Auto Union DKW Munga History

The Munga (Mehrzweck Universal Geländewagen mit Allradantrieb — multi-purpose universal off-road vehicle with all-wheel drive) was developed by DKW from 1953 after German authorities requested a military utility vehicle for the border police and the newly forming Bundeswehr. DKW won the contract over rivals including a Porsche submission, basing the Munga on the mechanical underpinnings of the DKW 3=6 passenger car and DKW Schnellaster van.

Series production began at the Auto Union plant in Ingolstadt in October 1956. The Munga used a two-stroke three-cylinder engine, initially 896 cc (37 hp) and later enlarged to 980 cc (45 hp), with permanent four-wheel drive. It was capable of climbing a 70% gradient and fording 500 mm of water. The Bundeswehr and German border police were the primary customers, but NATO allies including the Royal Netherlands Army also purchased the type.

Approximately 46,750 Mungas were produced through 1968, and the vehicle was also licence-built in Brazil as the DKW Candango (1958–1963). The Munga outlasted the civilian DKW road car range, remaining in production until the year before Auto Union formally ceased to exist.