Two cylinders and a 2CV stickshift. Why should you want it?

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Do you like lots of metal and bright-work under the bonnet? Do you prefer complexity over simplicity? Do you like to pub-chat XL petrol bills and speeding tickets? Do you love to check the dipstick and do frequent oil changes? Then  better move on as the DKW F5 is definitely not your cup of tea. 

The light and simple construction of the DKW is a statement of pre-war ingenuity and mid thirties avant garde engineering. Front wheel drive. Two stroke 2-cylinder of 692 cc. When DKW came with front wheel drive on their smaller cars in 1931 it was most certainly no common thing. Still the design didn't suffer from experimental diseases. The F5 series was one of the best selling cars of the late thirties. 

Driving is a bit unusual and thus interesting. Except for the pre-war FWD the gearshift is very much like that of the Citroën TA and 2CV like with the shift handle protruding from the dashboard like a walking stick. Yet one can wonder who inspired who, the Citroën came three years later. For further comparison, there are 3 forward gears and gear lever is located on the dash. You engage clutch, pull out gear lever and turn left for first gear, push in and turn rlever right for second gear and then turn lever left for third gear. For reverse it is pull out lever and turn right. The gears can be a little tight to move at the start but once the car is warmed up then gears move a lot more freely."

So if you're looking for truly forward design in an affordable, easy accessible, easy to work on package, the DKW - most certainly in this attractive convertible variation - is certainly worthwhile considering. To be auctioned by H&H on 23 July.

(Photos courtesy H&H )

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