Topic: Framo Typ MW Sachsen, 1937 army prototype

[grobmotorix]

Who knows this vehicle?

[grobmotorix]

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[Bill Murray]

I am not sure if I am answering this correctly, but.............

I found the same photo in my photo data base with a date of 2009.  It was identified as a Framo RW Prototyp.
This would be a Reichswehr prototype.  It was in the same file with 3 Piccolo normal passenger vehicles also by Framo with the 4 wheel construction.  That should date it around 1933-1934 if I remember correctly.

The front wheels are of the same type as found on the 3 wheelers and the rear wheels are those found on the Piccolo.

I gather it was an early attempt at a cross country "Kubel" type vehicle.

Best I can do at this point.

Bill

[grobmotorix]

Well, my source (a post-war GDR brochure) talks of a 1937 Framo Typ WM Sachsen army prototype using a 2 cylinder DKW engine.

Your almost perfect answer is close enough for a point in my eyes!

[Bill Murray]

I thank you for the point, Burkhard even though I think I may not deserve it just yet.

I promise to continue to try to find out the whole story on this vehicle, which I believe is a one-off prototype.

I do always enjoy your puzzles that are in the general area of pre-war military and commercial vehicles which, as you know, is my primary area of interest.  Please continue to feed me little scraps once in a while.  Cannot answer all, but I do try to contribute.

Bill

[grobmotorix]

Another shot of the very same car:

[Bill Murray]

Hi Burkhard:

I think I can now feel a little more comfortable with the point with the following information.

Mr. Rasmussen, who I gather owned Framo, wished to expand his business and offered to the Wehrmacht a small number of prototype cross country Kubel type cars in 1937.  One source which I have not found always accurate says 7 prototypes were made.

Edit:
I re read the prospectus and it says 6 test vehicles were made.  As well, my extra photo was also on that prospectus.

The vehicle did not meet the Wehrmacht's standards and the vehicles were released for export.

Lithuania purchased 4 of these small cars on 27 June, 1937 for use as "communication cars".  The translation from Lithuanian to English where I found this was a little bit tricky but I think I got most of it right.  The cars were apparently still in use up to 1940 at the start of the war there and then they seem to have disappeared.

I also found what I assume is the same advert for the same prospectus you mentioned but that was pretty much all technical data and sales/marketing arguments for the vehicle, nothing really about it's history.

There is apparently a fairly new book on the history of Lithuanian military vehicles up to 1940 available and I will try to get that and see if I can come up with any more information.

Here is one more photo which may have also appeared in the prospectus, I forgot to look.

Bill

[Wendax]

It is not Framo WM , but MW:

[grobmotorix]

Then my original source was wrong - title has been changed.

Thank you!

[Wendax]

I think MW stood for Mehrzweck-Wagen.

[pnegyesi]

It was exhibited at the 1937 Berlin Autoshow