Enzmann [1] (Switzerland)

Enzmann Automobile was a Swiss automotive manufacturer based in Schüpfheim, active from 1957 to 1967. The company was founded by Emil Enzmann senior, who owned a Volkswagen dealership, a hotel, and a cinema in the rural village. His son, Emil Enzmann junior, contributed to the early development of the brand by creating a prototype sporting roadster in the early 1950s, which was based on the platform chassis of the Volkswagen Beetle.

The prototype featured an aluminum body shaped over a wooden framework, which later served as the master for the production model's fiberglass body. The Enzmann roadster was designed without doors to maintain the stiffness of the open-top body shell, incorporating a step-plate about halfway up the sidewalls. The vehicle was first showcased at the "Comptoire Suisse" exhibition in Lausanne in September 1957 and subsequently at the International Automobile Exhibition in Frankfurt, where it was designated as Type 506, reflecting its booth number.

The standard model was equipped with a 1,192 cc flat-four engine producing 30 bhp and was priced at SFr 9,300. However, many customers opted for the 506 Super variant, which featured a modified 1,295 cc engine with superchargers from MAG or Okrasa, delivering between 42 and 45 bhp and achieving a top speed of approximately 100 mph (161 km/h). For high-end buyers, Porsche 356 engines of 1,582 cc, producing up to 75 bhp, were also available, along with Porsche brakes and wheels.

In the 1960s, Enzmann transitioned to using the improved Volkswagen 1300 chassis. However, as Volkswagen ceased supplying chassis separately, Enzmann was forced to purchase complete vehicles, which increased production costs and reduced competitiveness. Although there were attempts to create soft-top and hard-top versions, as well as a coupe variant built on the DKW 1000 chassis, the open-top model remained the most popular among enthusiasts. Overall, production totaled around 100 cars, including some kits that provided the body shell and necessary modifications. In the early 1990s, a collector attempted to revive the brand by remaking the body and offering new Enzmann roadsters or kits, but the project did not progress further.