DKW 3=6 what kind of mpg? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Larry Delor · #1 09-16-2006, 11:38 AM

I was looking at Oldtimers the other day, and ran across a few DKW's. (A relative used to have one).
I thought it was interesting that they are 2 strokes, and that the 3 coils make it look impressive.

What kind of mpg can you expect to get with one of these cars?

I bet there would be quite a few of them still around, if it weren't for the TUV.

Since66 · #2 09-16-2006, 12:19 PM

Ah yes, Das Kleine Wunder. There were still a few of them around when I bought my first Benz.

TheDon · #3 09-16-2006, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Since66

Ah yes, Das Kleine Wunder. There were still a few of them around when I bought my first Benz.

Des Knaben Wunsch — "the boy's wish" ^_^ but das kleines Wunder is ok

t walgamuth · #4 09-16-2006, 01:50 PM

i would guess 20 to 30.

i have no basis for that just a gut feeling.

tom w

Mark DiSilvestro · #5 09-17-2006, 01:22 AM

The company that became DKW was founded before 1900 to manufacture fittings for steam engines. Just before WW1, they manufactured an unsuccessful steam car and adopted the name Dampf Kraft Wagen - DKW. After the war, they began production of a small two-stroke engine suitable for powering bicycles. By the early '20s they were building a small, wood-bodied two seater car powered by a two-cylinder two-stroke. In 1931, came the DKW F-1. Powered by a transverse 2-cylinder two-stroke, it is DKW's main claim to fame as the world's first volume-production front wheel drive car.
In 1932 DKW joined with Horch, Audi and Wanderer, to form Auto-Union. After WW2, the company returned as DKW/Auto-Union and continued with FWD and two-stroke power. DKW was acquired by Daimler-Benz in 1958, then Volkwagen in 1965. Into the F-102, DKW's final FWD two-stroke sedan, Volkswagen installed a Mercedes-designed, high-compression crossflow 4-cylinder pushrod 4-stroke, and thus the modern postwar Audi was born. I have a 1971 example - a two-door Audi Super-90 Variant (wagon).

I also have a '57 DKW 3=6 Sonderklasse Panoramic Coupe parked in my driveway. Car is FWD, with a 4-speed column-shift and weighs about 1900 pounds. Engine is a 3-cylinder 1000cc two-stroke rated at 42 horsepower. Compared to a 4-stroke of similar power, two-strokes have the advantage of fewer moving parts and a higher power to weight ratio, but fuel economy is not their strong point. As much as 35 MPG was claimed when the cars were new, but in reality it's closer to the mid-20s.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Larry Delor · #6 09-17-2006, 09:33 AM

Thanks for the info, Mark!

My aunt's first husband had a DKW. I thought it was a cool car, inside and out. I remember that the plug wires were a clear plastic and you could see (I think copper) braided wire inside.
But, he was young, and he sold it for something faster.
I remember that it sounded like a souped up Gogomobil.

Jim B. · #7 09-17-2006, 11:25 AM

I saw one of those little DKW coupes, several years ago, in, of all places, Lima, Peru!!!

Very few coupes of ANY kind anywhere in Peru, they need the four door cars to pack more people in.

You see every kind of car down there - old Chevy Impalas, Dodge Coronets, Ford Customs, Chevy Chevelles, Studebaker Larks (from the 1960's), as well as the occasional Mercedes 250C, an AMG C43, '56 Ford Station wagon with 12 matresses lashed to the top, early 60's Toyopets, 49 Buick, 57 Ford, VW Beetles, '66 Olds f85 with nissan diesel engine, I got a ride in a W123 Euro gasser Mercedes
(owned by a Pharmacist in Arequipa!!), late model Ford Crown Victoria, old Rambler Classic from early 60's, 1955 Dodge Panel Van with people clinging to the outside, '63 Chevy Bel Air wagon, Toyota Hiace minivans, retired Japanese busses with the Japanese letters still on the side, 1949 Chevy aeroback 4 door, sedan with homemade plumber's rack on it, old '46 Ford sedan, ragged 1962 Cadillac Fleetwood, the country was a museum of junkers and beaters but with a few luxury cars in there now and then to keep it interesting.

But a DKW coupe? I never expected to see one of those!! It was pale yellow, in pretty good shape! In PERU OMG, WTF!!!???

I was told if you ever acquire a car in Peru, you DAMN WELL keep it forever!

Mark DiSilvestro · #8 09-17-2006, 06:57 PM

My DKW 3=6 Panoramic Coupe (so-called because of it's wrap-around rear window, ala the '51 Studebaker) is actually a pillar-less version of the 2-door sedan, with a rounded body that somewhat resembles a '50s Morris Minor. The holy-grail for postwar DKW collectors is the SP1000 coupe and convertible that DKW built from 1958 to 1963 and styled to resemble the '57 T-Bird.
As for the sound, 'popcorn popper' is how it's usually described!

Happy Motoring, Mark

Lycoming-8 · #9 09-19-2006, 01:35 AM

I drove a '57 Corn Popper to grad school many years ago. Mostly ran it on the interstate between Cincy and Champaign /Urbana. It got about 27.5 MPG and I was 'required' to pump my own gas once they realized that I had to mix a little bit of gas with the measured amount of oil in a plastic jug etc......

This was also a panoramic back window, suicide door, hardtop sport coupe like Mark's; but with a maroon body and white top.

Three cylinders, three plugs, three points, three coils, two cycle 900cc engine, thermosyphon cooling, four on the tree, freewheeling, front wheel drive, radiator/heater core combined, headlite dimmer on the steering column, PUSH BUTTON STARTER SWITCH, and Horch style chrome chipmunk stripes down the trunk lid. Nothing conventional about this baby, and a hoot to drive!!

It was replaced by the 190Db.........