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| DKW F7 Reichsklasse / Meisterklasse | |
|---|---|
 DKW F7 saloon | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Auto Union AG |
| Production | 1937–1938 |
| Assembly | Germany:Zwickau Austria |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompactfamily car (C) |
| Body style | 2-doorsaloon 2-doorcabriolet saloon 2-doorcoupe cabriolet coupe utility van |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related | Toyota EA |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 584 cc & 692 cc two strokestraight-2 |
| Transmission | 3-speedmanual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,610 mm (103 in) |
| Length | 3,985 mm (156.9 in) |
| Width | 1,480 mm (58 in) |
| Height | 1,500 mm (59 in) |
| Curb weight | 750 kg (1,650 lb) approx |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | DKW F5 |
| Successor | DKW F8 |
TheDKW F7 is afront-wheel-drive,two-stroke, subcompactfamily car produced byAuto Union’sDKW division from 1937 to 1938, succeeding theirDKW F5 range. In the F7 update, the slightly smaller entry-level 'Reichsklasse' body was dropped – instead all F7s, including the base trim, now got the slightly longer body previously reserved for the 'Meisterklasse' model.
Some 80,000 of these front-wheel drives were sold until the 1939DKW F8 successor was released.
The entry level 'Reichsklasse' saloon now shared the hitherto slightly longer body of the 'Meisterklasse' saloon. Otherwise, changes between the F5 and the F7 were mostly at a detail level.
From launch, a 2-doorsaloon and a 2-doorcabriolet saloon, with fixed sides, were offered. In 1938 afull cabriolet 2‑door, the 'Front Luxus Cabriolet', was added to the range.
The car has thetwo cylinder two-stroke engine of its predecessor. The Reichsklasse engine was of 584 cc with an output of 18 bhp (13 kW). The Meisterklasse’s 692 cc engine had an output of 20 bhp (15 kW). Respective claimed top speeds were 80 km/h (50 mph) and 85 km/h (53 mph).[1]
Like all the small DKWs of the 1930s, the F7 had front-wheel drive,[1] which in its era was still very innovative, but in subsequent decades would become the default drive layout in the majority of cars around the world.
The popular F7 was replaced by theDKW F8 in 1939. By this time, approximately 80,000 F7s had been built.[2]
