EMW Formula 1 Engine & Chassis
Base: Eisenach, East Germany
First/Last GP: 1953 German GP
Best Result: DNF (Retired)
Best Grid Position: Unknown
Technical Specifications
EMW R2 Chassis
Configuration: Front-engine
Design: Conventional ladder frame
Weight: ≈600 kg (estimated)
EMW 2.0L Engine
Type: Inline-6
Displacement: 2.0L (1,980 cc)
Power: ≈140 hp (estimated)
Origin: Based on pre-war BMW 328
1953 German Grand Prix
Driver: Edgar Barth (East Germany)
Qualifying: Unknown position (no time recorded)
Race Result: Retired (DNF)
Laps Completed: Unknown (of 18 total laps)
Notable: Only East German entry in F1 history
Historical Context
Cold War Motorsport
Entered during peak Cold War tensions as East Germany’s sole F1 effort against Western manufacturers
Technical Heritage
EMW evolved from BMW’s pre-war Eisenach factory with Soviet oversight after WWII
Political Challenges
- Resource Limitations: Severe material shortages in post-war East Germany
- Travel Restrictions: Could only compete in East German and selected European races
- Technology Gap: Based on 1930s BMW designs against modern Ferrari/Alfa Romeo
Legacy
Museum Piece
The EMW R2 survives at the Dresden Transport Museum
Driver Legacy
Edgar Barth became East Germany’s most successful racer, winning 3 European Hillclimb Championships
“Our car was a symbol of what we could achieve despite our limitations. Just reaching the Nürburgring was a victory.” – Edgar Barth, 1978 interview