Denzel (automobile manufacturer)

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Wolfgang Denzel Motor Vehicles AG
Wolfgang Denzel Auto AG
legal form Corporation
founding 1948
Seat Vienna , Austria
management Gregor Strassl
Number of employees over 1,000
sales around 800 million euros (2017)
Branch Car manufacturers , car dealers
Website www.denzel.at

WD 1500 from 1955
WD Super 1300 from 1957

Denzel was an Austrian manufacturer of automobiles that is now active in the car trade.

Company history

Wolfgang Denzel was already active in the automotive business before the Second World War . In 1948 he started developing and producing automobiles in his company at Gumpendorfer Straße 19 in the 6th district of Vienna . One source states that the company was initially called WD-Equipment .

In 1953 he presented vehicles for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in Geneva . The brand name was initially WD and from 1957 Denzel . Production ended in 1959 or 1960.

According to various sources, a total of about 65, about 300 or about 350 vehicles were built. Depending on the source, around 28 or around 50 vehicles should still exist.

The company is currently active as Wolfgang Denzel Auto AG in Austria in the sale and import of motor vehicles. The company imports vehicles from BMW AG , Fiat SpA , Hyundai Motor Company , Volvo and Mitsubishi Motors, among others . The latter for the first time in 1978. The development center of Wolfgang Denzel AG has been part of today's Styrian automobile cluster since the 1970s . Today the corporation is the owner of the technical patents of Wolfgang Denzel and licensor for important automobile manufacturers. In the 2000s, Denzel AG also became a provider of other mobility services, such as car sharing .

vehicles

The company manufactured sports cars based on Volkswagen chassis. In the first models, Denzel used many parts of the VW Kübelwagen , including the chassis . The doorless body of the four-seater was made of wood . The engine developed 33 hp with the help of two carburetors . Shortly afterwards, the platform frame of the VW Beetle formed the basis. Four - cylinder boxer engines from Volkswagen provided the drive . Denzel optimized the engine in many vehicles. The cubic capacity was increased many times to 1281 cm³ or 1290 cm³. These engines developed up to 64 hp. In the course of time, more and more parts of the original VW engine were replaced by their own parts. The models from 1951 or 1952 received a lighter tubular frame chassis. The bodies were now made of aluminum , which also meant a weight saving. From 1954 a 1500 cc engine was available which, according to two sources, came from Porsche . In 1956, a coupe added to the range, which previously consisted of roadsters and convertibles .

The majority of the vehicles were made up of the following three models:

  • Series super : 1281 cm³ displacement, 52 HP power
  • Super : 1290 cm³ displacement, 64 HP power
  • International : 1500 cm³ displacement, 80 HP power.

motor race

The vehicles were also used in car races. Here are some successful assignments with Wolfgang Denzel at the steering wheel:

  • Victory in the class up to 2000 cc in February 1949 at the ÖAMTC winter tour
  • Class win and 7th place overall in June 1949 at the International Austrian Alpine Tour
  • Overall victory in 1954 in the Coupé des Alpes
  • Class win 1954 at the Int. Austrian alpine tour

literature

  • Harald H. Linz, Halwart Schrader : The International Automobile Encyclopedia . United Soft Media Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-8032-9876-8 .
  • George Nick Georgano (Editor-in-Chief): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 1: A – F. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN 1-57958-293-1 . (English)
  • Wolfgang M. Buchta: Formula Ö. Racing car from Austria. Austro Classic Special Issue No. 3.

Web links

Commons : Denzel  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ https://motor.at/news/denzel-chef-strassl-die-elektro-mobilitaet-ist-eine-zaesur/400026511
  2. ↑ https://www.denzel.at/unternehmen/denzel-gruppe/daten
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Harald H. Linz, Halwart Schrader : The International Automobile Encyclopedia . United Soft Media Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-8032-9876-8 .
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Georgano: The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile.
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g Report on Wolfgang Denzel at www.kaeferfriseure.de (accessed on January 5, 2014)
  6. ↑ a b c d e f Buchta: Formula Ö. Racing car from Austria.
  7. ↑ a b Number of items from Karmann-Ghia-Lippe-NRW (accessed on January 5, 2014)
  8. ↑ https://www.denzel.at/unternehmen/denzel-gruppe/geschichte
  9. ↑ Denzel boss Strassl: "Electromobility is a turning point". Retrieved April 26, 2018 .
  10. ↑ Mitsubishi: Denzel and the three diamonds. Retrieved April 26, 2018 .
  11. ↑ https://www.gtue-oldtimerservice.de/automobil/marke/DENZEL%2C+WD/1529/