Description
The Wartburg Motorwagen Modell 1 was one of Germany’s earliest automobiles, produced by the Eisenach Vehicle Factory (Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach) in 1898. The car’s name, “Wartburg,” was derived from the historic Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, and it was among the first cars produced by the factory before it later evolved into the automaker known as DKW and eventually Wartburg under East German ownership.
The Wartburg Modell 1 was powered by a single-cylinder engine, initially producing around 3.5 horsepower. This small engine allowed the car to achieve a top speed of approximately 25 km/h (15 mph), typical of vehicles from the pioneer days of motoring. The engine was positioned at the rear and powered the rear wheels via a simple transmission, while starting the engine required manual cranking.
Structurally, the Wartburg Modell 1 had a basic chassis with a lightweight wooden and metal frame, keeping the overall vehicle weight low. It featured a simple tiller steering mechanism and was designed as an open-top carriage with two seats, reflecting its roots in carriage manufacturing. With no windshield, doors, or roof, it provided a very exposed, carriage-like driving experience that was more akin to riding a horse-drawn vehicle than a modern car.
The design of the Wartburg Modell 1 was minimalist, with emphasis on practicality and functionality over comfort or style. The body was open, resembling a horseless carriage, with large, spoked wheels, leather seating, and a rudimentary dashboard. Despite its simplicity, the Wartburg Modell 1 represented cutting-edge technology at the time and demonstrated the potential of the internal combustion engine.
Though production of the Modell 1 was limited, it established the Eisenach Vehicle Factory as a significant player in the early automotive industry. The factory went on to produce a variety of vehicles, and the Wartburg name would later be revived in the 1950s by the East German state-owned company VEB Automobilwerk Eisenach. Today, the Wartburg Motorwagen Modell 1 is considered a historic milestone in German automotive history and is valued as a rare example of the country’s automotive beginnings.