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1939 Steyr 55

In 1936, the Austrian-based Steyr Company introduced a small car called the 'Steyr 50'. It had a streamlined body that was approved by Director Karl Jenschke; shortly thereafter, Jenschke relocated to the German Adlerwerke in Frankfurt/Main.

The Steyr 50 was an aerodynamic and affordable automobile. The car was regarded as the 'Austrian Peoples' Car.' It was built with a solid unitary body structure and powered by a water-cooled four-cylinder 'boxer' engine that offered 25 horsepower. The top speed was in the neighborhood of 60 mph.

In 1938, the car was revised, receiving a more powerful engine and a longer wheelbase. In recognition of these changes, the name changed to the Steyr 55 and went on sale in 1940.

In total, around 13,000 examples of the Steyr 50/55 were produced during the production lifespan of the vehicle.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: LV 2528

Around Europe in the late 1930s, research into aerodynamics and efforts to build affordable 'people's cars' coincided. In Austria, Karl Jenschke created an advanced small car, the Steyr 50. With a solid unitary body structure, the 25-horsepower four-cylinder 'boxer' engine powered the car to a comfortable maximum speed of 60 mph. This Steyr was in the Imperial Palace Collection in Las Vegas for many years. Prior to that, it was one of the only European vehicles in the Brucker Brothers Movie World Cars of the Stars Museum in Buena Vista, California. Cult pinstriper Von Dutch was employed by the Bruckers for many years. In fact, for a time, he lived in their parking lot in his bus.

This model 55 produces 25 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. It utilizes a one-barrel Solex carburetor, a three-speed manual transmission, and drum brakes. It has twin transverse leaf springs in front and swing axles with trailing arms and leaf springs at the rear.