"Vintage" German Austin 7 Special in Competition

[Tony Griffiths]

One wonders - what is this?
Currently on eBay - at an ambitious price...

[stuartu]

A Dixi, I think.
Not a special AFAIK.

Nice photo.

Regards,

Stuart

[austin]

Dixi / BMW Sports.



https://austinharris.co.uk/photo/dixi/bmw-sports/515/

[Mike Costigan]

A standard Dixi DA3 Wartburg Sport, as featured in the Grey Mg 2022B edition.

[Tony Griffiths]

Do we know more about the specifications of these cars? For example, how highly tuned in ex-factory condition were they, and do pictures exist of the engine? I've found this: http://www.autogallery.org.ru/m/bmwda3.htm

[Mike Costigan]

Minor tuning mods including 7:1 compression and modified inlet manifold gave around 18bhp as standard.

Some more details here:

https://www.dixi-automobile.de/0303.htm

[Tony Griffiths]

Minor tuning mods including 7:1 compression and modified inlet manifold gave around 18bhp as standard.

Some more details here:

https://www.dixi-automobile.de/0303.htm

Thanks, Mike, I thought you'd know. Here's the translation using DeepL, a program that a German friend described as: "Yes, very good. It reads as though you learnt German in school but didn't like it."

This model was the first sports car built by BMW in Eisenach. When you read "sports car", you immediately think of large-volume automobiles such as Bugatti, Mercedes SSK or Bentley. These vehicles were also almost unaffordable for well-heeled people at the time. Until 1929, there were hardly any small sports cars with an engine capacity of less than 1000 cc. There was, for example, the DKW P 15 with 500 cc or the Austin Seven Ulster. But the customs duty was too high for foreign cars. For BMW, it was only logical to supplement the BMW DA 2 with a performance-enhanced sports version following its sporting successes, including at the International Alpine Rally in 1929. In May 1930, the time had come: the DA 3 "Wartburg" was presented at the Brandenburg endurance test drive and received with enthusiasm. The DA 3 cost RM 3100, which was around 50% more than the price of the DA 2 two-seater, but still favourable for a "sports car". Nevertheless, it sold well and 151 were built. There would certainly have been even more if the Austin Seven licence had not expired in 1932 and BMW had then produced the AM types with head-controlled engines using its own designs. 
The technology of the Wartburg was based on the DA 2 with a few differences, apart from the aluminium pointed rear body. The car was intended to be very light, so aluminium sheet was used for the entire body and doors were dispensed with. The pointed rear was very fashionable at the time and was intended to reduce air resistance. However, the wings were made of sheet steel and were slightly modified from the DA 1 production, as there were still some leftovers. The nickel-plated radiator grille and the honeycomb radiator were protected by a stone guard.
They didn't have much power back then. The basic engine only produced 15 hp. The engine was therefore "tuned" at little extra cost:
1. increased compression ratio from 1:5.6 to 1:7 thanks to the thin Reinz head gasket.
2. copper intake manifold - this resulted in a larger internal diameter and smooth walls.
3. double-sided exhaust manifold - equally better combustion dissipation
4. Modified carburettor equipment (larger air funnel 26/18 and main jet "80")

[Mike Costigan]

You're trying too hard, Tony - just use Google Translate, not perfect, but better than your DeepL effort!