1955 DKW 3=6 Monza

1955 DKW 3=6 Monza

Long before Chevrolet built their “Monza” automobile (1975-1980), Auto Union (via DKW) built a “Monza” sports car in the 1950’s! It is said that the “3=6” nomenclature suggests this 3-cylinder 2-stroke was equivalent to a 6-cylinder 4-stroke engine from competitors. DKW based this sporty front wheel drive two-seater variant with fiberglass body on the 3=6, and offered the car from 1957 to 1959. Exact production figures are unknown, but are estimated to be between 230 to 240, with perhaps 50 surviving examples known. Early prototypes were built on the chassis of Auto Union’s DKW “F91” and “F93” vehicles. The Monza won various world speed records (in its’ class of 750 cc to 1100 cc engines) at speeds of 139 to 140 km/h (87 mph) for: 4,000 & 5,000 mile distances, 48 & 72 hours and 10,000 kilometers at the Autodromo di Monza, which was at that time one of the most modern raceways in the world. To put the car in historical context, it’s worth comparing it to several of its German competitors at the time such as the Porsche 356A 1300 and the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia 1200. Based on the numbers, it would seem that a 3=6 Monza was both lighter and more powerful than the Porsche, with nearly identical performance and a lower price.

1955 DKW 3=6 Monza