Notice to bidders: The end date of this auction has been extended to accommodate the State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen
Highlights
- An extremely rare car in the UK
- Very solid bodywork
- Charmingly original interior
- Almost at the point where it can be started and driven
- A rare and unusual restoration project requiring only straightforward work to finish it off
The Appeal
In Britain, talk of 1930s family motoring invariably revolves around upright saloons with entirely conventional side-valve straight-fours. Over on the Continent, things were a little more interesting. Certainly, things were more stylish, as the streamlined Modernist æsthetic employed in architecture and product design also had a strong influence on car styling. Meanwhile, in the engineering department, there was a greater willingness to break from convention.
Morgans excepted, twin-cylinder cars had not been seen in Britain since the cyclecar boom, but DKW was a staunch adherent to the small straight-twin. More impressively still, DKWs were also front-wheel drive. Small cars like the F7 (built 1937-1938) were Germany’s closest thing to a Volkswagen (people’s car) before the Volkswagen appeared in 1939. Just as Austins and Fords prevailed in England, Citroëns and Peugeots in France and Fiats in Italy, it was the likes of DKW and Opel which put the German nation on wheels.
Morgans excepted, twin-cylinder cars had not been seen in Britain since the cyclecar boom, but DKW was a staunch adherent to the small straight-twin. More impressively still, DKWs were also front-wheel drive. Small cars like the F7 (built 1937-1938) were Germany’s closest thing to a Volkswagen (people’s car) before the Volkswagen appeared in 1939. Just as Austins and Fords prevailed in England, Citroëns and Peugeots in France and Fiats in Italy, it was the likes of DKW and Opel which put the German nation on wheels.
Partly for practical reasons and partly for political ones, very few DKWs were sold in 1930s Britain, so they present a rare sight indeed. Despite its scruffy exterior, this example presents a fantastic opportunity to acquire a straightforward restoration project as the mechanical work has been largely completed and most of the remaining work is entirely cosmetic. You could have it back on the road by next spring, and then you’ll have a rarer, more unusual and more stylish alternative to a Morris Eight or Austin 10, and you’ll attract curiosity and admiration wherever you take it.
NOTE: Eagle eye viewers may recognise this vehicle from a previous auction here at Car & Classic. Unfortunately, due to factors concerning neither the seller nor the car, the previous sale was not able to complete.
NOTE: Eagle eye viewers may recognise this vehicle from a previous auction here at Car & Classic. Unfortunately, due to factors concerning neither the seller nor the car, the previous sale was not able to complete.
The History and Paperwork
- Probably hidden away during the war to avoid being requisitioned by German troops
- Earliest history is a bill of sale from Stuttgart dating from 1990
- In 2016, it appeared with Airborne Garage, a specialist dealer in wartime-era vehicles in the Netherlands.
- It was bought by a gentleman working in Poland, who imported it into Poland but then moved to Britain, bringing the car with him
- The vendor purchased it from him in 2018 to fully restore
- Over time, he has collected almost all the parts needed to complete it, turned it into a fully-assembled car, and got it to the point where it very nearly starts and runs, but other commitments have forced him to abandon the project
- It is now offered for sale as a straightforward project to be finished off
- In terms of paperwork, the car has its relevant import papers but has never been UK-registered, so the buyer will have to apply for a V5C
The Interior
- Lovely patinated condition
- Lots of interesting and unusual details
- Requires front carpet and other small finishing touches
From its condition, it looks like this DKW retains much of its original interior, and that is something to be highly prized in so old and rare a motor-car. Better still is that while there is some mild patina – a few superficial marks here and there – the upholstery and headlining all looks to be in very good condition with no obvious damage as far as we can see. One of the details we particular liked are the door pockets, which use a zip fastener – when did you last see anything else like it?
The dash is a lovely period piece, made from a beautiful Bakelite-type plastic with a simulated walnut effect. The switches are all of a similar plastic, and the entire dash is, for the most part, in very good condition, again with a light patina. The steering wheel, dash-mounted gear lever, handbrake and so on all benefit from the same delightful patina, which contributes so much in the way of character.
A few small jobs remain to finish the interior off. You will most likely want to have a front carpet made (the rear carpet is present) to make it feel a bit cosier although, without them, you can appreciate just how solid the floor is. There is some exposed wiring which will want tidying up, and the temperature gauge will need to be taken apart and rebuilt if it is to be legible.
