Wanderer W22
Encyclopedia
The Wanderer W22 was an upper middle-class six cylinder sedan introduced by Auto Union's
Wanderer
company in 1933. It replaced the Wanderer W20, from which it inherited its OHV engine.
Two years after introduction, in 1935, the car was renamed as the Wanderer W240, and in 1936 it was renamed again as the Wanderer W40. The engine and principal mechanical components remained very little changed throughout, however, as did the wheelbase and other principal chassis measurements. The car therefore was, and generally still is, regarded as a single model despite the name changes.
At launch the W22 differed from its predecessor most notably on account of its swing rear axle, supported by lateral leaf springing, adopting a pattern established by Professor Porsche
during his time with the (at the time still independent) Austrian Steyr company
. Another new feature in the W22 was the hydraulic braking system.
The car was powered by a six cylinder four-stroke ohv engine of 1950 cc driving the rear wheels via a four-speed gearbox. This was the same engine which was installed (albeit turned around with its drive shaft facing the front of the car) in the innovative Audi Front
which was launched at the same time. As on the Audi, claimed maximum power output was 40 PS at 3,500 rpm. However, whereas the Audi received the larger engine from the new Wanderer 245 in 1935, the Wanderer W22/W240/W40 retained the same 1950 cc engine throughout its life.
Initially the car was offered as a “six-light” (six side window) four door saloon and as a two door cabriolet. Additional configurations were offered a year later including a commodious six seat “Pullman-limousine”.
The 1935 name change from W22 to W240 coincided with the introduction of a four door saloon with just two principal side windows on each side. With this body the Wanderer W240 appeared stream-lined beside the conservatively styled contemporary Mercedes-Benz
sedans. It more closely resembled a chunkier version of the Citroën Traction
introduced in France late in 1933. At the same time the cabriolet version was modified, losing its rear side windows in favour of a more extensive hood. The “Pullman-limousine” continued to be offered.
There were no significant changes to the car accompanying the 1936 name change to Wanderer W40.
The Wanderer W22/W240/W40 shared its 3000 millimetres (118.1 in) wheelbase with the six cylinder 1690 cc W21/W235/W35 and, after 1935, the six cylinder 2257 cc W245/W250/W45/W50 models. Taking all the 3 metre wheelbase models together, 29,111 of these six cylinder Wanderers were produced between 1933 and 1938.
Auto Union
did not directly replace their W22/W240/W40. However, the larger engined six cylinder models were effectively replaced by the Wanderer W23 which appeared in 1937.
Auto Union
Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
Wanderer
Wanderer (car)
Wanderer was a German manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, vans and other machinery. Established as Winklhofer & Jaenicke in 1896, the company used the Wanderer brand name from 1911, making civilian automobiles until 1941 and military vehicles until 1945.-History:Winklhofer &...
company in 1933. It replaced the Wanderer W20, from which it inherited its OHV engine.
Two years after introduction, in 1935, the car was renamed as the Wanderer W240, and in 1936 it was renamed again as the Wanderer W40. The engine and principal mechanical components remained very little changed throughout, however, as did the wheelbase and other principal chassis measurements. The car therefore was, and generally still is, regarded as a single model despite the name changes.
At launch the W22 differed from its predecessor most notably on account of its swing rear axle, supported by lateral leaf springing, adopting a pattern established by 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...
during his time with the (at the time still independent) Austrian Steyr company
Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Steyr-Daimler-Puch was a large manufacturing conglomerate based in Steyr, Austria, which was broken up in stages between 1987 and 2001. The component parts and operations continued to exist under separate ownership and new names.-History:...
. Another new feature in the W22 was the hydraulic braking system.
The car was powered by a six cylinder four-stroke ohv engine of 1950 cc driving the rear wheels via a four-speed gearbox. This was the same engine which was installed (albeit turned around with its drive shaft facing the front of the car) in the innovative Audi Front
Audi Front
Initially presented early in 1933, the Audi Front UW 220 was Europe’s first car to combine front-wheel drive with a six cylinder engine. It remained in production for slightly under two years before being replaced by the Audi Front UW 225 featuring a larger 2.25 litre engine...
which was launched at the same time. As on the Audi, claimed maximum power output was 40 PS at 3,500 rpm. However, whereas the Audi received the larger engine from the new Wanderer 245 in 1935, the Wanderer W22/W240/W40 retained the same 1950 cc engine throughout its life.
Initially the car was offered as a “six-light” (six side window) four door saloon and as a two door cabriolet. Additional configurations were offered a year later including a commodious six seat “Pullman-limousine”.
The 1935 name change from W22 to W240 coincided with the introduction of a four door saloon with just two principal side windows on each side. With this body the Wanderer W240 appeared stream-lined beside the conservatively styled contemporary Mercedes-Benz
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...
sedans. It more closely resembled a chunkier version of the Citroën Traction
Citroën Traction Avant
The Citroën Traction Avant is an automobile which was produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1934 to 1957. About 760,000 units were produced.-Impact on the world:...
introduced in France late in 1933. At the same time the cabriolet version was modified, losing its rear side windows in favour of a more extensive hood. The “Pullman-limousine” continued to be offered.
There were no significant changes to the car accompanying the 1936 name change to Wanderer W40.
The Wanderer W22/W240/W40 shared its 3000 millimetres (118.1 in) wheelbase with the six cylinder 1690 cc W21/W235/W35 and, after 1935, the six cylinder 2257 cc W245/W250/W45/W50 models. Taking all the 3 metre wheelbase models together, 29,111 of these six cylinder Wanderers were produced between 1933 and 1938.
Auto Union
Auto Union
Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
did not directly replace their W22/W240/W40. However, the larger engined six cylinder models were effectively replaced by the Wanderer W23 which appeared in 1937.