DKW-Vemag Vemaguet

The Vemaguet is a Brazilian automobile produced by Vemag under license from the German DKW factory between 1958 and 1967, we had two popular derivatives, the Caiçara Pracinha and produced respectively between 1963 and 1965 and between 1965 and 1966. A total of 55692 units 1 ( 47769 Vemaguet units, 1173 units and 6750 units of Caicara Pracinha ) were produced.

Initially it was known simply as " Coach DKW - Vemag " or as a " Perua DKW - Vemag ", receiving the name Vemaguet only in 1961. The models dating from 1956 to 1957, prior to the production of Vemaguet therefore, were assembled by Vemag under DKW license of Germany and were derived from van DKW F91 Universal, while the models were derived from Vemaguet F94 family.

Until 1963 they opened the front door instead of the front, back towards the comfort, earning the nickname "suicide" doors (as Americans refer to this type of opening ) doors or " let's see " or " DêChaVê " (as was common in Brazil). The latter name obviously refers to the use of these ports by women wearing skirts. In 1964 the doors were changed to the traditional way of opening backwards, in favor of safety.

Its three-cylinder in line and two-stroke engine (need to mix oil with gasoline), with a volume of 1 liter, front, as well as traction. One coil per cylinder, liquid cooled, electric start. Engine instead of using bushings, bushings or bearings on moving parts, uses bearings, thus providing durability above common for cars of the time.

Histrory
On November 19 of 1956 and Vemag puts the truck on the market DKW F -91 Universal, derived from the German sedan F -91 and its woodwagon, produced by Auto Union. This bus, however, was assembled with components imported from Germany. In 1957 this bus suffered minor changes, such as the design of the rear doors that opened vertically sideways and began to open horizontally into two pieces, one of them by opening up and the other down.

The truck (the " turkey DKW "), derived from the F -94 German, with extensive nationalization index, equipped with 900 cc engine is presented in the second half of 1958. In the third quarter of 1959 the model now has engine with 1000 cc. In 1960 the wheels now have eight holes, since the brakes are rather required in part by the use of free-wheeling.

In 1961 to a " Turkey DKW-Vemag " gets named as Vemaguet and occur several aesthetic changes, like the shape of the bumpers and wheel caps. This year, the sedan lost friezes from the trunk lid, the Vemaguet lose only the following year.

In 1963 is released Caicara coach, a popular version of Vemaguet , with one-piece rear door opening to the left. The lack of interest Auto Union to participate more actively in the market Brazil eiro made ​​the emblem placed on the hood of the Vemag products were changed to a simpler emblem, one "DKW - Vemag" manuscript.



In 1964 is released into the market DKW-Fissore Vemag and Lubrimat. The Vemag had 4,013 employees and an area of just over 87,000 m². Their vehicles already had almost 100% nationalization.

This year, the Vemaguet have changed their doors, they begin to open in the conventional way and not otherwise. The opening mode instead earned them the nickname "suicide doors". This way of opening also gave the models the nickname "dechavê".

In 1965 is thrown Rio series in honor of the four hundred years of foundation of the city of Rio de Janeiro. In Europe, the Volkswagen acquires the controlling interest in Auto Union, turning it into Audi. In Brazil, settle rumors about the end of production of vehicles DKW and the closure of the factory.

In 1966 is closed production of Caiçara replaced by GI Blues, another popular truck-based Vemaguet. The main difference of Caiçara and Pracinha are the doors that now open in the usual sense. This year, the steering wheel, which was "plan", became "tapered", and levers signaling direction and drive the headlights accompanied this change.

In September 1967, the Volkswagen Brazil acquires Vemag promising not to shut down production of its vehicles. Starting this month, out of the production lines to Vemaguet S, equipped with the same engine as the Fissore. In December, however, following a global trend of withdrawing engine two stroke in the market, the production line is closed. The following years would witness a sharp devaluation of the Vemag products.