1938 Adler Type 10

Before Adler entered the manufacture of automobiles, the Frankfurt-based company produced bicycles beginning in 1896. It later transition to producing typewriters and motorcycles, before shifting focus to horseless components and later, a motor carriage of its own.

Adler's first automobile was powered by a DeDion engine, and within a few years, it built its own single- and twin-cylinder powerplants. By 1910, Adler's model range was exclusively four-cylinder units. Adler added six and straight-eight engines to its range in the 1920s.

In 1932, Adler introduced the revolutionary front-wheel drive Trumpf developed by engineer Hans-Gustav Röhr. The four-cylinder engine was cooled by thermosiphon (a gravity-fed oil supply) and produced approximately 56 brake horsepower. The chassis rested on an all-round independent suspension and steering was via a rack-and-pinion setup. The body was penned by aerodynamicist Paul Jaray, featuring a raked windshield, a tapered rear, and a 'spindle' shape.

The Adler Type 10 was introduced in 1937 at the Berlin Motor Show and it featured a streamlined fastback body designed by Karl Jenschke. The aerodynamic shape had a drag coefficient rating of 0.36, and the 2,494cc straight-six engine produced 58 horsepower. The transmission was a four-speed manual with synchromesh on the top three gears. The top speed was 78 mph helped earn it the nickname, the 'Autobahn Adler.'

The Adler Type 10 was offered as a sedan, convertible, or two- or four-door coupe. A steel sliding sunroof spanned near the entire roof.

Production of the Adler Type 10 began in 1937 and continued through 1940, with 5,295 units built.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2025