Steyr 50
Encyclopedia
The Steyr 50 is a small car released in 1936 by the Austrian automobile manufacturer Steyr
. The streamlined body was approved by Director Karl Jenschke to be constructed in 1935, but in that same year Jenschke relocated to the German Adlerwerke
in Frankfurt/Main.
The car had a water-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine
driving the rear wheels through a four-speed transmission. To save room and weight a dynastarter was used, which doubled as the axle of the radiator fan. It was regarded as the "Austrian Peoples' Car" and was affectionately referred to as the Steyr "Baby". Professor Porsche
had, despite rumors, not been involved in the design or production of the 50. Moreover, the little Steyr offered better seating and luggage space than Porsche's Volkswagen
with shorter overall length, a large sheet metal
sliding roof and was available with hydraulic brakes (instead of the early Volkswagens' cable-operated ones).
In early 1938, the car was revised. It got a more powerful engine and a longer wheelbase
. The new model was called the Steyr 55 and went on sale in 1940.
A total of 13,000 Steyr "Babies" were sold.
Other Steyr models included the Steyr 100
, Steyr 120
, both equipped with straight-4
engines and the flagship Steyr 220 with a straight-6
, a 2.2 litre engine producing 55 HP. All these models were produced as cabriolets as well. The production of Steyr cars was discontinued during World War II
, after bombing of the factory. After the war, the factory was rebuilt and specialized in Austrian versions of the Fiat 500
and Fiat 1500
. Today the Steyr factory produces the BMW X models for Europe.
Steyr automobile
Steyr was an Austrian automotive company from 1915 until 1990.Formed as a branch of Steyr Osterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft in 1915, to diversify manufacturing, the founders hired 38-year-old designer Hans Ledwinka after he resigned from Nesselsdorfer-Wagenbau...
. The streamlined body was approved by Director Karl Jenschke to be constructed in 1935, but in that same year Jenschke relocated to the German Adlerwerke
Adler (automobile)
Adler was a German automobile and motorcycle manufacturer from 1900 until 1957. Adler is German for eagle.-History:The Adler factory produced bicycles, typewriters, and motorcycles in addition to cars...
in Frankfurt/Main.
The car had a water-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine
Flat engine
A flat engine is an internal combustion engine with multiple pistons that move in a horizontal plane. Typically, the layout has cylinders arranged in two banks on either side of a single crankshaft and is sometimes known as the boxer, or horizontally opposed engine. The concept was patented in 1896...
driving the rear wheels through a four-speed transmission. To save room and weight a dynastarter was used, which doubled as the axle of the radiator fan. It was regarded as the "Austrian Peoples' Car" and was affectionately referred to as the Steyr "Baby". Professor 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...
had, despite rumors, not been involved in the design or production of the 50. Moreover, the little Steyr offered better seating and luggage space than Porsche's Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
with shorter overall length, a large sheet metal
Sheet metal
Sheet metal is simply metal formed into thin and flat pieces. It is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and can be cut and bent into a variety of different shapes. Countless everyday objects are constructed of the material...
sliding roof and was available with hydraulic brakes (instead of the early Volkswagens' cable-operated ones).
In early 1938, the car was revised. It got a more powerful engine and a longer wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
. The new model was called the Steyr 55 and went on sale in 1940.
A total of 13,000 Steyr "Babies" were sold.
Other Steyr models included the Steyr 100
Steyr 100
The Steyr 100 and 200 were a series of medium-sized cars built by the Austrian firm Steyr-Puch from 1934 to 1940.The cars had a 4-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels and the streamlined body, designed by Karl Jenschke, was manufactured by Gläser in Dresden.In 1936 the vehicle underwent...
, Steyr 120
Steyr 120
The Steyr 120 Super, Steyr 125 Super and Steyr 220 were a series of medium-sized cars built by the Austrian firm Steyr-Puch from 1935 to 1941. The moderately streamlined body was designed by Karl Jenschke and was manufactured by Gläser in Dresden. The design had a close resemblance to the smaller...
, both equipped with straight-4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engines and the flagship Steyr 220 with a straight-6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
, a 2.2 litre engine producing 55 HP. All these models were produced as cabriolets as well. The production of Steyr cars was discontinued during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, after bombing of the factory. After the war, the factory was rebuilt and specialized in Austrian versions of the Fiat 500
Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa....
and Fiat 1500
Fiat 1500
Fiat 1500 may refer to:* Fiat 1500 , the 1935 model* Fiat 1300/1500, the 1961 model...
. Today the Steyr factory produces the BMW X models for Europe.