A cross section of Motor Kritik auto reviews from the years 1938 to 1941
The Adler 2-litre
A medium sized family car built by Adler from 1938 to 1940. 7470 cars were built. A cabriolet, limousine and a sportster were all bodied by Ambi-Budd Karossiere in Berlin. Karmann of Osnabruck also built a sleek, limousine version. http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/lost_marques_adler.htm
BMW 328 2 Litre sports cabriolet
The BMW 2 litre was introduced in 1936 and remained in production until 1940. It enjoyed considerable racing success, in the 1938 Mille Miglia for instance, where BMW 328s came in second, third and fourth in their class and eighth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth overall. After the war the BMW 328 went back into production in East Germany as the EMW 328. In England a version of the car was manufactured as the Fraser-Nash BWM. http://www.supercars.net/cars/160.html
Borgward 2000
Carl Borgward had come along way since the days of the Blitzkarren delivery tricycle of 1924.
http://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/goliath-pionier.html This large 2 litre family car was introduced in 1927 under the name Hansa-Borgward 2000. The Hansa name was dropped in 1939. The following year it was replaced by the larger engined Borgward 2300. http://www.borgward.com/eng/history_eng/geschichte_auto.htm
Mercedes-Benz Type 540K
The spectacular Mercedes-Benz 540K was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 1936. The car was a development of the famous SSK roadster. It was powered by a 5.4 litre straight 8 engine that could develop approximately 140 horsepower. The maximum speed was 170 kilometres per hour. http://www.supercars.net/cars/1208.html
Ford Eifel Sportster
Ford also manufactured cars in Germany. The car was manufactured between 1937 and 1942 built on the standard European chassis used by the Ford Prefect in England. Some 62,000 cars were manufactured before production was stopped. http://www.enfostuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1215&sid=0a9f57cad388c7795df9ed8772250fe8
Hanomag Rekord-Diesel
Hanomag introduced the Rekord in 1933. It was a small diesel powered family car but was only produced in relatively small numbers. The 1.9 litre was introduced in 1937. http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/12/01/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1936-hanomag-rekord-15k/
Horch 951A
The Horch 951A was introduced simultaneously with the Horch 850. The primary difference between the models was the 951A's double jointed rear axle and longer chassis. The Horch limousines were the pinnacle of Germany luxury vehicles. http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/lord-ks-garage-65-horch-850
Maybach Zeppelin
Maybach were originally an engine manufacturer building engines for Zeppelin. In 1919, with Germany banned from building airships, Maybach turned towards automobile manufacture. In 1928 Maybach introduced the Zeppelin model featuring a 7 litre V 12. In 1930 the engine was upgraded to 8 litres. Maybach cars were so huge and heavy that drivers of the 8 litre model needed to have a truck license. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z11947/Maybach-SW38.aspx
Opel Kadett
The small family Opel Kadett was Germany's best selling car of the late 1930s. The car was designed by Opel's technical director, Heinrich Nordhoff, who would later go on to head up Volkswagen after the war. The introduction of the Kadett in 1937 raised the ire of Adolf Hitler, as it threatened his Volkswagen project, despite the fact that it was twice the price of the Beetle. The car remained in production until 1940. After the war the Opel factory, plant and designs were dismantled by the Americans and shipped to the Soviet Union as part of reparations. From 1948 until 1956 the Soviets produced their copy of the Kadett under the name Moskvitch 400. http://www.oldrussiancars.com/moskvitch-400-420/
Opel Olympia
Another small car from the Opel stable. It was named Olympia in honour of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. 168,000 cars were built between 1935 and 1940. http://www.philseed.com/opoly39.html
Stoewer Sedina
The Sedina was one of the last civilian cars built by Stoewer before the war. It was a very popular medium sized family car. http://www.stoewer-museum.de/stoewer/gebrstoewere.htm
Tempo G1200 Gelander
The double engined, four wheel drive, four wheel steering Tempo Gelander was built for an army contract for a tough, cross country car. The army however found the double engine drive confusing and refused to accept it. Tempo instead offered the car for civilian use. Small numbers were purchased for forestry and police services, but most of the 1300 cars built were exported to dozens of countries around the world.
Volkswagen KDF
Government sponsored and sold through a savings plan scheme, the KDF was introduced in 1938. 165,000 subscribed to the scheme but no cars were delivered before the war intervened. http://www.heinkelscooter.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/volkswagen-world-beating-peoples-car.html
