DKW Meisterklasse Project Update - Wheels Down and a Big Move

For the past four years my DKW Meisterklasse project has languished in my garage. The intervening years were spent caring for elderly relatives, which pretty much occupied all my time. Last year I was made redundant from work and thought at last I would have some time to work on the car. Well, that didn't quite work out as planned as I started a new job sooner than anticipated. I'm back to fulltime work now which has impeded on the project, but it does pay the bills for my car restorations.

A quick recap is in order. My car was seized at Fremantle Port for breaching Australia's zero tolerance for asbestos. After months of delay, we were required to remove the brakes from the car on the dockside. https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2021/05/1953-dkw-f89p-meisterklasse-import.html

After I got the car home, I had the car propped up on blocks, removed the wheels, removed the rest of the brake system, the exhaust, fitted new shocks and cleaned up the suspension parts and removed the engine. The engine was rebuilt and refitted and there the project stalled. https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2022/09/dkw-meisterklasse-project-update-engine.html

A few years ago, I put the wheels back on intending to move the car to a workshop, but I could not fit the right hand rear wheel as the paving had been lifted by tree roots. At any rate, the workshop situation fell through, so the job remained unfinished. A couple of years have passed and now I have the opportunity to move the car to a friend's workshop/warehouse, so it was time to fit that fourth wheel. To do that I needed to remove the rear right fender, which came off surprisingly easily.

Thanks to Axel Kruppa for sourcing a DKW axle dust cap for me.

Propping up the front to remove the blocks.

"Touch down!"

All four tyres were pretty much dead flat.

I used my bicycle pump to pump up the tyres. It sounds crazy, but I got them to 25 kilopascals, which will be enough to get the car rolling onto a transport and into the warehouse.

Now ready to roll.

On Saturday 29th September 2026 the car was picked up for its journey to the workshop.

The car may be rough, but it's got good lines.

Thanks to Specialised Towing https://tilttrayperth.com.au/towing-services-locations/fremantle/

Parked up

The DKW's new home for a while....

The last update: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2023/05/dkw-meisterklasse-project-update.html

DKW Meisterklasse Project Update - Exhaust System

The condition of the car's exhaust system was pretty rough when I bought her. On the dockside, the exhaust gasket returned a positive test for asbestos, leading the car's empounding. At the dockside, my mechanic friends removed the gasket and the asbestos lagging that was connecting the resonator cylinder (box) from the rest of the exhaust pipe. It appears that the pipe had been cut at some point in the past and repaired simply by wrapping asbestos tape around the cut. When I removed the whole exhaust system from the car when it was in storage, I found that the tail end of the pipe was held in place by a piece of canvas rope. It would have been swinging around quite a bit when the car was driving.

What I have discovered as I've slowly restored this car is that Auto-Union were constantly changing and improving the F89P between its introduction in 1950 and its replacement by the F91 in late 1953. This is revealed through the often vast differences between what is published in the owner's manuals and what is actually on the car. For instance, the ignition system was completely changed during the three years of production, starting with a distributor connected to the Dynastart in the earliest manuals, through to the tried and true condensors and breakers of the prewar period - something Auto-Union would stick with until the Munga was retired in 1968. Similarly, the exhaust system was completely changed over the years.

The F7 and F8 models had a straight through pipe from the engine manifold to the rear of the car. For the F89P model however, a resonator box was added. This box - or more accurately, cylinder - was mounted to the exhaust manifold and was designed to reflect the exhaust pressure wave back towards the engine, minimising the loss of fuel mixture as the cylinders were cleared. This simple addition did a lot to improve the performance of these small engines.

The resonator box on my car was in terrible condition, being badly rusted and with several tears and holes. I thought it would be a rather easy matter to have a new one replicated in Perth, but I was wrong. No one wanted to touch it and I was quoted some ridiculous amounts to replicate it... "if we have time." That's the polite way of saying "go away."

