The German's gorgeous Diana scooter of '50s

Dürkopp or Dürkoppwerke is founded in Bielefeld in 1867 by Nikolaus Dürkopp who started out as the sewing machine maker, later the company was also knew as one of the pioneers of the German motorcycle industry.

The Dürkopp Diana scooter was first displayed at the Frankfurt Show of 1953 (the IFMA Fair), and entered into the market in 1954. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Jr00Kp)

 Dürkopp was constructing bicycles, motorcycles, cars and various other components from 1901. The company ceased manufacturing motorcycles before the outbreak of World War I between 1912 and 1927, although there was a period of assembling motorized bicycles in the 1930s, it did not resume production until 1949.

1902  Dürkopp Phaeton Karmann. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2VEjU6O)

In the 1920s, Dürkopp shifted its business activities to producing automobiles and had more than 6,000 workers building a variety of cars covering models from 1500cc to over 6 liters. This company was very active in the years leading up to WWII, by producing all kinds of weaponry and components, and in 1944, the company was reported that it had up to 3000 prisoners of war and forced labourers in its workforce.

1902  Dürkopp MD 200 uses a 198cc engine. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/36JRUFh)

Post-war production commenced with a motorized bicycle powered by a 48cc JLO engine delivering power to the rear wheel by roller drive. Dürkopp's most successful post-war model was the MD150, introduced in 1951 and remaining in production until 1954. Almost 18,000 MD150 machines were built. There was also a 198cc model, the MD200, available from 1952 to 1954.

1959  Dürkopp Diana TS uses a 175cc two stroke engine. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/36JRUFh)

The 1950s was known as the heyday of scooters, so it did not escape the German manufacturer's observation. And finally in 1953, the company was interested in producing scooters through the Dürkopp Diana scooter model.

1959  Dürkopp Diana Sports ads.
(Picture from: https://bit.ly/2VFnCNB)

The scooter is clearly influenced by the Innocenti Lambretta LD scooter which is a rival to Piaggio Vespa, but is equipped with a larger engine (194cc) and the front shield shape is unique. As a result, its scooters were well built but relatively expensive, so the number of scooters offered and successfully sold on the market during the 1950s was not large.

The Dürkopp Diana scooter was first displayed at the Frankfurt Show of 1953 (the IFMA Fair), and entered into the market in 1954, and was well received (almost 25,000 of the two-seater scooter version being produced). The scooter is featured with a relatively luxurious unit with an electric starter and a manually four-speed gearbox coupled its two stroke engine with a capacity of 200 cc. Two new models were introduced in 1959, the 175cc Diana TS and the Diana Sport with a more powerful 198cc engine.

It's also noted that a number of leading contemporary magazines at the time have tested the Dürkopp Diana scooter, and the results, it is described as 'well designed', and built to luxury specifications. The scooter remained in production until 1959.

1959  Dürkopp Diana Sports uses a 198 cc two stroke engine. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/36JRUFh)

In 1955, the company was acquired by the Ardie company so that Dürkopp's Fratz I, II, III, IV and Dianette's mopeds were marketed under the Ardie label. Unfortunately, the production of the Diana scooters and all motorcycles ended in 1961 due to the sewing machine product proved to be more profitable.😢

And after a series of merger attempts (lastly the Dürkopp mergered with its compatriot company Adler in 1990), the company was bought out by Chinese investors (ShangGong Company of China) in 2005.

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to the Dürkopp Diana scooter models, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CYBERMOTORCYCLES | NATIONALMOTORMUSEUM | BONHAMS ]

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