East German BMW / EMW 340

Following Germany's 1945 World War 2 surrender, the country's boundaries were redrawn and the resulting area was subdivided into occupation zones. The Russian zone became the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) or East Germany, as it was often called, in 1949.

BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) automobile production facilities in Eisenach, DDR, were separated from the parent company, becoming a separate firm.  In 1952, following legal proceedings, it was named Eisenacher Motorenwerk and built cars with the EMW label for a few years before further name changes were made.  A brief Wikipedia entry in English is here, and from there one can link to a more detailed entry in German.

The first new East German BMW was the 340, marketed 1949-1955.   As the link mentions, mechinically it was a development of the prewar BMW 326.  The body design was new, however.

The BMW 340 became the EMW 340 in 1952.  Images from unidentified sources and model years follow.

Gallery

I don't know if the Eisenach crew was thinking in the late 1940s that they would have to abandon the BMW name.  But for that reason or for marketing purposes, the traditional BMW "nostril" grille theme was abandoned for the 340.

Another view of the grille.

The new body design strikes me as being a prewar-postwar hybrid, the postwar part being the front end.

The attractive, long hood housed an inline six cylinder motor -- rather fancy for a socialist country, I think.

From the rear, the 340 reveals late-1930s styling features.  That said, the overall design is attractive aside from the uninspired grille.

EMW (Eisenacher Motorenwerk) Prototypes, Circa-1950

Following Germany's World War 2 surrender in 1945 the country's boundaries were redrawn and the resulting area was subdivited into occupation zones. The Soviet Union's zone became the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR), or East Germany, in 1949.

BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) automobile production facilities in Eisenach, DDR, were marooned from the parent company and became a separate firm.  In 1952, following legal proceedings, it was named Eisenacher  Motorenwerk and produced cars with the EMW label for a few years before further name changes were made.  A brief Wikipedia entry in English is here, and from there one can link to a more detailed entry in German.

In 1949-51 three prototypes of large sedans were announced by EMW (still known as BMW at the time).  These are pictured below.

Gallery

1949 EMW 342-1 prototype
This car featured tall windows that helped reduce slab-side induced visual bulk.  The front end styling followed BMW practice.

1949 EMW 342-2 prototype
In 1949 EMW/BMW model 340s received non-traditional BMW grilles, so this car had its version.  I do not know for certain if two prototypes were built or whether the 342-2 was a facelifted 342-1.

1951 EMW 343 prototype
Again, the 342-1 body might have been facelifted to become the 343, whose front and rear differed from the 1949 designs.  The grille is kind of a mess, sporting USA style large chrome bars.  I suppose the justification of the central round element is that it incorporates the round BMW/EMW logotype.

Quasi- side view.  The sculpted elements help reduce visual bulk in German fashion.

Apologies for the poor quality of this image.  The backlight and trunk shaping differ from the earlier prototypes.