TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Almost 50 years after it was last registered. This DKW 3-6 from the mid 50s was found in excellent condition in a barn. The interior was pristine (with the exception of the mismatched blue plaid rear seat) and actually started and ran after a new battery was installed. For those of you that don’t remember DKW, it’s an old (dating from 1919) German company that was part of Auto Union and the forerunner of the Audi (note the logo). Like the SAABs of the era, the DKW had a 3 cylinder 2 stroke engine with front wheel drive.

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow!

Flash Gordon

I remember the DKW very well. A friend owned one which I borrowed frequently. Always surprised gas station attendants when I poured a quart of oil into the gas tank before the gas. I think it had a four speed shifter on the column. The one I used also had the suicide doors. The transmission would occasionally lock in a gear which required a trip under the car free it up. Mid sixties. Great car.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I had 3 Saab 96s (so you know I’m a bit off) back in the 60s and received the same reaction when I poured a quart of oil into the gas tank followed by 8 gallons of gas. Worse, when I lived in Baltimore, where an inspection and sticker to prove snow tires was required to use certain highways during snow, they wouldn’t inspect the car unless I put the snow tires on the back, even though the car was FWD. The 96 Monte Carlo had 3 carbs (1 per cylinder), 4 speed on the column and a beautiful Nardi wood steering wheel. Not at all fast (just 850cc), but as one of the only FWD cars available, they were a terror on a winter rally course (hence the name “Monte Carlo”)

lukevaliant Loc: gloucester city,n. j.

that is cool,,,,i thought audi used to be horscht

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If memory serves, Horch was part of Auto Union, as was Audi and DKW, and Auto Union, which dates to the 30s was the predecessor to Audi. The Audi logo (4 interlocked rings) was originally the Auto Union logo. Horch was a very old manufacturer, dating to the beginnings of the automobile.

lukevaliant Loc: gloucester city,n. j.

thank you

Harry02 Loc: Gardena, CA

In the '602? Biker. "Rocker"!
We LERVED the DKW from ends. Your basic tube front end (now as was then) compresses as you break, diving forward a bit. Because of geometry, the fugly DKW assembly actually rises a little, giving greater control.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Say what?

lukevaliant Loc: gloucester city,n. j.

wheels closer to front

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I guess I’m still not understanding the comment. If the comment is that the DKW doesn’t dive under braking and actually “squats”, then since I’ve never actually driven one, I can’t comment. What I can say is that the DKW I’ve seen has a strange front suspension with a longitudinal leaf spring on TOP running from wheel to wheel, and a lower control arm. In general. As long as the CG is above the roll axis of a vehicle (which it always is) it will tend to “dive” under braking, although with dual A arm suspension or struts + lower control arm (or hydraulic/pneumatic suspension) you can dial in some anti-dive by angling the A arms or strut or changing the air or hydraulic pressure in the front struts. You could actually get it to lift if the CG was lower than the roll axis, but that would be very difficult/impossible to achieve on a practical vehicle, and if you did, the car would actually lean into a corner (and be a nightmare to drive), I don’t know where the front roll center (and roll axis) would be on this weird suspension, or how it would behave, so if it actually lifts under braking, please comment further on the mechanism.