Wanderer, as explained here, was an old company whose automobile assets became part of Auto Union in 1932.
The first Auto Union based Wanderers appeared around 1937. The main models were the four-cylinder W24 and the six-cylinder W23. Their respective German Wikipedia entries are here and here. I'm linking to German language sources here and below because they provide more information than do entries in English. In at least one case, no English link is available, but you can link from the German to the English where possible.
As best I can tell, Wanderers were mid-range cars in Auto Union's lineup. DKWs were more entry-level while the Audi and Horch brands were for affluent buyers during the 1930s. In the images below I tried to pair those Wanderers with their likely competition. However, my information base is pretty thin in that regard, so comments by knowledgeable readers offering better information are welcome.
Late-1930s Wanderer styling was similar to 1935-36 American designs, but with a slight Deutscher accent.
W24s were shorter than W23s and had flat, rather than V'd windshields.
Trunk access was from the inside.
Windows were larger than the norm of those days.
Was this factory advertising or a pose from during a movie shoot? Pretty dramatic.
Wikipedia entry here. Designed a few years before the Wanderers. Longer wheelbase, but in a market segment not far from the W23.
Wikipedia entry here. Somewhat competitive with the W24. Styling details are of the same vintage, but the appearance is slightly less modern overall.
Wikipedia entry here. In roughly the same range as the W23, this 1938 design had input by General Motors stylists seconded to Germany.
1 comment:
The Wanderer definitely has a lower beltline and different body to greenhouse proportion compared to other 1930's cars. Halfway to a Citroen Traction Avant but actually more modern style overall. I wonder if there were any engineering accommodation to this maybe lower overall style. Not FWD, I assume.
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