automobile - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 2016 - 100 Euro Cent

Wolfgang Denzel was an Austrian racing driver, car designer and entrepreneur. Born in Graz in 1908, Denzel built his first motorcycle during his apprenticeship. In 1934 he laid the foundation for the company that still exists today. He took over the representation for BMW vehicles for Carinthia and Styria, later he became BMW general importer for all of Austria. His involvement with the BMW brand was also reflected in his racing successes, such as he won the marathon race Bodensee-Lake Balaton on a BMW motorcycle with the sensational advantage of more than five hours. Even as a racing car driver and later as a high-sea sailor and even as a ski racer Denzel was successful. After the war, he began in 1948 with the construction of their own sports car, initially based on a VW bucket car - often discarded models from the war -, later with the frame of a VW beetle and a four-cylinder boxer engine from Volkswagen. From 1952 a separate square tube frame was designed, the body was made of lightweight aluminum, later made of all-steel. The engines were also revised and optimized by Denzel. Around 350 such Denzel sports cars were built, initially roadster, later coupes. The brand name was after the designer "WD", later then "Denzel". Wolfgang Denzel was also successful in racing with his own sports cars. The Denzel sports cars existed as a model "Super Series", "Super" and "International". The power ranged from 52 hp to 80 hp. The "super" - the brand's original is one - brought it to 64 hp at 1,290 cc, the model on the stamp dates from 1959. Denzel's experience with sports cars also contributed significantly to the fact that his design for the BMW 700 in 1958 by financially troubled BMW Group was taken with enthusiasm - the model was subsequently the savior for BMW and the beginning of the success story of the company. From the 1960s, the company Denzel also took over the import of some other car brands, including Volvo and Jaguar. Branches have been established all over Austria, meanwhile there are 14 customer centers offering new and used car sales, repairs and financing services. In 2009, the various parts of the company were reorganized under the umbrella of Wolfgang Denzel Holding AG. Wolfgang Denzel's passion in the last years of his life was deep-sea sailing - he constructed high-sea racing yachts and, at the age of 70, became world champion in the two-tonne class. In 1982 he received the Great Silver Medal for services to the Republic of Austria. He died in 1990