Description

The Enzmann 506 DKW is an extremely rare and little-known variant of the Swiss-made Enzmann 506, built in the late 1950s and early 1960s. While most Enzmann 506 models were based on Volkswagen Beetle running gear, a handful were reportedly constructed using mechanical components from DKW, a German manufacturer known for its lightweight, front-wheel-drive cars powered by two-stroke engines.

DKW, which later became part of Auto Union (a precursor to Audi), was producing compact cars in the 1950s that were quite advanced for their time. These featured front-wheel drive and three-cylinder, two-stroke engines, which provided decent performance in a compact and lightweight package. By fitting an Enzmann 506 body over a DKW chassis and drivetrain, the result was a car that differed significantly from the VW-based versions in both engineering and character.

Instead of a rear-mounted, air-cooled flat-four, the DKW-powered Enzmann 506 used a front-mounted, water-cooled two-stroke triple, likely displacing between 800 and 1000 cc. Power output was modest—typically around 35 to 50 horsepower depending on the specific engine—but the car’s lightweight fiberglass body helped it retain lively performance characteristics. The front-wheel-drive layout would also have resulted in very different handling traits compared to the rear-engined VW-based versions.

Visually, the Enzmann 506 DKW looked nearly identical to its Volkswagen-based siblings. It used the same aerodynamic fiberglass body, featuring a long front end, a low windscreen, and a tapering rear. However, under the skin, chassis modifications were necessary to accommodate the different drivetrain layout, including alterations to the suspension and floor pan.

The interior of the DKW variant remained minimalist and driver-focused, with bucket seats, a simple dash, and light trim. As with all Enzmann 506s, much of the interior detailing was customized per individual orders, with small differences in instrumentation and finish across examples.

Only a very small number of Enzmann 506 DKW models were ever built—possibly no more than one or two prototypes. They were part of Enzmann’s experimentation with different platforms, likely to expand the model’s versatility or perhaps to overcome limitations in Volkswagen chassis availability. Today, any surviving DKW-powered Enzmann 506 is considered an extraordinary rarity and a unique piece of European motoring history.

The Enzmann 506 DKW represents a fascinating “what-if” in the story of European sports cars—a blend of Swiss bodywork and German two-stroke engineering, born in an era when creative engineering solutions could still be brought to life by small, independent builders.