DKW 3 Pininfarina

The DKW 3 Pininfarina design proposal.

Vehicle Overview

The DKW 3 Pininfarina was a singular prototype coupé developed in 1956 as a joint effort between Auto Union’s DKW division and the Italian design firm Pininfarina. The vehicle was based on the DKW 3=6 platform, which featured front-wheel-drive architecture and a transversely mounted two-stroke three-cylinder engine. The 3=6 platform was notable for its compact dimensions and engineering efficiency, employed widely in DKW’s passenger car range during the 1950s. Pininfarina was commissioned to create an alternative body design with an emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency and stylistic refinement. The resulting prototype featured an aluminum body with clean lines and a streamlined profile distinct from the standard DKW 3=6 saloon and coupe bodies. The design employed subtle curvature and tapering, incorporating design elements fashionable in mid-1950s European automotive styling. The coupé’s dimensions adhered closely to the donor chassis, maintaining the wheelbase and track widths as per factory specifications. Mechanically, the vehicle retained the standard DKW drivetrain. The two-stroke, three-cylinder engine displaced approximately 900 cubic centimeters and produced power figures in the range of 38 to 40 horsepower. Power was delivered to the front wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. Suspension utilized torsion bars and wishbones at the front, with a swing axle arrangement at the rear. Drum brakes were standard on all four wheels. The DKW 3 Pininfarina remained at the prototype stage. Despite favorable reception to the design concept, Auto Union decided against initiating production, citing excessive manufacturing costs and limited market demand for an alternative body style. No production tooling was developed, and the vehicle did not enter series manufacturing. Chassis identification and ownership records for the prototype are not publicly documented. The prototype’s ultimate disposition is unclear; it is believed to have been retained within Auto Union archives or dismantled. The vehicle stands as a historical example of cross-border design collaboration during the postwar European automotive industry’s period of transition. It reflects both DKW’s engineering principles and Pininfarina’s stylistic influence in an era characterized by innovation and experimentation.

Technical Specifications

Body

Concept
Year

1956
Make

DKW
Model

3
Coachbuilder

Pininfarina
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Units built

1
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DESIGNER

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DKW 3 Pininfarina

Vehicle Overview

Technical Specifications

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DKW 3 Pininfarina

Vehicle Overview

Technical Specifications

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