J S Rasmussen, a Danish citizen and engineer, moved to Berlin in 1906 where he began the manufacture of weaponry and steam powered vehicles. His company, DKW, stood for Dampf Kraft Wagen (car propelled by steam). His factories were in Zschopau and later also Spandau, Berlin, where he had taken over the Slaby car works. Rasmussen wanted a small lightweight engine to power bicycles and set out developing a two-stroke engine. After three years of development he came up with a tiny, 40cc unit of a mere 187 watts. It… Read more

At the outbreak of war in September 1939 Alvis was producing four different models but during an air raid on Coventry in 1940 the car factory was severely damaged with much of the essential equipment destroyed beyond repair causing car production to be suspended for the duration of the war. When car production resumed the first car to go into production was a four-cylinder model, the TA14 whose engine was based on the pre-war 12/70. Whilst this was a reliable and attractive car it reflected the typical austerity forced on… Read more