The Steyr 100 was a car that was built by Austrian bike-car manufacturer Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG during the years 1934-1936. With a 1.4 litre engine (32 hp), this car with a 4-speed manual transmission made history in 1935, with the help of one man – Maximilian Felix Gottfried Reisch.
Two years earlier (see image), in 1933, this lad with a college friend had undertaken a long 13,000 km journey on a Puch 250 cc motorcycle from Vienna to Mumbai crossing continental Europe to Turkey – Syria – Iraq – Iran – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India. He was already famous in Austria at the age of 20 and the directors at Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG took note of him because of his feat.
With a modified Steyr 100, that had larger diameter tyres (giving it higher ground clearance), a small luggage space at the rear (covered by tarpaulin to store tyres, fuel, tool kit, etc.), Reisch along with his co-driver cum mechanic, Helmut Hahmann set on a new journey that was supposed to be completed in 2 phases. The first was the famous – Tour of Asia that ended in Japan (23,000 km) and the next, after the car was shipped to San Francisco from where they travelled to New York. The total distance the duo covered, was 43,000 km.
The Tour of Asia journey that began on 23rd April 1935 took them from Vienna to Palestine - Syria - Iraq - Iran - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India - Burma - Thailand - Laos – Vietnam - Japan, ended after 14 months. Though this long trip was largely through land, the only point from where they had to ship the car was when they had to cross the South-China Sea (on their way to Japan) by boat.
Today, this car can be viewed at the "Tiroler Motor Museum - Max Reisch", in Tyrol, Austria. In the musuem, one can also see the kerosene stove, shovel, crockery, petrol jerry can, helmets, mosquito nets, British era colonial safari cap or pith helmet (the same can be seen on this scale model), etc. that Reisch used during this trip.
Highlights | |
- Premium collectible | |
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- Licensed product | |
- Material: RESIN | |
- High precision miniature models | |
- Non-opening model | |
- On plinth (platform base) with plexiglas hard-display case | |
- Only 333 pieces created |
Specifications | |
Brand | Potpourri |
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Period | 1901-1946 |
Year | 1935 |
Model Origin | Austria |
Scale | 1:43 |
Box Dimension (in inches) | 7 x 3 x 3 |
Color | Grey |
Make | AutoCult |
Theme | Street |
Material | Resin |