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The mittlerer geländegängige Personenkraftwagen (m. gl. Pkw.) or sometimes as m. gl. Einheits-Pkw designated - literally translated: medium cross-country passenger car – was manufactured by Horch, Wanderer and Opel from 1937 to 1943. Horch made 14,911 exemplars of these about 50 to 100 exemplars were cabriolets. Wanderer made about 10,000 exemplars with Horch engine and about 6,000 exemplars with Opel engine. Opel manufactured the type mPl from 1938 to 1943. Sadly, production numbers of Opel are missing. According to available chassis numbers, at least 3,860 vehicles were made.
Interestingly, the m. gl. Pkw. had no four-wheel steering elements from the beginning on. Some improvements were made with the introduction of the type 40. The two outer spare- respectively supporting-wheels were dropped. Therefore, the car body could be made noticeable broader. Only one spare wheel was left which was stored inside of the car body.About 20% of the m. gl. Pkw. had a closed superstructure. The cabriolets had a stronger engine and some of them were armoured.
The m. gl. Pkw. had several shortcomings. It was too complicated, too expensive and maintenance was time consuming. So a command to strengthen the axles and to install additional springs was brought out in 1942. But the used engines have served well. A direct successor model was not available. The tasks were later covered by the light VW-Kübelwagen and the heavy passenger cars based on 1 ton lorry chassis of Mercedes Benz, Phänomen and Steyr.
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