DKW Model History

Germany · founded 1916

German pioneer of front-wheel drive and two-stroke motoring (1916–1966) — once the world's largest motorcycle maker, later the backbone of the Auto Union four-ring badge.

Models

F-Series (F1–F8)

Europe's first volume front-wheel-drive cars — transversely mounted two-stroke twins in wood-and-steel bodies, built in Zwickau from 1931 to 1942.

Compact car · 1931–1942
Meisterklasse (F89)

The first DKW built in West Germany after the war — a 684 cc two-cylinder two-stroke revival that put the marque back on the road in 1950.

Compact car · 1950–1954
Sonderklasse (F91/F93/F94)

The three-cylinder step-up — DKW's larger 900 cc Sonderklasse debuted at the 1953 Frankfurt IAA and ran in various forms through 1959.

Compact car · 1953–1959
Auto Union 1000

The one-litre DKW badged under the Auto Union name — a 981 cc three-cylinder two-stroke in sedan, coupé, and cabriolet forms, built from 1957 to 1963.

Compact car · 1957–1963
Munga

DKW's purpose-built military four-wheel-drive — 46,750 built for the West German Bundeswehr and NATO allies from 1956 to 1968.

Off-road vehicle · 1956–1968
Junior / F11 / F12

DKW's successful small three-cylinder — the Junior debuted in 1959, evolved into the F11/F12, and became the best-selling small car in West Germany of its era.

Subcompact car · 1959–1965
F102

The last DKW — a modern 1,175 cc three-cylinder two-stroke in a unitary body, whose platform Volkswagen handed to Audi to launch the modern Audi brand.

Compact car · 1963–1966

Other makes