Manufacturer: Adler-Werke vorm. Heinrich Kleyer AG, Frankfurt

Production Year: 1939

Engine: Adler, 2.5-liter, 58-hp, six-cylinder, liquid-cooled, gasoline

Transmission: Four-speed: four forward, one reverse

Brakes: Hydraulic

Length: 16-feet, 4-inches

Width: 6-feet, 5-inches

Height: 6-feet, 8-inches

Weight: Approximately 2-1/4-tons

Armor: None

Armament: None

Maximum Speed: Approximately 50-mph

Wheelbase: 130-inches

Markings: German 11th Panzer Division, Motorized Medical Company

The Adler W61, 4x2, 1-1/2-ton truck was developed from pre-World War II Adler touring cars. The Adler W61 light truck, as displayed, utilized an Adler civilian car chassis, but added an open truck cab with a “pickup” truck-type cargo bed in back. Adler also built a box-van version, the W61K; that was produced in both ambulance and signal van configurations. Only 500 W61s were manufactured. Adler has the distinction of producing the first so-called “Bucket” car developed for the post World War I German Reichswehr (Army). With production beginning in 1925, Adler Bucket cars consisted of a civilian touring car chassis with the addition of a simple, open door body constructed of plywood with four simple bucket seats. Some Adlers, such as the Diplomat touring cars, were used in their standard civilian configurations, generally as staff cars for higher ranking German army officers. The Adler Diplomat also served as the basis of the 3Gd light field car utilizing the standard civilian chassis with the addition of an Einheits (standard) military pattern body. The Einheits pattern body was similar to the earlier series Bucket cars, but incorporated refinements such as doors and fully enclosed folding canvas tops.