Steyr Steyr 50 / 55 (Baby) History

Launched in 1936 as the Steyr 50, the 'Steyr Baby' was an aerodynamically styled economy car aimed at the same budget-conscious market as the Volkswagen — though unlike the VW it entered production immediately. Powered by a water-cooled flat-four engine producing around 22 hp and notable for its streamlined two-door body, it offered superior interior space to comparable German economy cars of the day and featured hydraulic brakes.

A revised Steyr 55 arrived in early 1938 with a longer wheelbase and slightly more power. Both variants were affectionately known as the 'Baby'. Around 6,500 Steyr 50 and 6,500 Steyr 55 were produced — approximately 13,000 'Babys' in total — before wartime ended production in 1940. The design had a direct influence on later Austrian small-car thinking.