ARCAD is a portmanteau of “Automotive Company Aabenraa motor & Dortmund Munition” as well as a reference to the old Greek concept of utopic harmony. A fictive now defunct car manufacturer that manufactured cars in western Germany and Denmark.
In 1946 the first Arcad 200 prototype was revealed. Production started soon after, because it had to:
Dortmund Munition were under allied control, and were no longer allowed to produce weapons, after the German defeat, the small Danish moped manufacture that had been merged with for-mentioned company had blown all their money on developing a car engine, so everything depended on the company’s first car.
The Arcad 200 had two different engine variations the 1098 cc OHV inline 4 cylinder and the larger 1410 cc OHV inline 4 engine advertised as 1500 cc.
The cheap spartan version boasting the least accesory was called Arcad 200 Vanilla and the large engine version with slightly more trim was called the Arcad 200 Comfort.
Overall the Arcad 200 was a utilitarian vehicle targeted at the common man, Quality increased throughout the production
Advertising from the 1950’ies. The vast majority of the customers were first time car owners.
Arcad motors played a lot on the growing optimism of post war Europe, you could cut out cupons from your oat meal boxes and participate in a lottery for a brand new Arcad 200.
A lot of Advertising was spawned from sending a couple of Arcad 200 on an expedition in 1965
The company might be exaggerating a bit as it was the Arcad that ended up “holding out” in the jungle as one of the cars bogged down in the jungle and had to be left behind. The car was first recovered in 2010 as a rusty hul and is currently on display at the Arcad museum.
Arcad 200 Vanilla
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in 1947 a Pickup version was launched, and in 1948 a fourgonnette style panel van as well as a two door convertible was launched. First as specialties constructed by coach builders on demand and later as production line vehicles.
With the Arcad 200 Arbeiter the Arcad motor company had learned a few things from their expeditions, the vehicle was at some point equipped with an optional locking differential for the rear axle which came in handy for many rural owners.
Arcad 200 Fourgonnet ( also sold as Arcad 200 Delivery in some countries )
For the young and hip the Arcad 200 Cabrio
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