Staunau
The Staunau was a German automobile manufactured from 1950 until 1951. Karl-Heinz Staunau was an entrepreneur from Hamburg-Harburg who had enjoyed some success as a manufacturer of commercial machines for ice cream and bakery businesses during the years following the war. The design combined a crude but modern looking body with the front-wheel drive running gear from a DKW and an engine from Ilo, a major manufacturer of motor-bike engines.
Staunau
- Founded
- 1950.
- Headquarters
- Hamburg.
- Activity
- automotive industry.
- Dissolved
- 1951.
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Documentary summary
The Staunau was a German automobile manufactured from 1950 until 1951. Karl-Heinz Staunau was an entrepreneur from Hamburg-Harburg who had enjoyed some success as a manufacturer of commercial machines for ice cream and bakery businesses during the years following the war. The design combined a crude but modern looking body with the front-wheel drive running gear from a DKW and an engine from Ilo, a major manufacturer of motor-bike engines.
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q1411065 · wikipedia · Staunau
In this article
Overview
Overview
The resulting 389 cc 2-cylinder 2-stroke powered Staunau Type K400 used a three speed manual transmission and was spectacularly underdeveloped and underpowered, but very competitively priced. The same body was used for the more powerful Staunau Type K750 which employed a four speed manual transmission and was powered by a 748cc 2-cylinder 2-stroke motor. Claimed power outputs for the two version were respectively 9.5 kW (13 PS) and 18 kW (25 PS) which were said to allow for top speeds of 92 km/h (57 mph) and 105 km/h (65 mph). The English writer and distinguished automobile historian David Burgess-Wise describes the Staunau automobile as "probably one of the worst small cars ever made after World War II." In a previous career Staunau had been an expert in advertising, and reports started to appear that the US Chrysler Corporation was keen to incorporate the Staunau cars into its range for a future European sales programme. Many in the press were happy to disseminate these reports. More disturbingly many people were persuaded to part with their savings in order to invest in Staunau's business. When inevitable bankruptcy ensued, Karl-Heinz Staunau purchased a flight to South America, and so from the point of view of his German creditors, disappeared from view.
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
Explore 1950–1951
The full dated record · 5 entries
1950
Staunau established.
1950
Staunau is recorded from 1950.
1950
Staunau was established or created in 1950.
1951
Staunau ceased.
1951
Staunau was dissolved or ceased in 1951.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Germany.
Country
Staunau is associated with Germany.
Country
Context
Primary material
Context
The circumstances in which Staunau stands. Recorded as automobile manufacturer. Established or created in 1950. Staunau has its headquarters at Hamburg. Staunau operates in automotive industry. Dissolved or ceased in 1951. Situated in Germany.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1411065: Staunau
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Staunau”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
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authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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