VINTAGE CARS SOUTH AFRICA PART 3 of 4

DKW was one of the most fa­mous car and mo­tor­bi­ke ma­nu­fac­tu­res in Ger­ma­ny. The his­to­ry of DKW be­gins 1902 in Zscho­pau, Sa­xo­nia, with a com­pa­ny ma­nu­fac­tu­ring parts for steam en­gi­nes, con­ti­nues with au­xi­l­i­a­ry mo­tors for bi­cy­cles and elec­tric cars and cul­mi­na­tes in ge­ne­ral mo­to­ri­sa­ti­on in the fif­ties. DKW be­co­mes a part of the Auto Union con­glo­me­ra­te, after WW2 it forms part of Mer­ce­des, then of Volks­wa­gen and fi­nal­ly be­co­mes what is now Audi. In the GDR DKW is mer­ged in the In­dus­trie­ver­band Fahr­zeug­bau and forms the fo­un­da­ti­on of Wart­burg and Tra­bant, the in­fa­mous two stroke cars. Outside ger­ma­ny DKW cars are made under li­cen­se in South Af­ri­ca and Bra­zil to name a few. DKW cars were made from 1928 until 1966.

© Noleen Kutash



© Noleen Kutash
The F93 was produced until 1959, and was in turn replaced by the Auto-Union 1000. These models where produced with a 1,000 cc two-stroke engine, with a choice between 44 hp (33 kW) or 50 hp (37 kW) S versions until 1963. During this transition, production was also moved from Düsseldorf to Ingolstadt.  

The move to Ingolstadt marked a turning point in DKWs history. Ingolstadt is where Audi’s plant is still to this day.  Daimler-Benz bought a controlling stake in the company and began looking to diversify the brand. As the F93 was still popular, the company decided to continue production but rebadged under the brand name Auto Union. "Auto Union" and the four rings symbol had appeared on all Auto Union productions, whether manufactured by Audi, Horch, Wanderer or DKW, but no production vehicle had actually been branded Auto Union before. From this point on Ingolstadt products would continue under the DKW brand name while products from the Dusseldorf factory were branded Auto Union. The company began to position Auto Union as the prestige brand.
Despite the introduction of the new name, the DKW F93 and the Auto Union 1000S were basically identical vehicles, although the Auto Union 1000S claimed to have more 'luxurious fittings.' In 1961 DKW upgraded the engine to 981ccs, known as the "Big DKW ." Once again the engine was a winner on reliability, power and fuel efficiency.

Classic Triumph Sunbeam 60's Sports Car © Noleen Kutash

Studebaker Lark 1960 © Noleen Kutash


Triumph Sunbeam 1963 Alpine © Noleen Kutash


 Triumph Sunbeam Rapier 1963 © Noleen Kutash


Anglea 1964 - 1967 © Noleen Kutash


Rolls Royce Silver Cloud 111 - 1964 © Noleen Kutash


 Cortina 1966 © Noleen Kutash


Cadillac Eldorado 1972 © Noleen Kutash 

 
Chrysler 1972 Valiant Regal © Noleen Kutash


Vintage Mini (If you know the year please comment) © Noleen Kutash


VW Beetles Yellow 1976 Blue 1966 © Noleen Kutash 


Peugeot 505 1985 © Noleen Kutash


Our final post on Hermanus Car Show South Africa will be on the "Heritage Group"  (military preservation)  so please check back soon.....