Austro-Daimler Sascha
Encyclopedia
TheAustro-Daimler Sascha (also calledSascha orSascha Porsche) is a car from 1922. It was designed by the German
automaker Ferdinand Porsche
.
In that period, Porsche still worked for the Austrian Austro-Daimler
and designed a small, lightweight sports car of 1100 cc that was revolutionary for its time. He had a cylinder
engine with overhead valves and a bevel
-driven overhead camshaft
, like the later Fuhrmann engine in some Porsche 356
Carrera models. The car was named by Ferdinand Porsche after Sascha Kolowrat-Krakowsky, a friend who had encouraged him greatly to build a small, lightweight sports car.
The engine of the Sascha had a capacity of 1100 cc and produced 50 horsepower, which was quite a lot for that time. The car achieved a top speed of 144 km/h. For racing, the fender
and spotlight
could be removed. For the Targa Florio
race of 1922, three Saschas were sent to Sicily
. They came first and second in the 1100 cc-class with an average speed of 54 kilometres per hour (33.6 mph) over a distance of 432 kilometres (268.4 mi), with very bad roads and a few slopes of 12.5%.
By comparison, the overall winner of the Targa Florio in 1922 graduated in a Mercedes
at an average of 63 km/h while the car was equipped with a much heavier engine.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
automaker Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian automotive engineer and honorary Doctor of Engineering. He is best known for creating the first hybrid vehicle , the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, as well as the first of many Porsche automobiles...
.
In that period, Porsche still worked for the Austrian Austro-Daimler
Austro-Daimler
Austro-Daimler was an Austrian automaker company, from 1899 until 1934. It was subsidiary of the German Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft .-Early history:...
and designed a small, lightweight sports car of 1100 cc that was revolutionary for its time. He had a cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
engine with overhead valves and a bevel
Bevel gear
Bevel gears are gears where the axes of the two shafts intersect and the tooth-bearing faces of the gears themselves are conically shaped.Bevel gears are most often mounted on shafts that are 90 degrees apart, but can be designed to work at other angles as well...
-driven overhead camshaft
Camshaft
A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
, like the later Fuhrmann engine in some Porsche 356
Porsche 356
The Porsche 356 was the company's first production automobile. It was a lightweight and nimble handling rear-engine rear-wheel-drive 2 door sports car available in hardtop coupe and open configurations. Design innovations continued during the years of manufacture, contributing to its motorsports...
Carrera models. The car was named by Ferdinand Porsche after Sascha Kolowrat-Krakowsky, a friend who had encouraged him greatly to build a small, lightweight sports car.
The engine of the Sascha had a capacity of 1100 cc and produced 50 horsepower, which was quite a lot for that time. The car achieved a top speed of 144 km/h. For racing, the fender
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
and spotlight
Spotlight
Spotlight may refer to:-Lighting:* Searchlight* Any of several types of stage lighting instruments** Followspot, a light used in theatre- Music :* "Spotlight" , 2005* "Spotlight" , 2009...
could be removed. For the Targa Florio
Targa Florio
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 and 1973...
race of 1922, three Saschas were sent to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. They came first and second in the 1100 cc-class with an average speed of 54 kilometres per hour (33.6 mph) over a distance of 432 kilometres (268.4 mi), with very bad roads and a few slopes of 12.5%.
By comparison, the overall winner of the Targa Florio in 1922 graduated in a Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
at an average of 63 km/h while the car was equipped with a much heavier engine.