DKW Junior
(1959 - 1963)
Brand:
Country:
Germany
DKW Junior: All models
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In 1956, Auto Union GmbH laid to rest a project that was not only ambitious but also highly innovative. The company had spent six years developing new models, focusing almost consistently on the development of a production body made of plastic. This report describes the history of the project and the reasons for its failure, illustrated with many previously unseen images.
Rarely in the history of the automobile has a proven model had to wait so long for its successor, has an 'interregnum' (as it would be called in history) lasted so long. A few thousand veterans from the heyday of the little DKW have survived the years and are still clattering more or less doggedly on the roads today, holding up the aged banner. Now, however, they can finally go to their well-earned rest. The 'late-born' is here, the succession is assured! In 1959, Hobby magazine had the opportunity to drive and test the DKW Junior. And they were impressed by what was on offer: the DKW Junior was a very good performer. The DKW Junior was described as a carefully constructed and fully equipped car. More detailed observations can be found in the full version of this test report from 1959.
The DKW Junior had largely done away with the usual two-stroke prejudices and brought Auto Union a significant sales success. However, it still had a few unpleasant peculiarities: running on a mixture of fuel and lubricating oil caused wrinkled noses and made refueling difficult. The Junior de Luxe presented in 1961 showed better manners and consistently made up for the weaknesses of its predecessor. This article quotes a test report from February 1962 and shows the saloon in extensive historical images and sales material.
At the beginning of the sixties, the DKW Junior had successfully fought for its place in the car market. But the competition did not sleep. DKW responded with the Junior de Luxe, which, with a displacement increase of 50 cm3, could do almost everything better than the "normal" Junior, which continued to be built initially. At least that was the opinion of engineer Bartsch in his test in the Motor Rundschau in 1962, formulated as always soberly and factually. This report reproduces the original wording of the "major test" at the time and shows the Junior and Junior de Luxe in many historical illustrations, as well as in two sales brochures of the time.
Current market prices for DKW Junior
2-Door Sedan, 34 PS, 741 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 34 PS, 796 cm3
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