We pay less attention to trucks, but isn't this actually a truck? IFA Multicar , later just Multicar , or also Kinderkamion or multicow , was an essential helper of public services for many years, and the green square cabins were almost on every corner of towns and villages. Today, they are slowly becoming a collector's item. After the coup, the Multicar brand became independent from the IFA concern and is the only East German brand that has survived to this day. It now belongs to the HAKO company, which produces modern versions of the M27 , M31 , Fumo and Tremo .
The first type was actually the Diesel-Ameise DK 2004 car, which was given the name Multicar M21 in 1960. The number indicates the useful weight of two tons and the first type series. The tiny cart was controlled from a place in front where the driver stood. But the control room had neither walls nor roof, just a small cover to protect the calves. The tiny truck could be equipped with a flatbed or tipper body, a ladder or a lift platform . Its maximum speed was only 15 km/h. Even so, more than a quarter of the production was sold abroad.
In 1964, the more modern M22 model was introduced with a covered single-seater cab, powered by a 9 kW 0.8 twin-cylinder diesel engine. Several companies outside the IFA car company have already participated in the production of the new series. This model was produced for ten years and a total of 42 thousand of these Multicars rolled off the production lines. The M24 type with a reinforced frame and a more powerful 2.0 four-cylinder engine with an output of 33 kW spent the next five years in production. A new feature was a fully synchronized four-speed gearbox as well as a tilting cab. The entire suspension was also renewed. This type has already gained a lot of success in the Western markets, because a similar car was simply missing on the streets there. If you were interested in the gap after the M23 type, it was supposed to be a modern type developed in the 1960s, but the production of which was not allowed. Later, the M24-0 model with a two-seater cabin was introduced, which closely resembled the rejected M23 model.
But the biggest legend is the M25 model, which was produced for 13 long years. And for the first time, four-wheel drive and a reduction gearbox also appeared in the offer, although at first they were accompanied by childhood illnesses. The 25-year-old soon received a rebored engine, which increased power and torque. The rigidity of the cabin was also improved with additional reinforcements. A model with a longer wheelbase has also been added to the offer. After the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and the reunification of Germany, Multicar was privatized, which, unlike many other attempts, turned out well. Although production dropped from the best period, when 40 cars were assembled a day, to less than a quarter, the company, in addition to the Multicar, also produces the Fumo and Tremo types. The twenty-five was replaced by the M26 type, which in turn was replaced by the M27 type, today the M31 type is currently in production. The Bundeswehr also ordered Mungo military vehicles from the company.
Photo: AutoWP, Fahrzeugbilder, Twowheelsplus, Panoramio, Commons.wikimedia, Multicar-dily, Forum.valka, Multicar22, Wikipedia, Ad-jacobeit, Spoki.tvnet, Multicar-west, Bulldogbuwe, Multicar-pilz, Hako, Truckslist
