Steyr

Austria, 1920 – 1940, 1953 to date

(1) Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft AG, Steyr, 1920 – 1926

(2) Steyr-Werke AG, Steyr, 1926 – 1935

(3) Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Steyr, 1935 – 1940

(4) Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Graz, 1953 to date

As an arms factory Steyr had to look for new employment after World War 1 and put into effect an earlier plan for starting Steyr car production. In 1920 their first Steyr car model appeared under the name of Waffenauto, designed by the famous Hans Ledwinka. This Steyr car had a 6-cylinder 12/40PS ohc engine of 3.325cc capcity. This first model Steyr car laid the foundation fot the excellent reputation of Steyr cars. Ledwinka left the Steyr car company in 1921, but subsequent Steyr car models were based on his designs. The Steyr Type IV was a 4-cylinder 7/23PS 1.814cc. The Type VI Sports was very successful both as a touring and as a sports car; this Steyr car had a 6-cylinder 15/90PS 4.014cc engine, while the VI Klausen sports and racing version Steyr car was powered by a 19/145PS 4.890cc unit. A third place in the 1923 Targa Florio was one of the successes of these Steyr cars. A range of other 6-cylinder models Steyr cars followed, of which the 6/30PS, 1.560cc Type XII Steyr car was notable for its independent rear suspension, though it retained semi-elliptics at the front. In 1929 Ferdinand Porsche, who had returned to Austria after working with Mercedes, was engaged as chief engineer for Steyr cars. His first Steyr car design was the 6-cylinder, 8/40PS, 2.078cc Type XXX. However, Porsche stayed only for one year with the Steyr car company. His last design for Steyr cars was the Steyr Austria, a big 8-cylinder model of 100bhp and 5.3-litres, but this Steyr car only appeared in prototype form. The same bank was giving Steyr cars and Austro-Daimler cars financial backing and they did not want both companies to build large cars. A community of interests was formed between Steyr and Austro-Daimler in 1929, and this led to a merger in 1935. About 500 1.2-litre Opels were made under licence by Steyr cars in 1932, followed by a range of popular models of Steyr car design: the Steyr 100 (4-cylinder, 32bhp, 1.385cc), the Steyr 120 (6-cylinder, 50bhp, 1.990cc), the Steyr 200 (4-cylinder, 35bhp, 1.498cc) and the Steyr 220 (6-cylinder, 55bhp, 2.260cc), now with all wheels independently sprung. In 1936 the Type 50 Steyr car appeared with a 4-cylinder, opposed engine of 22bhp and 984cc. This Steyr car was developed into the 25bhp, 1.158cc Type 55 Steyr car in 1938. These Steyr cars were very popular and economical cars with aerodynamic integral construction, but production of Steyr cars had to cease in 1940 as a result of World War 2, after about 13.000 Steyr cars of the two types had been built.

Production of Steyr cars was not resumed after the war, but from 1949 Fiats were assembled for the Austrian market. In 1953 there was a special version of the 1900 powered by a Steyr-designed 1.997cc engine, available in 65bhp and 85bhp forms, and with a 4-speed gearbox as an alternative to the 5-speed Fiat type. In 1957 the Steyr car company started to make Fiat’s Nuova 500, with revised rear suspension and their own 493cc engine. This evolved into the hotter 650cc 650T and 650TR; the latter Steyr car was good for 85bhp and became amajor force in rallies, gaining the Pole Sobieslaw Zasada the 1966 European Championship. This exciting little Steyr car was not, however, catalogued after 1968, and 1973’s staple offering was the standard Steyr-Puch 500 in 20bhp form.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; HON

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