevented a more successful career for the DKW F 102. In 1965, the test report stated that the small quality car would only be bought with a two-stroke engine despite its engine, but not because of it.

This article contains the following chapters

The car par excellence
The engine
Gearbox and drive
Chassis
The steering
The brakes
A pleasure to drive
Straight ahead
In the bend
Comfort
Pleasant on long journeys
Equipment
Does this car still have a chance with this engine?
Technical data & measured values

Estimated reading time: 22min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Original German automobile manufacturers are not content with producing vehicles; they also strive to manifest a world view in them. Auto-Union is a classic representative of this approach. Never has an engine that does not have two strokes left its production facilities. And the majority of all cars sold under this brand had powered front wheels. In a positive sense, such a development is likely to lead to the ultimate perfection of one or more combined elements. Quite simply, anyone who has been building two-stroke engines for generations simply has to be better at it than any newcomer in this field.

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