Framo

Framo-Werke GmbH was based in Frankenberg and Hainichen, in Saxony, Germany. The company was owned by J.S. Rasmussen, who was also known for his involvement with DKW, though Framo was never incorporated into the Auto Union combine.

The firm originated in 1922 as Metallwerke Frankenberg, initially producing motorcycle components. In 1926 it began building three-wheeled delivery vans under the Framo name, powered by DKW engines. A combined passenger-and-goods version followed in 1932.

In 1933 Framo introduced the Piccolo, its first model intended purely for passenger use. It featured a 200cc DKW engine mounted above a single front wheel. This was followed by the Stromer, a coupé of a markedly different layout, with two front wheels each driven by a DKW two-stroke engine available in 200cc, 400cc or 600cc form, fitted to a compact two-seater coupé body.

Framo subsequently developed a four-wheeled model with a rear-mounted DKW engine, initially of 900cc and later reduced to 200cc. Passenger car production ceased in 1937, though the company continued to build three- and four-wheeled vans.

Following the nationalisation of the firm in 1945, production of four-wheeled vans continued under the name IFA Framo, and later under the Barkas name, up until German reunification in 1990.