Dkw · 1935–1936
DKW F5
The DKW F5 is a small, front-wheel drive saloon produced by Auto Union's DKW division from 1935 to 1936, as a replacement for the DKWs F4 (Meisterklasse) and F2 (Reichsklasse) models.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Predecessor: DKW F2 · Successor: DKW F7
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The body
The appearance of the F5 was little changed from those of the F2 and F4. However, the timber-frame construction of the central portion of the body was, in the F5, replaced with a steel frame. The outer skin of the body remained of fabric construction, with plywood support. There were two broadly similar F5 saloons, sold as the Reichsklasse and Meisterklasse. They shared the same track and wheelbase, but the Meisterklasse was 3.5 cm longer. There were also two-seater cabriolet versions of each, along with a lighter bodied ‘Front Luxus Sport’ sports cabriolet for which a higher top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) was claimed.
Engine and running gear
The cars had the two-cylinder two-stroke engines of their predecessors. The Meisterklasse 692 cc and 584 cc engine had an output of 20 hp. Respective claimed top speeds were 80 and 85 km/h (50 and 53 mph). DKW had been producing small front wheel drive sedans since 1931. The incorporation of front wheel drive in the F5 was at this time still strikingly innovative in terms of the wider auto market, however. The car featured a three-speed manual transmission system.
Commercial
Production of the F5 saloon ended in 1936 while production of the 20 bhp (15 kW) cabriolet versions continued for a further year. The car was replaced by the DKW F7. By the time that happened, approximately 60,000 F5s had been produced, placing this car among Germany's top sellers.
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 F5
- Manufacturer
- Auto Union AG
- aka
- Reichsklasse, Meisterklasse
- Production
- 1935–1936
- Assembly
- Germany: Zwickau
- Predecessor
- DKW F2, DKW F4
- Successor
- DKW F7
- Engine
- 584 cc & 692 cc two-stroke I2
- Layout
- FF layout
- Transmission
- 3-speed manual
- Length
- 3750 mm
- Width
- 1430 mm
- Height
- 1480 mm
- Kerb weight
- 700 kg
- Wheelbase
- 2610 mm
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1154412CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DKW_F5CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1374922608 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DKW_F5_Sedan_1935.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.