The Exterior
- Extremely solid bodywork
- Would benefit from a full repaint
- Bumpers need to be sourced
While this car could be enjoyed as-is and run in Oily Rag condition, the fact that the wheels are not in their original paint and new bumpers are going to have to be sourced means that it is likely to require some cosmetic restoration, with new paint and chrome where necessary. The body is unusually and attractively covered in its original leathercloth, and we would strongly advocate for the preservation of this as it would be difficult to accurately replicate. Happily, it has survived in very good condition and should respond well to a proprietary reviver. due to the extent of leather cloth there will be very little painted surfaces to re spray.
We are advised that the bodywork is extremely solid and, from the photographs, that certainly seems to be the case. Although it was a barn-find, it must have been fortunate to have ended up in a dry, well-ventilated barn. While we cannot make any guarantees, the vendor tells us the bodywork is free from corrosion and comments, “the panels are a quality and thickness of steel seldom seen nowadays.”
It is mostly all complete with regard to trim and accessories, with the grille, headlights, windscreen wiper, door handles, badges, rear-view mirrors, spare wheel and so on all being present. It is just a pity that the vendor was unable to source a pair of bumpers, so that job will fall to the next owner. Of course, they are not essential to enjoying the car, and you can still drive it around while you hunt for them. Who knows, perhaps a pair will turn up at the Beaulieu Autojumble in September?
New spare mirrors, a wiper blade and set of hubcaps are included in the sale.
The Mechanics
- Believed to be equipped with the larger Meisterklasse engine
- Understood to be mechanically complete
- Retains its original ignition key
- Stops, steers, and very nearly starts
When new, the DKW F7 was offered with the 18bhp, 584cc Reichsklasse engine and the 20bhp, 692cc Meisterklasse engine, which gave top speeds of 50 and 53mph respectively. This car is described as having a 650cc engine, which we think is more likely to refer to the Meisterklasse than the Reichsklasse. Although patinated, the engine looks in good condition with no obvious signs of fluid leaks, although we are advised that there may be an oil leak from the gearbox at the main gasket.
Of course, we cannot comment on the running of the car because it has not run since being imported, but it’s very nearly there. The vendor advises that the parking brake is effective and the mechanical brakes are functional but have not been properly tested.
The engine turns on the dynamotor, sparks and has good compression. The main reason why it will not run is because the vendor has not had a chance to reset the timing. Any other remaining jobs are small and simple. A comprehensive owner’s manual is included with the car which details how to set the timing and make all the other adjustments necessary for setting the engine up properly.
The vendor also points out that the engine retains its twin coil-pack ignition, as per its original specification. While originality is generally to be desired, for improved reliability quite a number of DKW owners have opted to replace it six-volt coil ignition as would be found on a Volkswagen Beetle.
The engine benefits from a brand new radiator and hoses, so the thermosiphon cooling system should work efficiently.
The suspension is in good condition, with a liberal covering of grease applied to the underside to ensure it is protected.
The electrics are in working order, with the switches on the dash, the lights and the semaphore indicators all performing well.
We were interested to note that the DKW incorporates a freewheel, a not-uncommon device in the 1930s which disengages the drive to save on fuel.
The Summary
Even postwar DKWs are rare, but prewar ones even more so, and we’d jump at the opportunity to acquire this one, which promises to be a fun restoration project. With much of the work already done, there’s no need to subject yourself to the pain of sitting in a mire of oil, unidentified parts and confusion – just make a few final tweaks to the mechanicals, spruce up the bodywork and be on your way.
It is doubly fortunate that this car was never a basket-case in the first place, so that much of its interior and the body’s leathercloth covering survive very well, with a splendid patina which we would cherish. A car this unusual, original and attractive has to be well worth restoring.
Eagle eye viewers may recognise this vehicle from a previous auction here at Car & Classic. Unfortunately, due to factors concerning neither the seller nor the car, the previous sale was not able to complete
Notice to bidders
Notice to bidders
All items in this listing are sold on an “As Is - Where Is” basis. Photos and listing descriptions should be used as a guide only. Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information in this listing and Car & Classic performs a level of due diligence prior to the auction, we do not warrant the accuracy of the listings. The seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Inspection is highly recommended prior to bidding. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion.
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