Zündapp Janus 250
Which end is the front? This little car gave its passengers two very different views.
1958 Zündapp Janus 250 in Sinsheim · Alf van Beem · Public domain (PD-self)
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Zündapp was known for motorcycles when it tried a small family car. Its Janus used a design developed from aircraft designer Claudius Dornier’s idea. The front passengers faced forward, while the rear passengers watched the road disappear behind them. The 1958 car belongs to a short production run that began in 1957.
Look a little closer.
The two benches could be arranged into a sleeping surface, making the tiny Janus a very small camping companion.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Two ends, two viewpoints
Janus took its name from a Roman god associated with beginnings and endings. The museum highlights its four back-to-back seats and nearly matching front and rear shapes.
Source: Zündapp Museum Sigmaringen · Janus exhibit ↗A motorcycle maker changes direction
Zündapp sought outside designs as customers wanted more substantial transport. It selected Dornier’s double-ended car, but sales disappointed and production lasted only about a year and a half.
Source: Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum collection · 1958 Janus sale catalog ↗Where these facts come from
- Zündapp Museum Sigmaringen · Janus exhibit
- Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum collection · 1958 Janus sale catalog
- Tucson Auto Museum · Janus 250 engineering
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.