IFA F9

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IFA F9
IFA F9
Manufacturer Automobilwerk Zwickau
Automobilwerk Eisenach
Production 1949 – April 1956
40663 produced [1]
Predecessor DKW F8
Successor Wartburg 311
Body style(s) 2 door saloon
2 door cabriolet
3 door estate[2]
Layout FF layout
Engine(s) 910 cc two stroke straight-3
28 / 30 bhp[3]
Transmission(s) 4 speed manual
Wheelbase 2350 mm (92.5 in)
Length 4200 mm (165.4 in)
saloon
Width 1600 mm (63 in)
saloon
Height 1450 mm (57.1 in)
saloon
Curb weight 820 kg (1808 lb) (empty)
Related DKW F89

The IFA F9 was a compact saloon manufactured under the auspices of the Russian and East German states between 1949 or 1950 and 1956. It was initially built at Zwickau at the plant previously owned by Auto Union. In 1953 production was transferred to the former BMW manufacturing plant at Eisenach where its underpinnings subsequently found their way into the Wartburg 311.

Contents

[edit] Origins

The F9 shared its underpinnings with the DKW F8 which had been available between 1939 and 1942. The body closely followed the design of the DKW F9, a prototype with which Auto Union would have replaced the F8 on the Zwickau production lines earlier, had the war not intervened. After the war, the first car assembled at Zwickau was the prewar DKW F8, but the more modern F9 started to appear in 1949[3] or 1950. Sources differ. Materials shortages probably delayed introduction in both Germanies, but the eastern car beat the western to the market, and certainly featured the three cylinder motor from the 1938 F9 prototype (rather than the two cylinder motor that had been in serial production in 1942) at least three years before Auto Union in Düsseldorf were installing it in their F91

The half brother. While the Zwickau plant was producing the IFA F9, in the west Auto Union launched the DKW F89 derived from the same prewar DKW F9 prototype. At this stage, however, the western car was still powered by a two cylinder 684 cc engine.
The half brother. While the Zwickau plant was producing the IFA F9, in the west Auto Union launched the DKW F89 derived from the same prewar DKW F9 prototype. At this stage, however, the western car was still powered by a two cylinder 684 cc engine.

[edit] The bodies

Surviving F9s appear largely restricted to saloon versions, but various sports and cabriolet versions were also produced. Steel for consumer industries was in short supply across many part of Europe during this period, and the F9’s body construction increasingly involved plastic panels, especially after production was moves to Eisenach in 1953. The car was accordingly usefully lighter than its western built Auto Union half brother.

[edit] Technical

The F9 featured a three cylinder two stroke water cooled engine of 910 cc with a claimed output, at launch, of 28 bhp. The engine was water cooled, the radiator being located behind the engine, an unusual configuration but one also found on the DKW F91. The front wheels were driven via a four speed manual gear box with a free wheel.





[edit] Sources and further reading

  1. ^ IFA F9. motorbase.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  2. ^ Modell-Palette. edwfc.de. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  3. ^ a b Gloor, Roger (1. Auflage 2007). Alle Autos der 50er Jahre 1945 - 1960. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-02808-1. 
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