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Dkw · 1929–1940

DKW Typ 4=8

DKW Typ 4=8
Photo: Brian clontarf at German Wikipedia (Original text: Brian Clontarf) · Public domain · source ↗

The DKW Typ 4=8 is a small rear-wheel drive two-stroke V4 engined car produced at the company's Spandau plant by DKW (later part of the Auto Union). It was launched at the Berlin Motor-show in 1929 as a successor to the DKW Typ P built at the same factory, although the DKW Typ P 4=8 was significantly larger than the Typ P: in terms of market positioning a more direct successor to the DKW Type P was probably the DKW F1 produced in Zwickau from 1931. Initially, in 1929, very few Typ 4=8s were produced, but volumes built up as the DKW Typ P and its sporting derivative was phased out, and between 1929 and 1940 approximately 24,000 Typ 4=8s were manufactured. The figure is dwarfed by the approximately 218,000 smaller DKW F1 and its successors produced at Zwickau between 1931 and 1942, and in retrospect the Typ 4=8 tends to be overlooked when compared to its front-wheel drive sibling; but it was nevertheless in the 1930s a significant participant in the growing German auto-market. The DKW Typ 4=8 underwent several name changes and step by step modifications before production ended, in 1940, of what was by now the 1054 cc DKW Sonderklasse, but the V4 two-stroke engine and market positioning remained consistent throughout.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: DKW Typ P

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Names

The name "4=8" was used for several versions of the car between 1929 and 1932 and was based on the way that on a two stroke engine every descent of the piston within the cylinder is driven by an explosion inside the cylinder, whereas in a four stroke engine only one in two of the cylinder's descents within the cylinder is driven by an explosion ( the alternate down strokes involving merely the induction - sucking in - of a combustible mixture of fuel and air). The case made by the name was that accordingly a two-stroke engine worked twice as hard as a four-stroke engine, and the little four-cylinder DKW was comparable, in terms of engine effort, with a four-stroke, eight-cylinder engine. The name "Sonderklasse" which the car used between 1932 and 1934 does not translate comfortably into English, but the literal translation is "special class." The Sonderklasse name became associated with unfortunate publicity involving car body failures and the car was renamed in 1934, but the Sonderklasse name returned in 1937. The name "Schwebeklasse" which was used for models produced between 1934 and 1937 apparently referred to the cars "floating" axle, a component of the suspension system which was advertised as providing superior handling. Schweben is a German verb for "to float," or "to hover.")

Evolution

=== DKW 4=8 Typ P25 (1929) === The car launched in 1929 had a 4-cylinder V4 engine of 980cc mounted at the front and fed by two fuel pumps. Power, maximum output of which was claimed at 25 PS (18 kW), was transmitted to the rear wheels via a 3-speed manual transmission controlled from a lever in the middle of the floor. The wheels were attached to rigid axles each suspended on a traditional transverse leaf spring. Like its smaller predecessor the car came with a timber frame body coated with synthetic leather. At this stage the only body offered was a two-door four seater limousine sedan/saloon with a perpendicular style characteristic of the period. === DKW 4=8 Typ V 800 (1930–1931) === It had been hoped that the reconfigured fuel feed arrangement and the use of four smaller cylinders in place of two larger ones would address the problem of high fuel consumption and the need for frequent spark-plug replacement which had been a feature of the manufacturer's first car, the predecessor of the Typ 4=8. When it became clear that fuel and spark-plug consumption were still excessive, a replacement model was introduced in 1930, the DKW V 800 4=8. This had a smaller 782 cc engine and only 20 PS of claimed power. The performance of the car was reduced, but not the fuel consumption. The engine tended to overheat, even in cold weather, and could become very jerky in operation. The car was now offered either as a two-door cabrio-limousine (a soft topped four seater with fixed side windows) or as a full two-seater cabriolet. === DKW 4=8 Typ V 1000 (1931–1932) === In 1931 engine capacity was increased again, now to 990 cc, and claimed power returned to 25 PS. The name changed to DKW 4=8 Typ V 1000. The 990cc engine specification that continued to be included through several succe

Commercial

During eleven years between 1929 and 1940 DKW produced approximately 24,000 of their small rear wheel drive cars. Approximately 8,000 of these were steel bodied cars produced during the final three years of production.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name
DKW 4=8 (1929–1932), DKW Sonderklasse (1932–1934), DKW Schwebeklasse (1934–1937), DKW Sonderklasse (1937–1940)
aka
DKW 4=8 Typ P 25 PS (1929), DKW 4=8 Typ V 800 (1930–1931) 1,698 units , DKW 4=8 Typ V 1000 (1931–1932) 2,995 units , DKW Sonderklasse Typ 432 (1932-1933) 966 units , DKW Sonderklasse 1001/1002 (1933–1935) 6,264 units , DKW Schwebeklasse (1934–1937) 6,999 units , DKW Sonderklasse (1937–1940) 10,472 units
Manufacturer
DKW, later part of Auto Union
Production
1929–1932 , Approx 3,000 units, 1932–1934, Approx 7,000 units, 1934–1937, Approx 6,000, 1937–1940, Approx 8,000
Assembly
Zwickau, Germany
Body style
2 door ”limousine” (saloon), 2 door “cabrio-limousine” (soft top saloon/sedan), 2 door cabriolet
Engine
1929, 980 cc 4 cylinder 2-stroke, 1930–1931, 762 cc 4 cylinder 2-stroke, 1931–1935, 990 cc 4 cylinder 2-stroke, , 1935–1940, 1054 cc 4 cylinder 2-stroke
Layout
FR layout
Transmission
1929–1932, 3-speed manual, 1932, 4-speed manual, 1932–1940, 4-speed manual with lockable freewheel device
Length
1929, 3600 mm, 1930–1932, 3680 mm, 1932, 4000 mm, 1932–1934, 4150 mm, 1934–1937, 4300 mm, 1937–1940, 4150 mm
Width
1929 , 1450 mm, 1930–1932, 1380 mm1932, 1400 mm, 1932–1934, 1500 mm, 1934–1937, 1590 mm, 1937–1940, 1600 mm
Height
1929–1932, 1630 mm, 1932 , 1650 mm, 1932–1937, 1560 mm, 1937–1940, 1510 mm
Wheelbase
1929 , 2800 mm, 1930–1932, 2700 mm1932, 2760 mm, 1932–1937, 2850 mm, 1937–1940, 2600 mm

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

Sources

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