Thursday, June 8, 2023

German Small Car Postcard collection







Despite Germany having a reputation for engineering excellence, prewar automobile production was slow and expensive. Mass production techniques were virtually unused until they were introduced by American affiliates GM Opel and German Ford in the mid-1930s. Before that time, the high cost of quality engineering and manufacture meant that cars were well outside the price range of anyone except the wealthy and upper middle-class. Several companies attempted to develop small, budget cars for the bottom end of the market but these were often short-lived and poor quality. Some, such as the Hanomag Bug would pave the way for the future concept of the Volkswagen.

This set of postcards is part of a larger collection published in 1972.

1. 1898 Benz Velo


2. Wanderer Puppchen


3. Hataz 4/12 PS


4. Grade F1


https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2023/06/making-grade-1924-grade-f1.html

5. Opel 4/14 PS


6. Hanomag 2/10 PS


7. Pluto 4/20 PS


8. Stoewer V5 Front


More about Stoewer: https://tatrat600.blogspot.com/2021/10/1935-stoewer-greif-junior-tatra-under.html

9. Framo Piccolo


More about Framo: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2020/06/framo-index.html