Project NZ 350 1943

Basic info on DKW NZ 350's

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Tom216
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Project NZ 350 1943

Post by Tom216 » Wed Sep 23, 2020 10:04 pm

Hello group,

I would like to ask you for some help regarding the NZ 350 Nr. 605915, which I plan to restore to its original factory condition. Based on stamped date at frame label it was produced in 1943, although available database shows year 1942 for this frame number.

Engine is light alloy with VG gearbox, the fuel tank had rubber knee pads and has no holder for the gas mask. Neither engine nor other mechanical parts like brakes have any signs of paint.

Regarding originality, my biggest problem is the original colour. The bike has been repainted to red in past, currently is mostly rusty. I have found some traces of beige (like dunkelgelb2?) at front fork, under beige is some grey layer (does not look like Feldgrau) and under grey seems to be some dark red, maybe the basic paint. I have no idea however, if some of mentioned paints could be original.

I would like to ask you:
1. Which colours/colour schemes were originally available for NZ 350 year 1942/1943?
I have seen mainly army colours, but also black/silver combination.
Which colour had the basic paint in that era?
2. Which Parts catalogue and manual are proper for NZ 350 year 1942 (1943) – the first 58 – 58a – 58b, or the later D605/12 from 22.9.1941 and Handbuch D605/11?
3. The bike has a handle bar used on later 350/43 and 350-1. Is it possible that the late NZ models had this type of handlebar?

Thank you in advance
Kind Regards
Tomas
esmane88
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Re: Project NZ 350 1943

Post by esmane88 » Wed Oct 28, 2020 6:31 pm

Hi!
Sorry I can’t help but it would be interesting to see some photo.

Good luck with restoration!
Frank
SUPPORTER 2016
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Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:23 pm
Location: Finland

Re: Project NZ 350 1943

Post by Frank » Sun Feb 14, 2021 11:34 pm

Hi,

Maybe a late answer, but some info comes here:

605915 should be a later half 1942 bike and the factory color grey. i am not sure if the manufacturing year always was stamped at the factory. I had a 1940 NZ350 where the manufacturing year was never stamped on the type plate. If I remember correct there should be a picture of it in some older thread.

As far as I know they started to use tan colors in early 1943.

I have a 1942 frame and the original color was grey on red primer and later on it has been painted tan (not factory painting, rather in some field unit) over the grey.

The 1942 fuel tank shall not have any knee pads anymore and a gas mask container holder on the tank was never mounted on those from the factory.
No one have showed me a original tank with a gas mask holder. A such can be seen in the users manual for 350-1, but probably a prototype construction which never came into production.

The D605/12 from 1944 is maybe the best best parts manual for your bike, but also the D605/12 from 1941 is usable.

I have not seen any exact info when they changed the handle bar and levers to the same type as used on NZ350/1943, but probably somewhere during 1942, because I have seen war time pictures of grey bikes with this type of levers.

Good luck with your project!

Kind regards: Frank
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