Description
The Enzmann 506 Super 1300 Spider Okrasa is a rare and particularly exciting evolution of the already unique Enzmann 506, a Swiss-built lightweight sports car from the late 1950s and early 1960s. Hand-crafted by Dr. Emil Enzmann and his family, the 506 was based on Volkswagen Beetle running gear, but its futuristic fiberglass body and performance-focused modifications gave it a character all its own. The Okrasa-tuned version elevated the performance and mechanical sophistication of the model significantly, making it one of the most desirable variants today.
At the heart of this version is the 1.3-liter air-cooled flat-four Volkswagen engine, enhanced with performance parts from Okrasa—short for “Oettinger Kraftfahrtechnische Spezial Anstalt”—a respected German tuning company known for extracting impressive power from VW engines. Okrasa upgrades included twin-port cylinder heads, dual carburetors, and a higher-compression configuration, boosting output to around 55–60 horsepower. In a car weighing just over 500 kilograms, this resulted in lively acceleration and a spirited top speed approaching 160 km/h.
The Spider configuration of the Enzmann 506 featured an open-top layout with a sleek, minimalist body made from a single fiberglass mold. Its styling was smooth and aerodynamic, with a long nose, boat-tail rear, and simple wraparound windscreen. The Okrasa-equipped version often retained this same visual form but might be distinguished by discreet badging or subtle period-correct performance details like lightweight wheels or tuned exhaust systems.
Driving the Super 1300 Spider with Okrasa tuning was a markedly more dynamic experience than the standard Volkswagen-powered version. The combination of a tuned engine, low weight, and precise handling made the car a genuine contender in amateur motorsport and hillclimb events of the period. Its low center of gravity and responsive chassis gave it a sense of agility that larger, heavier sports cars of the time could not match.
Inside, the Spider remained simple and functional. The cabin offered two bucket seats, a minimal instrument panel, and lightweight fittings, all in keeping with the performance-focused ethos of the car. Some owners customized their interiors with additional gauges or personalized trim, but the essence remained focused on reducing weight and increasing driver engagement.
Fewer than 100 Enzmann 506s were built in total, and only a small number were fitted with Okrasa components, either from the factory or as period upgrades. This makes the 506 Super 1300 Spider Okrasa an exceptionally rare and collectible car today. It embodies the spirit of postwar European ingenuity, where creativity, engineering skill, and passion could produce unique sports cars that punched far above their weight.
The Enzmann 506 Super 1300 Spider Okrasa stands as one of the finest examples of independent European sports car design—uncompromising in its simplicity, exciting to drive, and rich in both rarity and charm.