Wanderer W25K Roadster; Wandering in from the cold.

Byline: JOHN MATRAS

In the '30s, Auto Union was a German General Motors, Sloanian to the max, a car for every pocketbook. DKW-Das Kliene Wunder (the small wonder)-staked out the lower price range and the mighty Horch rivaled Mercedes-Benz, with Audi just below. And between DKW and Audi lay Wanderer. These four companies formed Auto Union, thrown together in 1932 by hard times that interlinked its parts as tightly as suggested by its quasi-Olympic four-ring corporate symbol.

Wanderer was a high-quality, mid-range brand, as even DKW automobiles were aspirational in a country where most motorized vehicles with four wheels were beyond the reach of the common man.

Wanderer's first models under the four rings had six-cylinder engines with parts gleaned from the common Auto Union parts bin. The Porsche-designed engines had displacements of 1.7 liters and 2.0 liters in the W20 and W21 respectively. Like miniature Horches, Wanderers had rear-drive, unlike the front-drive Audis and DKWs.

Inspired perhaps by the ``fifth ring'' of the Auto Union racers, huge Porsche-designed missiles with V16 engines amidships, Wanderer introduced a sports model in 1936. The two-seater, dubbed the W25K, was offered as a two-door cabriolet and a two-door roadster. The latter, about 150 pounds lighter, had a rounded shield-shaped grille, cut-down sides and a split windshield unframed along the top edge. The hood, impressively long for a car only 166 inches front to rear, covered a long-stroke six-cylinder engine that displaced 1962 cc. The seven main bearing aluminum block had chrome-plated cast-iron cylinder liners and an aluminum head. A chain-driven camshaft in the side of the block opened two valves per cylinder via pushrods and rocker arms. Standard fitment included a Solex 32 FFUS carburetor and a Roots-type supercharger: The K in its name stood for ``kompressor.'' So equipped, the six produced 85 horsepower.

The W25K had a box-section frame with a separate steel body with independent front suspension and a live axle at the rear, both ends supported by transverse semi-elliptic springs. Drum brakes were hydraulically actuated. Relatively sleek, the W25K had a top speed of about 90 mph. Thrilling stuff indeed on ...