DKW Junior

DKW Junior (1959-1962)

The DKW Junior was a small car of the Auto Union. It was produced in the new factory in Ingolstadt, to which the foundation stone was laid in July 1958. Around 240,000 DKW Junior de Luxe and Junior were sold in less than four years of construction until 1963.

Junior

At the IAA 1957, a prototype appeared with 660 cc two-cylinder engine and the large DKW typical front-wheel drive under the name DKW 600 He took the later DKW Junior anticipate

In August 1959, the series production of the DKW Junior began. From the beginning, the car has a three-cylinder two -stroke engine with 750 cc displacement and 34 hp, which was installed in front of the front axle; Cooler and four-speed transmission were behind it. A special feature also in this DKW model were the three ignition coils on the arranged above the cylinders alternator. The drive shafts of the cart had the outside or on the wheels constant velocity joints, inside or on the transmission universal joints.

The body was carried by a box frame. The front suspension consisted of double wishbones with adjustable, down along lying torsion bar springs and telescopic shock absorbers. Back it was a run on trailing arms rigid axle with Panhard rod, of transverse torsion bar spring and telescopic shock absorbers. To keep the unsprung weight low, the front brake drums were inside the gearbox. Small ribs or blades around the so-called Turbo drums should improve cooling. Like the larger models also DKW DKW Junior had a rack and pinion steering.

With the body of the Junior Auto Union left the rounded forms of discrimination based on a pre-war DKW design passenger cars. The only two-door body in a trapezoidal shape with a slightly pointed tail fins and a nearly horizontal line of the front slightly on the headlights also drawn side parts offered relatively large amount of interior space and, not least thanks to the narrow roof pillars a very good overview. There was also a large trunk where the spare tire was not placed right standing as the older models with the luggage. Under the trunk behind the rear axle was the tank. The disadvantage was the high air resistance of the body.

For the equipment of the car included an steering wheel with low-lying hub, steering wheel gearshift for the fully synchronized four-speed transmission, a shock- elastic dashboard and headlight flasher. In advertising, besides which was " almost half a square meter " out to large rear shelf. A steel sunroof was available for a surcharge of 260.00 DM; the automatic clutch Saxomat cost 275,00 DM addition.

Junior de Luxe

At the IAA 1961 Auto Union presented the revised DKW Junior de Luxe, the externally differed in particular by clearly salient headlights from the basic model. It was intended both as a successor, the other as a luxury variant of the original Juniors, among others exhibitable triangle windows in the doors and a chrome trim strip on the sides. The displacement of the engine was ( = 70.5 × 68 mm bore × stroke ) has been raised to 796 cc, the power remained unchanged at 34 hp. Furthermore, the cars as well as the Auto Union in 1000 received a fresh oil automatic, which was henceforth to have the DKW Junior as an extra for the price of £ 100.00. The oil had not as usual in two-stroke engines common to the proper ratio added to gasoline, but was placed in an oil reservoir and supplied to the cylinders depending on the load of the engine. Result, less oil was burned and reduces the odor.

Only two years of Junior de Luxe was built in 1963 it was replaced by the type F11/F12, an advanced model to junior base.

Specifications

• L2 = 2 -door sedan

Trivia

In the film The Bridge of Ambreville (1999) with Carole Bouquet, Gérard Depardieu, inter alia, a cream colored DKW Junior can be seen as a movie car.

Source

• Werner Oswald: German cars 1945-1990, Volume 4, 1st Edition, motor -Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3613021315