Whaddyacallit #150 - Solved! 1951 Staunau K400

[Ray B.]

Ever seen this ?

Please, respond below and let us know the make and model designation of the car posted here.
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[Quiller]

Staunau K400 from about 1950. This was perhaps the most underpowered car ever made - it was all of 4.12 metres long, yet phutted along with a 2-cyl 389cc engine with just 13bhp

[Ray B.]

That's it. I'm away from home and will award the points and move it when I get back.

[Wendax]

Having taken a closer look at the existing photos I found it quite amazing how many different versions of this car existed, although only 80 of them were built.

At first, there is the prototype with an oval grill and no windows in the rear quarter panel:

[Wendax]

The production cars had a more Buick-like grill, but there were several versions, too.

Probably the first one, a pre-production car, featured in the German Spiegel magazine just before production started (and also visible in the background of this picture: http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=16342.msg158024#msg158024): This half circular grill looks pointed at the top, the Staunau emblem is still small, the door window is quite angular, the rear side windows are already there:

[Wendax]

Later on, the grill isn't pointed at the top anymore, the side windows look more rounded at the corners. There are some with five vertical grill bars:
(The chrome strip at the side is shorter than usual on this one.)

[Wendax]

Including the one-off convertible:

[Wendax]

Others do have three vertical bars (and circular indicators):

[Wendax]

While this one seems to have lost two vertical bars after it left the factory:

[Wendax]

The final version had a more rectangular grill with only three vertical bars (some with rectangular, one with circular indicators):

[Wendax]

Finally some more pictures from other angles:

[Wendax]

And a special postmark from Hamburg-Harburg where the Staunau was built:

[Wendax]

And finally the article that ruined its reputation:

[pnegyesi]

Staunau was a manufacturer of exclusive microcars - each one was different . Nice collection Wendax

[grobmotorix]

There also was a green brochure of the K400, obviously:

[Wendax]

Another rare picture:

[grobmotorix]

 

[Wendax]

I can't help it, but looking at this picture I get the impression that the headlights were not at the same height.

[Carnut]

Neither are the side-lights below them!

[Wendax]

A 1950 ad:

[Wendax]

And another one:

[grobmotorix]

Wahrhaft sensationell

[Wendax]

Four more pictures from a Berlin trade fair:

[grobmotorix]

 

[Wendax]

PS. These photos together with a fifth one (which you can see in reply #5) were just sold for 362 €!