The D-Lieferwagen L-7 (''D delivery truck L-7'') was a
three wheeler pickup truck of the
German industrial plants AG, which was built from 1927 to 1930 in
Berlin suburb Spandau, Germany. The delivery van corresponded to the then demand for inexpensive vehicles for small and express transports in the cities.
History
The market success of the tricycle cars Phänomobil and
Cyklonette also prompted the motorcycle manufacturer ''Deutschen Industriewerke AG'' to design a cheap alternative to the automobile or small van: In 1927 was the ''L-7'' presented as
flatbed and
van variant was able for
payload of a half
metric ton
The tonne ( or ; symbol: t) is a unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. It is a non-SI unit accepted for use with SI. It is also referred to as a metric ton to distinguish it from the non-metric units of the short ton ( United State ...
. Also a mobile
market booth version was offered. The engine technology was taken from
D-Rad. At a price of 1790
Reichsmark
The (; sign: ℛℳ; abbreviation: RM) was the currency of Germany from 1924 until 20 June 1948 in West Germany, where it was replaced with the , and until 23 June 1948 in East Germany, where it was replaced by the East German mark. The Reich ...
, the pickup truck was affordable for many craft businesses and small businesses.
In late 1920s the company faced increasing competition as more and more manufacturers launched wheel loaders; so the companies
Zündapp
Zündapp (a.k.a. Zuendapp) was a major German motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1917 in Nuremberg by Fritz Neumeyer, together with the Friedrich Krupp AG and the machine tool manufacturer Thiel under the name "Zünder- und Apparatebau G.m.b.H." ...
, Monos, Mandernach,
Rollfix-Eilwagen and
Goliath; 1928 appeared the successful ones
first pace tricycles. Therefore, in 1930 the production of the ''L-7'' was stopped.
Technical specifications
The ''Delivery truck L-7'' had two front wheels between the cargo box and a chain driven single rear wheel, rivet assembled on a U-profile steel frame. An automobile steering wheel instead of the usual for early vehicles of this kind motorcycle handlebar.
27 × 3.85 inch
bicycle tire
A bicycle tire is a tire that fits on the wheel of a bicycle or similar vehicle. These tires may also be used on tricycles, wheelchairs, and handcycles, frequently for racing. Bicycle tires provide an important source of suspension, generat ...
s were used for 320 to 346 kg empty vehicle. It reached a top speed of 50 km/h or 31 mph, with a fuel consumption 6 L/100 km or 39 MPG as well the oil consumption of 0.5 L/100 km. The fuel tank was 12 liter or 3.1 gallon.
As options a
windshield
The windshield (North American English) or windscreen (Commonwealth English) of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike, truck, train, boat or streetcar is the front window, which provides visibility while protecting occupants from the elements. ...
, a soft top for the driver and a passenger seat were offered. In addition, a ball horn by
Hella
''Hella'' is an American slang term that originated in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is used as an intensifying adverb such as in "hella bad" or "hella good" and was eventually added to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' in 2002. It is possibl ...
was available for RM 7.
[ (PDF; 761 KB) Prospekt für das D-Rad und den D-Lieferwagen. Retrieved 7 November 2015.]
Further reading
* (German) Immo Sievers: ''Zweirad - Vierrad - Allrad. Fahrzeugbau in Spandau''. Taschenbuch Edition Diesel Queen, Berlin-Friedenau 1995. {{ISBN, 978-3-9265-7404-6.
References
External links
www.d-rad.ch– Informationen rund um das D-Rad und den D–Lieferwagen Type L7
Three-wheeled motor vehicles