1934 was a pivotal year in the continental motoring industry. After years of strident criticism of the conservatism of the German motoring industry, Josef Ganz was finally seeing movement towards he long sought for 'volks-wagen', a budget car affordable to the working man. At the 1934 Berlin Motor Show, several new players were exhibiting new models that they hoped would satisfy the new chancellor, Adolf Hitler,'s brief and capitalize on a huge, untapped market. One of those cars was the Framo Picollo, developed by DKW's former managing director, Jorge Rasmussen. Ganz' Motor Kritik magazine was fulsome in its praise for the new vehicle.
"The automobile exhibition took place at a later date this year. As a result, the usual press was unable to report in its usual detail. In this, our preliminary report, we refer to our assessment of initial specifications that we considered important enough for investigate further. It is our intention to discuss the details more so later.
One thing is certain, that this year’s exhibits have demonstrated in a most interesting way, the advanced use of automobile technology in the modern direction. If, as in recent years, the main interest of the designer was in chassis reform, has been accepted, then after its consolidation efforts will now turn towards perfection of the use of power. Look for finer motors, improved gears and transmissions, torque converters and the like. The results of the effort should be very noteworthy, to create vehicles adapted to the conditions of the highways. Unfortunately, there is too much about what one knows and suspects, so one has nothing to say about it before the beginning of the exhibition. But the bell of the opening of this new era is very close, so your patience will not be put to the test much longer.
The Framo-Werke GMBH is extremely enterprising. Among other things, they have introduced a volkswagen that deserves the most careful attention. The vehicle is a cute four-wheel car and costs as a convertible two-seater RM1225, and RM1275, as two-seater with two child seats. This vehicle is designed by the same car designer who once created the Mollmobil. The Mollmobil was already ahead of its time in its day (for more about the Mollmobil cyclecar - http://www.oldie-point.at/unser-angebot/detailansicht/vehicle/moll-mobil/).
The Framo Piccolo is a rear-engined car and has many standard features for this category of vehicle; it has a central tube frame and front independent suspension in the form of a cross sprung parallelogram. Steering is by rack and pinion. Rear suspension is via cantilever springs that are mounted on a cross beam running under the rear seats. This is attached to the central tube, which runs under the body floor, to which a rigid, differential-free drive axle is mounted. The axle is suspended by a fork joined to the frame by means of a rubber elastic joint and an additional push rod. The motor is suspended near the centre of the frame and drives the rear axle by means of an enclosed chain case. Since the drive block moves with the axle, consistent transmission of power is maintained.
The engine is a 300cm DKW two-stroke motor with reverse scavenging, with dynostarter, fan-forced air cooling, and a multi-plate clutch with reverse gear. Braking is provided by cable brakes, without compensation, working on all four wheels. Width is 1100mm and length at the axles is 2200mm. Wheel size is 25x3. Advertised high speed is 60 kph. The Framo Piccolo was undoubtedly a main attraction of the show because he wants to be the car for the common man."
But, as we know, it was not to be for the Framo Piccolo. Or the Standard Superior, or Hansa 400, or Bungartz Butz or the many other microcars that were exhibited at the show, for under the main hall stood the new car from the Czechoslovakian innovator, Tatra. The Tatra T77 stole the show, drawing the attention of Adolf Hitler. When he gave his opening speech later at the show he expanded on his vision for his people's car: it would be modern, steel and advanced in design and construction, economic to run and cheap to buy. The plywood microcars were out of the running and the road to the true Volkswagen was opened.
For more on this interesting period see:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2019/10/framo-piccolo-germanys-cheapest-car-1934.html
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2019/10/framo-piccolo-motor-und-sport-2.html
https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2015/07/standard-superior.html
https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2014/02/tatras-streamliners-yesterdays-car-of.html
http://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/volkswagen-world-beating-peoples-car.html
http://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-tatra-versus-volkswagen-lawsuit.html
Framo Piccolo owners manual: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2024/08/1934-framo-piccolo-owners-manual.html
Framo Piccolo Motor und Sport review: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2019/10/framo-piccolo-motor-und-sport-2.html
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