Born: 1900 Nationality: GermanHeinrich Kleyer founded the Adler car marque and his early products used engines built by de Dion-Bouton.
But from 1902, the company produced its own 4-cylinder power plants, and the cars garnered a reputation for reliability and a sporty performance. With Kleyer's sons Erwin and Otto behind the wheels, Adlers won many motorsport events. Alfred Theves, who founded the famous ATE piston-ring manufacturing company, was also a keen driver of Adlers in sporting events.
During the 1920s, Adler produced a wide range of models, with 4- and 6-cylinder engines ranging from 1550cc-4700cc. In 1927, a 2916cc six and a 3887cc eight powered a number of cars through until 1934, with bodies by the well-respected Gropius and Neuss coachbuilding companies. During this period, the cabriolet folding roofs were provided by Karmann, who were arguably saved from financial extinction by their relationship with Adler. The partnership led to some of the most beautiful cars of their time being produced.
In the first half of the 1930s, Adler produced a range of front-drive cars under the Trumpf model name, which included the 995cc Junior alongside the more powerful 1494cc and 1645cc variants. These were very successful in motorsport events, and Trumpfs acquitted themselves well in endurance events also, including the Le Mans 24 Hours. A 2-litre model was also produced just before the second World War.
Adler was also an early runner in the streamlining style pioneered in America by the Lincoln Zephyr and the Chrysler Airflow and in Europe by the Tatra 77 and the Steyr Type 50.
The Adler Type 10 introduced in 1937 was powered by a 2494cc 6-cylinder engine, and was an unusually roomy six-seater, thanks to some very innovative chassis and suspension design. Designed by Karmann, it had aerodynamic characteristics not equalled until the 1970s, and was renowned for its "frugal" fuel consumption at highway speeds.
Adler's engines of the time were also considered very modern, using alloy heads and pistons and producing a relatively high power output for the period. A less powerful version of the Type 10 had a 1910cc 4-cylinder engine. The styles available included a 4-door sedan, cabriolets with two and four doors, and a coupé.
It was unfortunate that the car - also known as the "Autobahn-Adler" and the "2.5 Liter" - was expensive to build, and this militated against the company making large profits in the run-up to the second World War, as the problems of the time with the German economy meant the middle class market couldn't afford it in numbers.
German rearmament also provided opportunity for military vehicles, and the company built the 3Gd Kubelwagen for the Wehrmacht between 1936 and 1940. An experimental similar vehicle, the V40T Kubelwagen in 1941, didn't go into series production. During the war, the 2.5 Liter was favoured by some German army officers, who appreciated its high ground clearance in the sometimes difficult terrain where they had to drive. This is one reason why so few of them are around today.
Car production ceased in 1940, though military-use vehicles and trucks were built through much of the war, but the factory was bombed in 1945. This, along with the post-war occupation, was the death-knell for Adler cars, and the company subsequently went into typewriter production. Adler is still in business, but is now a property company.
Best Car: The Trumpf Junior (pictured) , by vote of the buying public between 1934-1941.
Worst Car: Not recorded.
Weirdest Car: Also the most advanced, the Adler 2.5 Liter, which had a somewhat ungainly look that belied its excellent aerodynamic and handling characteristics.