Home » Start The Week By Reflecting On The DKW Schnellaster Headlight Setup: Cold Start

Start The Week By Reflecting On The DKW Schnellaster Headlight Setup: Cold Start

Cs Schnellaster Top
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I found myself thinking, as I often do, about some headlights that are of interest to me, the famous, usually Hella- or Bosch-made ones that can be found on pre-’67 Volkswagen Beetles and Buses, Porsche 356s and early 911s, lots of DKW/Auto-Unions, some Mercedes-Benz buses and vans, and a number of more obscure European cars like the Maico 500.

I’ve written about these headlights back at the old site, where I did some research and found that they seem to have been first used on the 1937 Adler 2.5/Adler Typ 10. I’m not sure if they were designed by Adler and those designs sent to a supplier like Bosch or Hella, or if Hella or Bosch came up with the design and Adler’s designers just picked it out of a catalog. Believe it or not, I’ve actually reached out to both companies about this and gotten no good answer! From what I can tell, no one seems willing to take credit for designing this iconic headlight!

Vidframe Min Top
Vidframe Min Bottom

I mean, I get that both Hella and Bosch during this period were engaged in some, um, unsavory labor practices, but I’m not here to rake them over the coals for using forced labor (though that’s fucking awful, of course), I just want to know who designed the damn light.

I’m telling you all of this because thinking about this made me remember one very strange application of this headlight, strange enough that I’m not even sure it can count as the same headlight unit at all, but maybe just incorporates a part of the headlight assembly. I’m talking about the DKW Schnellaster – that means fast transit in German-talk – a remarkable two-stroke, one-box minivan that is in many ways a predecessor of what we understand modern minivans to be.

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Unlike its rival, the very popular rear-engined VW Type 2 Microbus, the Schnellaster was a front-engine FWD machine (there was a two-cylinder version that was even transverse-engined, just like a modern minivan!). The Schnellaster had excellent packaging with all the oily bits jammed up front under a stubby, sloping hood, and the rest of the van was just an open box with a nice, low, flat floor.

Dkw

But I’m getting off-topic; I’m here just to focus on the headlights of the Schnellaster! Looking at those pictures above, it looks pretty much just like it has the same sloping Bosch/Hella headlights as an old Beetle or a 356. But they’re not the same! Because of this:

Dkw Hoodup

See what’s going on there? Here’s an actual photo:

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Cs Schnellaster Lights

The Schnellaster’s version of these famous headlights seems to be using just the outermost lens and bezel assembly, which is mounted on the hood, and under the hood are some simple dune-buggy-like lights, mounted on stalks in the engine bay. I think the Schnellaster only uses this much of those Bosch/Hella lamps:

Cs Dkw Schnellights 1

I wonder if you can rotate the headlights in the engine bay so you can work on the motor at night? Because that would be cool. You know what else is cool? The lights still retain the small extra bulbs used for city lights/parking lights that the normal headlight units use:

Cs Schnellaster Parklight

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It’s a very strange setup; there are other cars where the headlights open with the hood, or the hole and trim bezel open with the hood (as on a modern Mini) but I’m not sure I know of another headlamp setup where the outer lens of the headlight is separate from the rest of it and is on a separate body panel.

It’s kind of a bonkers setup, but there’s something undeniably appealing about it, too? This setup also allows for changing the lighting tech without making any real visual changes, which is cool, too.

I think Beau has a Schnellaster somewhere. I need to find that thing and at least do some kind of video with it, even if it doesn’t run!

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Stefan Furi
Stefan Furi
17 days ago

I’ll be the guy this time, who is here to correct the author. I’m sorry. So the Schnellaster means in no way fast transit. It means fast van or fast truck. If it would be fast transit it would have called Schnell durchfuhr or just schnell transit because transit is used in German too…
My work is done here I will now go and shut the f up…

Marc Fuhrman
Marc Fuhrman
17 days ago

Wait, so these Bosch/Hella lights are just normal round 7″ sealed beams in an slanted oval housing? What is the purpose behind this? To allow for a more aerodynamic shape? Or was it just a styling thing?

Freelivin2713
Freelivin2713
17 days ago

This is all so lovely and delightful!

Argentine Utop
Argentine Utop
17 days ago

One thing I love about these is how close to the center of the longitudinal line the steering wheel is. Odd as hell, though.

Flyingstitch
Flyingstitch
17 days ago

My question is, did it have something to seal the gap between the outer lens and the actual lighting unit? Or was the lens free to collect whatever kind of crud got kicked up inside the engine bay?