So it was back to the markets in Germany, but these parts are hard to find. Also, the box was completely redesigned in 1953 when the four speed gearbox was introduced, as the gearbox was larger and required neighbouring parts to be adjusted to fit. After much fruitless searching, I was referred to Holger Behnke of Old Car Ranch in Spremberg, Germany. Holger manufactures reproduction exhaust systems for DKW and IFA vehicles, but he did not have an F89P exhaust in his inventory, so I sent him the parts and within a week it was done.

The new and the old

I look forward to getting this back in the car.

And now Holger will have an F89P exhaust system in his inventory. You can check out his parts and services online here: http://old-car-ranch.de/

Update 1 June 2023 - It arrives!

The reproduction looks great and is of good, heavy-gauge steel. Thanks Holger!

The next update: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2026/08/dkw-meisterklasse-project-update-wheels.html

DKW Meisterklasse Project Update - carburetor and panels

Somewhere along the restoration journey my original carburetor disappeared. Undoubtedly it is in my garage in the bottom of a box some place. I'm sure it will appear the moment that I complete this project. Fortunately I had a spare carburetor body in my spares, but it was missing several important parts - most importantly the flange that mounts the carburetor to the engine. This part is unique to the F89P. I managed to obtain one from Germany (thank you Dirk!) late last year and it was consigned to the post.

As always seems to happen when you have a super critical part arriving in the post - the postman arrives when you're out. Except I wasn't out! I was home all day and left my front door open so that the postman could see I was home, but...no. Our normal postman is very good and he often stops for a quick chat, but some of the parcel post guys would rather slip a 'missed you' note in your letterbox, whether you're home or not, and do a runner. Sadly for me, the post office they dropped it off at had limited hours so I couldn't pick the flange up until the following week.

Nearly eight weeks waiting for this!

This is how it mounts to the engine.

And now the carburetor can be fixed to the engine.

But then I encounter 'mystery'. I wasn't sure how this was supposed to attach to the accelerator rod (on the right). It looked to me like it didn't belong.

A quick check of the owner manual reveals that this part doesn't belong on the carburetor.

Okay, so now it's fixed.

Panel Cleanup

The interior panels of the engine bay were a bit messy so I stripped down of their old paint and bitumen and repainted them in light green primer and bitumen black.

Much better looking now.

The interior of the wheel arches were very grubby too. When cleaning these up you could see that the sound deadening spray from the factory was very hit and miss. The black areas in the above photo are covered in the original bitumen deadener, but the light rusty areas are untouched and have consequently rusted.

The new bitumen paint will protect the underside for another 70 years.

I'm leaving the exterior paintwork 'as is.' The next step is the electrics. I have an auto electrician lined up to come and help me out in February. 

Part needed!

My vorshaldampfer (resonator box) is irreparable. I am on the look out for a replacement.

Does anyone know what is inside these?

Previous update:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2022/12/dkw-meisterklasse-project-wheels.html

Next update: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2023/05/dkw-meisterklasse-project-update.html

1953 DKW F89P Renovation - Sorbey Autocentre, Denmark

Sorbey Autocentre in Bilverkstad in Denmark has taken on a project to restore to running a 1953 DKW F89P Karmann-bodied four-seater cabriolet. They have been documenting the project on YouTube, which is excellent. It's all in Danish of course, but it's still good to watch. Enjoy!

Episode One:

Episode Two:

Episode Three:

Episode Four:

Episode Five:

Episode Six:

Episode Seven:

Episode Eight

Episode Nine

Episode Ten

Episode Eleven

Episode Twelve

Episode Thirteen

Episode Fourteen

Episode Fifteen

Episode Sixteen

Episode Seventeen

Episode Eighteen

Episode Nineteen

Episode Twenty

Episode Twenty One

Episode Twenty Two


Highlights video:


Car sold - October 2025


Sörby Autocenter AB Mekonomen Bilverkstad Ronneby
With the customer in focus, we always give you a comprehensive solution to meet your needs and simplify your workshop visit. As a guarantee of quality, we give you at least a 3-year warranty, and always carry out service according to the car manufacturer's recommendations. Which means that you always have your factory and new car warranty on the car and get an approved stamp in the service book.

