Back in 2016 I began to consider purchasing an IFA F9 or F8. I made several enquiries with oldtimer dealers in Eastern Germany. One of those was KFZ Steffen Lange of Calau. Steffen Lange had a large collection of DKW, IFA and assorted East German vehicles for sale and I often dreamed of loading a shipping container of 'goodies.' One of the vehicles I seriously considered purchasing was this 1953 IFA F9. This is a very early, IFA-built F9s constructed in the former Audiwerkes in Chemnitz. Only 1627 examples of the limousine were ever built as IFA struggled to overcome material shortages, build quality issues, lack of workforce and competing priorities with VEB's demand for truck and tractor production. For the details of these challenges, see here:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2020/11/postwar-veb-horch-trucks-and-tractors.html
Among the 'primitive' and distinctive features of these early cars are the split front and rear windscreen, trafficators and a front mounted petrol tank, as East Germany did not have a fuel pump manufacturer at this time.
The car had been sitting for decades and required extensive rehabilitation. From an initial glance, I suspect there have been substantial modifications made to the car's dashboard and gear shift. The fascia and column mounted gear shift appear to come from a later, Eisenach-built F9, however, it could be that this was an early Eisenach assembled car using an IFA-built older body. A transitional example.
After due consideration, I decided not to proceed and ended up buying a 1953 DKW F89P instead. The long restoration process of that car is extensively documented in this blog.
I'm pleased to see however, that the owner of Buchan Motorsport has purchased this rare and interesting car. They have produced two every well-made and detailed videos about the F9 and its importance and this car makes a great, practical addition to their interest. I look forward to seeing more videos about the progress of the car's rennovation.
Part Two - First Repairs
The Buchan Motorsport documentaries:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2022/12/dkw-f9-forgotten-superstar.html
The history of the Development of the DKW F9:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2017/07/1939-dkw-f9-prototype.html
The history of the Development of the IFA F9:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-development-of-ifa-f9.html
The history of the Development of the DKW F89P:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2017/06/dkw-f89p-new-meisterklasse.html
Winfred Kuhl's IFA F9 prototype project:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2021/11/1948-ifa-f9-project-part-four-body.html
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