DysLexus
DysLexus
17 days ago

At work so I just skimmed the article:
The gist I got was this was a Nazi era fast trans-snail 2-stroking Van given a removable face with contact lenses so it can see just like a 911.

I’m going to have to read it again when I get home. Whoa!

Last edited 17 days ago by DysLexus
Anders
Anders
18 days ago

VW: Please rename the ID.Buzz the Schnellaster. I’ll be first in line!

Andy Individual
Andy Individual
18 days ago

I love the pole mounting of the seats. It’s like a mass transit vehicle. It definitely needs some hanger straps too.

Ivan Meester
Ivan Meester
18 days ago

Not to spoil your amusing article on the Schnellaster’s headlamps, but the headlamps pictured in your article are completely non-original. The original headlamps use a completely flat glass, devoid of any lens whatsoever, and an internal park lamp, in conjunction with a Ba20d type headlamp globe.

Trust Doesn't Rust
Trust Doesn't Rust
18 days ago

I dunno. With the hood up, this is giving me “Raiders of the Lost Ark” face-melting vibes.

ADDvanced
ADDvanced
18 days ago

To be fairrrrrr, that’s how the 911 headlights look inside too. I bet the buckets were different for everything depending on the angle that the lense mounted to the surface?

Do You Have a Moment To Talk About Renaults?
Do You Have a Moment To Talk About Renaults?
18 days ago

I love that the brochure advertises how easy it is to remove the grille for easy acess to the bottom bits of the engine. That kind of selling point has completely vanished from automotive marketing and we’re all a lot worse off because of that.

Gilbert Wham
Gilbert Wham
18 days ago

Undeniably appealing? Ye gods, as someone who has tried to replace bulbs on modern(ish) cars, this is quite possibly the most attractive alternative I’ve ever seen. Immediately accessible lights? On a stick?!?!? Sign me the fuck up.

Loren
Loren
18 days ago

I just like the name. My buddy had the Schmutzmaster (aka Dungbeetle).

Lokki
Lokki
18 days ago

I love this design completely. It is clearly unburdened by what had been and enhanced by what will be! I want one, if I can afford it at current prices

CSRoad
CSRoad
18 days ago

Hide the googly eyes, I’m getting a Thomas the Tank Engine vibe.

Now days the headlights would attach to the hood/bonnet thing and there would be an automatic disconnect that would probably survive the duration of the warranty period.

Hangover Grenade
Hangover Grenade
18 days ago
Along with Martin, Dutch Gunderson, Lana and Sally Decker
Along with Martin, Dutch Gunderson, Lana and Sally Decker
18 days ago

So when are we going to talk about the taillights on the recently facelifted Bentley Bentaga? I saw one the other day and… Hoo boy. Very 1959 Impala.

Timbales
Timbales
18 days ago

I like the little eyelids on that blue and white one.

Last edited 18 days ago by Timbales
Beater_civic
Beater_civic
18 days ago

They’re not ashamed at all about where the “workers” came from, they’re just embarrassed that some good German engineers managed to design something that’s simple, practical, and easy to work on.

(edit: for a long time I’ve had a weird dream of a joystick for headlights so you could temporarily point them at stuff that wouldn’t otherwise be illuminated by the path of the beam, these snail eye things are perfect!)

Last edited 18 days ago by Beater_civic
Lokki
Lokki
18 days ago
Reply to  Beater_civic

You mean like a police car spotlight from the 1940’s?

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-police-car-spot-lights-set-130794938

Nlpnt
Nlpnt
18 days ago
Reply to  Beater_civic

Other than that delicate parking-light bulb having to be worked around, unprotected, by anyone servicing the car.

ES
ES
18 days ago
Reply to  Nlpnt

eh, be a little methodical and unscrew it beforehand.

Canopysaurus
Canopysaurus
18 days ago

This installation certainly simplifies the wiring harness. Imagine how much extra wire would be required if the headlights were installed in the hood.

4jim
4jim
18 days ago

The whole thing looks easy to work on. Imagine a new car with bulbs that are easy to get to and belts, hoses etc.

Musicman27
Musicman27
18 days ago
Reply to  4jim

Yeah who would ever do something that convenient.

10001010
10001010
18 days ago

That Schnellaster is even more snail-like with those eye stalks.

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
18 days ago

Yeah, that’s cool and all, but what about those front doors?!? And that 2 tone paint! Outstanding!

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