Lutzmann

Lutzmann 1893-1898
F. Lutzmann, Dessau, Germany

Fredrich Lutzmann was apioneer German car maker, being anticipated only by Benz and Daimler in starting manufacture. He was a wheelwright and coachbuilder by appointment to the Grand Duke of Saxe-Anhalt, and in 1893 built a light car on Benz lines, called the Pfeil O (Arrow O) with a 3hp horizontal single cylinder engine and chain drive and steering. In 1894 he produced a larger car with a 2 litre engine, the Pfeil 1, followed in 1896 by a car with a 2540cc engine, still a single cylinder unit developing 5bhp at 300rpm; this was an even slower speed than that of the Benz Viktoria, which turned at 470rpm. Transmission was by belts and final drive by double chains. The standard body was a 2 seat victoria, but there was also a 4 seater "vis-a-viz", a delivery van and a large, closed limousine featured in the catalogue. A Lutzmann was one of the first cars to be imported into Great Britain, in 1894, and several others followed. They exhibited two cars at the first German motor show in 1897.
The following year Lutzmann sold his patents and designs to Opel, who made them from 1899 as the Opel system Lutzmann.