We always work with high quality and service so that you as a customer can feel that your car is in safe hands. If you have questions or concerns about your car, you are welcome to swing by and we will be happy to answer them over a cup of coffee.

The service also includes a year's roadside assistance, which means that you get help in the event of, for example, a puncture, a petrol stop or an engine breakdown. Do you want to split the payment? We offer you 4 months of interest-free installments. Welcome!

Besök vår Facebook sida: www.facebook.com/sorbyautocenter/

Önskar Ni komma i kontakt med oss nås vi på: sorby.autocenter@telia.com

Besök gärna våra Youtube vänners kanaler: @livetpaochutanforscenen

DKW Meisterklasse Project Update - Wheels

Another day of small steps forward. I set myself the task of getting the wheels back on, then the car be taken off the blocks and moved around a little easier. I think it's been on blocks now for more than 18 months!

The left front wheel hub went on without any problem. Then I started on the right and... problem.

The hub has a keyway that locks the hub to the axle stub but...

The axle does not have a key... have I lost a part? Of course, I started cursing myself and thought I would have to back to the forums to work out what is missing, then remembered there was a mysterious component in my bag of brake parts.

And there it is. When I removed the brake hubs 18 months or so ago I remember this semicircular part falling out. I had no idea where it had come from but carefully packed it away with the brake components.

And it slotted straight into the hole and then the hub went back on, no problem.

Now we have two wheels back on. The rear hubs have proven a little more challenging to get back on. They required use of a hub puller to get off and it looks like they'll need a lot more pushing to get back on. There are three sets of bearings in the rear hubs and they do not exactly line up as you push the hub back in. Special tools and lot of sweating is required I think.

Next update:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2023/01/dkw-meisterklasse-project-update.html
Previous update:
https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2022/11/dkw-meisterklasse-project-update-little.html

DKW Meisterklasse Project Update - Little Steps

Car restoration can be a very slow process. Rewarding, but slow. Back in September 2022 I recieved the engine back and reinstalled it in the car. It seemed like I would be able to make some rapid progress at last, but not quite! There is always another obstacle.

Firstly, I thought I lost the carburetor. It was one of the first things I'd removed from the car when I got it home. I cleaned it up and put it in storage with my parts collection. However, I when I sent my engine for rebuilding, I could not find it anywhere. This was a problem! I did manage to find a spare carburetor I had obtained from Audi Tradition - back when they still sold DKW NOS parts - which I have been messing around with, but it is missing the mounting flange and the air-filter connector.

Like almost all DKW F89P parts, this is rather a rare part on the spares market. I'm still looking through my parts as I'm sure it has to be there somewhere. I mean, I haven't searched the fridge yet....but if you have a lead, I'd like to hear about it.

The radiator was in good condition and only needed a clean up, flush through and repaint. The pipes are attached and I mounted it back in the car. The original aluminium fittings mounting to the engine had eroded considerably but I managed to acquire modern reproductions, however, these appear to be for an F89L and not all of them fit the sedan. I reverted to the original engine top pipe. The bottom pipe (see below) fits okay but the other (top left) will need to cut to fit correctly.

Some assembly required

This piece is for an early F89L as the radiator is not behind the engine but mounted at an angle, tilted forward to left side of then engine (looking forward).

A simple slice and dice

And done.

Once the radiator was back in the car I was able to connect up the gear shifter, which runs through the top of the radiator housing. I was always uncertain how the gear shifter would work in practice. The gear lever is linked to the gear rod by a piece of rubber. When I acquired my car, the rubber was completely rotten and had fallen apart so I'd never seen how it worked. After connecting the two rods with an appropriately sized piece of rubber I was amazed how easily the gears shifted. It will take a little bit of getting used to however.


Update 6 December 2022

Thankfully, with a bit of searching in Germany an F89P carburetor flange has been found. Thanks Dirk. And it goes on (Jan 2023): https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2023/01/dkw-meisterklasse-project-update.html

Previous update: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2022/09/dkw-meisterklasse-project-update-engine.html