DKW Auto-Union Project: DKW Barnfind Collection in California

Interesting barnfind still pop up from time to time around the world and a collection of mid-1950s DKWs has come up for sale in central California. This collection includes several rare and interesting models, including a rare Karmann-bodied 1953 DKW F91 convertible. Details of the collection can be found on the seller's website here:
https://thedkwcollection.godaddysites.com/

The collection comprises:
1. 1953 DKW F91 Cabriolet
2. 1955 DKW F91 Sonderklasse 2-Door with Colorado title
3. 1957 DKW Schnellaster 8 Seat Bus (curved rear corner windows)
4. 1958 DKW Schnellaster 8 Seat Bus (curved rear corner windows) with California title
5. 1958 DKW Schnellaster Kombi/Window Van
Along with an enormous collection of parts. Some of the cars have been stored dry in shipping containers. At least one of the Schnellaster's has been stored outside.

All of these vehicles are relatively rare and desireable and would be worth restoring, however, the 1953 Karmann-bodied F91 is particularly important as it is actually one of the exhibition cars from the 1953 Frankfurt Motor Show where the new 3-cylinder engined F91 was unveiled. The story of how DKW returned to automobile production in 1950 has been told in my post here:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2017/06/dkw-f89p-new-meisterklasse.html

Having lost access to their 3-cylinder 900cc engine in the division of Germany into occupation spheres after the Second World War, DKW had been forced to make do with the prewar 700cc twin-cylinder motor in their F89P sedan and Schnellaster vans. This provided an effective stop-gap while work recommenced on reverse engineering the lost 3-cylinder engine. In 1953 this engine was finally ready and was unveiled at the 1953 Frankfurt International Motor Show. At this time, as production was still slow, the engine was offered as an upgrade option. Several 3-cylinder pre-production cars were displayed on the DKW stand, including a limousine model and two convertibles, bodied by Karmann Karosserie.

This photo of the actual car (bottom) is from a subsequent show later in 1953 or early 1954. The car is on a a Karmann Karosserie stand alongside two Volkswagen convertibles, not the DKW stand so clearly the car must have been loaned back to Karmann for promotion as I can find no other published photos of the car on the DKW exhibitions after the Frankfurt show.

Audi Tradition in Ingolstadt have confirmed the car's identity:

"This car is the eldest existing F 91 4 Seater convertible! It was built in March 13th, 1953 in Dusseldorf and sold to the Auto Union in Frankfurt. There the Auto Union presented this car to the public at the "IAA" in March 1953, this is the International Automobile Exhibition. Enclosed you find the historical data sheet on this car... So your car in the original condition (colour, etc.). It was never restored. So it has a very interesing history. What happened with it after the IAA is not registered, but it could be that an American dealer or client bought it directly at the Exhibition. So it MUST be restored!!!"

Karmann-bodied DKW convertibles are rare and highly desirable (in DKW circles) so this important car is definitely worth restoring. Body condition appears to sound too, having been stored under cover in the dry air of California's central desert valley. The Schnellaster buses too are rare enough to be desireable. The seller is prepared to assist with shipping.

In addition to the cars, there is an extremely large collection of parts, stored over a lifetime, available for sale.

For more information or discuss prices, please contact Vince at:
vince@eztechplatforms.com

1953 DKW F91 Convertible: