Zündapp Janus

The Zündapp Janus was a four-seater scooter mobile (then small car - now better known as mini-cars ) of the Zündapp -Werke GmbH, Nuremberg, from the 1950s.

History

The construction of the Janus goes back to the prototype Dornier Delta by Claudius Dornier, the oldest son of Claude Dornier, had earned at the Zündapp the production license. Deliveries began in June 1957, but the production was already set on the production of only 6902 copies in 1958. So also the Janus disappeared - how many microcars types of that time - after a short production time from the market because its price advantage (price of Janus: 3290 DM DM 40 for the heater is roughly equivalent to 7,653 euros today ) against the then small midsize car was too low.

Technology

The unusual thing about this mobile scooter and the reason to use the name of the two-headed Roman god Janus, the seating position and the arrangement of the same doors at the bow and stern. The rear passengers were sitting with their backs to the direction of travel ( Dos -à- dos ), looked back and had a leg and headroom as in a midsize car. The transport of bulky goods was relatively easy.

Among the interesting details of Janus beside the arrangement of doors and seats include an otherwise only found in some sports cars existing mid-engine, the hydraulic four-wheel brakes (then not of course) and independent suspension all wheels, which brought a very good handling with little body roll despite rear swing axle. Shovel -shaped ribs increased the stability of the brake drums and subjected to cooling air. The shift lever was mounted left of the driver, the gears were in a plane (motorcycle circuit ).

The mid-engine enabled a balanced weight distribution. In the advertisement was also pointed out: " Unusually so far, but definitely gratifying in terms of rain and humidity: minor maintenance such as candles exchange or nozzle cleaning can be run under your own roof. " But a disadvantage of the mid-engine solution was the high noise level in the interior of the vehicle and the occasional odor caused by poor sealing of the cover.

Specifications

• Engine: single cylinder, two -stroke engine, 26mm downdraft carburetors, horizontal cylinder with fan cooling
• Displacement: 248 cm ³
• Bore × stroke: 67 × 70 mm
• Compression ratio: 6.8: 1 ( 7: 1)
• Power: about 14 hp at 5000 rpm ( 5200 rpm )
• Transmission: draw key transmission with four forward gears and one reverse gear, ratchet circuit with hand lever
• Front Suspension: pushed swing with spring struts, stabilizers, rack and pinion steering
• Rear Suspension: Swing axle with coil springs
• Length: 2890 mm ​​( 2860 mm)
• Width: 1410 mm (1400 mm)
• Height: 1400 mm ( 1380 mm )
• Wheelbase: 1825 mm
• Track front / rear: 1150/1180 mm
• Tire size: 4.40-12
• Net weight: about 425 kg
• Approximately 300 kg payload
• Maximum Speed: about 80-85 km / h

In brackets data of the prototype according to the prospectus of 1956

Trivia

In the 2011 released Disney animated film Cars 2 the Zündapp Janus plays a supporting role in "person" of Professor Zundapp, a German villain.