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Reutlingen Star Parade - The Wendler company and its aerodynamically shaped car bodies

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Created on February 1, 1976

Reading time 7min

Written by:

Michael Graf Wolf Metternich

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

1

Bruno von Rotz

4

Petra Sagnak / classiccar-photo.de

2

Claus Mirbach

1

Archiv

20

Daniel Reinhard

1

Bruno von Rotz

4

Petra Sagnak / classiccar-photo.de

2

Claus Mirbach

1

Archiv

20

MG Sport Roadster Wendler (1952) - aufgenommen bei Wendler Reutlingen

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Mercedes_Benz 370 S (1934) - als eleganters Wendler-Cabriolet

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BMW 328 Wendler Cabriolet (1937) - am Concours "Zurich Classic Car Award 2019"

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BMW 328 Wendler (1938) - mit aerodynamischer Formgebung nach Jaray

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BWM 328 Coupé Streamline Wendler (1937) - am Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2014

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Mercedes-Benz Wendler 320 W 142 (1936) - im Concours "Masterpieces" an den Classic Days Schloss Dyck 2019

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Hanomag Sturm (1939) - mit Wendler-Karosserie

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Gutbrod Sport Roadster (1951) - mit Karosserie von Wendler - Classic-Gala Schwetzingen 2021

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Gutbrod Sport Roadster Wendler (1951) - der Wagen wurde 1952 von Graf Schulenburg bei der Alpenfahrt eingesetzt - Classic-Gala Schwetzingen 2020

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Mercedes-Benz 170 V Cabriolet Wendler (1947) - ausgestellt an einem Autosalon

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MG Sport Coupé Wendler (1952) - aufgenommen bei Wendler Reutlingen

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Dyna Special Wendler (1953) - in Deutschland entstandene Dyna-Variante

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Dyna-Veritas Wendler (1953) - auf dem Genfer Autosalon 1953

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Fiat 1100 TV Wendler (1954) - elegantes Cabriolet auf Fiat-Basis

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DKW Wendler Roadster (1954) - leichtgewichtiges Cabriolet

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DKW Wendler Roadster (1954) - leichtgewichtiges Cabriolet

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Mercedes Benz 220 Sportcabriolet Wendler (1954) - zwei- plus zweisitzige Sonderkarosserie

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Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet Wendler (1952) - die Wendler-Karosserie geht deutlich stärker in Richtung Pontonform als die Serienvariante

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Fiat 1100 TV Wendler (1954) - hübsches 2+2-Coupé

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Fiat 1100 Wendler (1952) - Cabriolet vor dem Gebäude von Wendler in Reutlingen aufgenommen

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DKW Wendler Roadster (1954) - leichtgewichtiges Cabriolet

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Brütsch 1200 Wendler Cabrioelt (1954) - hübsches Cabrioelt mit der Mechanik eines Ford Taunus 12M

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Porsche Cabriolet Wendler (1957) - am Concours d'Elégance Jewels in the Park anlässlich der Classic Days Schloss Dyck 2014

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Porsche Wendler Cabriolet (1957) - am Concours d'Elégance Jewels in the Park anlässlich der Classic Days Schloss Dyck 2014

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Porsche 550 (1954) - am Autosalon von Paris 1954 - frühe Version

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Porsche 550 A 1500 RS (1957) - Elegante zweckoptimierte Form

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Porsche 550 A 1500 RS (1957) - Kopfstütze auf Aerodynamik getrimmt

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Porsche 550 (1955) - Seitenansicht eines frisch produzierten 1500RS

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Summary

Like so many of its competitors, the Wendler coachbuilding company had its origins in carriage construction. Today, the company is best known for its aerodynamically shaped and stylistically restrained designs of sports cars and limousines, including those based on Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche chassis. However, other vehicles were also built, with a total of several hundred special bodies being produced in Reutlingen. This article looks back at the history of the Wendler company and shows some of the cars built there in historical photographs.

This article contains the following chapters

Soon to be 200 years old
From bank apprentice to designer
Better chances of success in car body construction
It takes more than a designer
Aerodynamic interests
Sports convertibles for Fiat, armored Cadillacs for Ibn Saud...
Wide range
Simple and aesthetic
Successful even after the war

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The good old days for manufacturers of special bodywork came to an irrevocable end many years ago. The self-supporting bodywork and the short lifespan of today's automobiles as well as astronomically increased labor costs have deprived them of any chance of existence. Even in Italy, where they survived into the 1970s, famous for their elegant and often idiosyncratic creations, their days were finally numbered. In Germany, this development was already complete by the end of the fifties. Despite this, however, some renowned companies in this sector managed to switch to repair work in good time and skillfully. Only here and there does the production of special bodies for trucks and delivery vans still remind us of old traditions.

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