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1954 DKW Munga
This is not a Jeep, but a multi-purpose universal terrain vehicle with all-wheel drive. Nearly 50,000 vehicles are built in the course of 12 years, most of them in military trim, and more than one third is delivered to
the newly founded German forces. The second minister of Defense, Strauß, is said, himself a Bavarian, to have been speaking up for the DKW-Munga, manufactured in Ingolstadt in Bavaria, as opposed to the Goliath
from Bremen, Porsche 597 from Stuttgart, or to build the Jeep in license.
Engine, final drive and the same wheel suspension in front and in the rear are known, in principle, from the saloon. The altered gearbox and the four-wheel drive are interesting as you might consider them as the
precursor of the Audi Quattro. You may recognize in picture 4 the
transmission, located horizontally behind the front axle, with
four forward gears and one reverse gear. The forward gears must be looked upon as locking- synchronized. A two- gear gearbox is put in ahead. The
outline shows the two-
gear gearbox as folded upwards into the axle drive shaft. It can be shifted at low vehicle speeds and doubles all gears. Thus, vehicle speeds as low as 3 km/h are possible.
The rest of the gearbox is most likely standard series production. The cardan shaft connects rigidly to the gearbox output shaft. Distortions between front axle and rear axle are compensated according to the
manufacturer by not fully bend-proof shafts. Only universal joints are implemented, also for the front axle outside. Hence, the relatively large turning circle
of 12.5 meters. The
wheelbase of the vehicle spans just 2 meters. Just in front of the rear final drive in picture 4 you might notice the inside shoes parking brake. It is probably ill-suited as emergency brake, because it is not strong
enough, however, operates on four wheels - which is quiet unique.
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