Told you so: many readers had last week’s mystery motor parked somewhere in their memories. We had plenty of good answers, although the majority of these were rather dull. Come on guys, we like some more information then just a make, model and year! It was indeed a Steyr and plenty of you recognized it as such. But we saw all kinds of model designations come by, from Type 125 to Type 630 and anything in between. The one and only right type was the 530 of 1935, built in that year and 1936 only with six-cylinder engines.
The outrageous special body on this specific example was commissioned by painter Karl Rob, of whom we couldn’t find more. We weren’t on our own as just about none extras on the artist landed in our post box. Pity, as this was what we were hoping for. Fortunately there was jury member Stuart Penketh who said the picture was taken at Saint Michaels Church Gateway in Vienna and believes that this car led to the Type 630 6-seater limousines, used as taxis in Vienna until the end of the fifties. Thank you.
But it was Thomas Billicsich who came with the best answer. He wrote: “This Steyr 530 was presented in the Allgemeine Automobil Zeitung of August 1935 and the car was commissioned by Karl Rob, painter and publisher. Before this vehicle he commisioned a sports car and a limousine on similar Steyr 30 S chassis. History says that this car was later used by nazi Gauleiter Eigruber in Oberdonau." Reader Moritz added to that: “In a newspaper advert for the Steyr 30, Karl Rob was called the ‘Cabriolet-Poet’. Thanks to all, and congratulations to Thomas!
(Words and archive pictures Jeroen Booij)