Vintage German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the German Index.
There is also a page for Obscure German Marques
Adamy
Manufactured by Willy Adamy, Duisburg, Essenberger Straße 64a, 1960-1961
The three-wheeled light transporter model LT 4 was advertised with a load capacity of 0.4 tonne.
Source: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive
Adma
Magdeburg firm built 169cc lightweights between 1924 and 1926. Evidence suggests they built a variety of engines supplied to other manufacturers including Joka.
Sources: de.wikipedia.org, motor-hist-foto.de.
ADE
Manufactured by Ade-Werk of Waltershausen
Established in 1920, the firm built mainly agricultural equipment. Between 1931 and 1933 they constructed Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles).
German Motorcycle Resources, et al
ADP
Manufactured by Austro Daimler Puch in Passau, Germany 1930-1938
Although referred to as ADP, most had the name "Puch" on the tank. The 1933 catalogue showed "Austro Daimler Puch" on the tank lettering and on the kneepads. There was little difference between the machines built in Germany and those from Graz.
Source: puchklub.at
Albrecht 1924-1955
Aeolus
Manufactured by "Passat Werke" in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia.
Karl Faust, Romanus Muthing and Heinz Elschenbroich built a 4-wheel prototype with a 600cc engine mounted at the rear.
In 1952, they built a three-seater tricar with a single front wheel powered by a 200 cc single-cylinder engine.
Source: OTTW
Alfi 1920s~1927
All-Welt
Manufactured by C. H. Schmidt, Delmenhorst, 1926
The three-wheel transport-wagen was advertised in the "Fahrrad" magazine in late 1926, seeking potential dealers. It is not known if any were actually constructed, and nothing more was heard of the machine.
Source: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive
Al-Ko Elestra
Manufactured by Alois
Kober, Kötz, Zweigwerk Ettenbeuren, 1986-1987
Commercial three-wheelers with a range of 80 km and top speed of 60 kp/h. Four versions were available, including tipper tray flat-bed and passenger cabin.
Source: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive
AMBAG
Manufactured by Automobil- und Motorradbau AG of Berlin which existed from 1923 to ca 1925, these were lightweights powered by 155cc SV Gruhn engines fitted to their own frames. It is likely that very few were produced, and in 1923 only.
Sources: Tragatsch p72, de.wikipedia.org
AMO 1921-24 (Munich)
Amstea
Amstea AG in Berlin imported Evans machines from the United States between 1921 and 1924 in reasonable quantities, bringing the brand some popularity with German motorcyclists. Although their machines are sometimes referred to as the Amstea Evans, they do not appear to have been a manufacturer in their own right.
European manufacturers and agents for Evans Motorcycles
Sources: motosdoseculoxx.blogspot.com, et al.
Anfa Sidecars
Manufactured by Anhaltische Fahrzeugwerke AG Robert Krause in the 1920s
Established in 1901, the firm had constructed bicycles, winches and motorcycle engines. A fire destroyed the factory in August 1922. In the 1930s they made parts for Junckers aircraft, and they survived the 2nd World War.
Source: de.wikipedia.org
Apex
Manufactured by Apex Motoren GmbH, Cologne, 1925-1926
Built motorcycles using 247cc and 348cc Blackburne engines
Sources: Tragatsch p75
Apoldania 1903
Argul
Manufactured 1923-26 by Arwed Gulentz of Cologne
Built motorcycles using two-stroke engines from DKW, Kurier and Bubi, and four-strokes from Albi in capacities of 146cc to 198cc.
Sources: Tragatsch p76, motor-hist-foto.de.
A & R
Manufactured by Anton & Richter G.m.b.H.
Brake-Westfalen, 1922-1925
Advertised a two-stroke engine.
Source: motor-lit-berlin.de
Aretta
Powered by a Zundapp 48cc engine, there is very little information available about this scooter other than a sales leaflet from 1954 which reads "MEGA Kleinroller Gebr. Mühlbacher Augsburg, Frauentorstr. 53"
Source: motor-lit-berlin.de
Arimofa 1921-1925
Arki Seitenwagen
Manufactured by Stoye and rebranded, it is believed. The chassis and components are mostly identical to Stoye. Origin of the body is unknown.
Source: motorräder-aus-leipzig.de
Arthur Lincke 1920s
Asdomobil
Manufactured in Düsseldorf by Alfred Schwefringhaus in 1913-1914
Offered tadpole-style 3-wheelers in passenger and delivery vehicle (Dreirad-Lieferwagen) configuration. A watercooled four-stroke engine delivered power to the rear wheel by cardan shaft, and they reportedly had a 5-speed gearbox. The passenger version had tandem seats for two behind the driver.
The advent of war curtailed activities, and there are no surviving examples.
Sources: Oldtimerclub Lachendorf, Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive, et al
Attila
Manufactured by Attila Fahrradwerke AG of Dresden
Built in 1900 and 1901 their only model was a two-seater tricycle was powered by an Aster 2.5 or 3hp engine.
Source: de.wikipedia.org
Aufbau
Manufactured by Aufbau-Industrie Bremen G.m.b.H., 1925-1926
Built under licence from Borgward, the "Blitz-Karren" was a commercial three-wheeled cart driven by a DKW engine, with the driver's seat above the rear wheels. The machine required push-starting, and this did not contribute to its market success.
Source: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive
Autofix 1949-1953
Autoflug
Manufactured by Autoflug OHG, Berlin, 1921-1923
The firm built machines with a long, open chassis and small wheels, rather like a scooter. They also produced motorcycles designed by Egon Weitzel fitted with Bekamo two-stroke engines of 130cc.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Avola
Manufactured by Avola Industrie & Handelsgesellschaft GmbH at Albertstrasse 8, Leipzig in 1924-1925.
Using engines from DKW of 145cc and 173cc, and frames from Defa, the motorcycles were built for just one year.
Source: motorräder-aus-leipzig.de
Rarer German Marques
