Rumpler Tropfenwagen
The world's first streamlined production car, inspired by aircraft design and featuring a mid-mounted W6 engine.
- Power
- 36 bhp
- Top speed
- 68 mph
- Est. value
- $400k–$600k
About the Rumpler Tropfenwagen
Designed by Austrian aircraft engineer Edmund Rumpler, the Tropfenwagen (drop car) introduced the world to the teardrop aerodynamic shape. It featured a drag coefficient of just 0.28, a figure that remained unbeaten by production cars until the late 1980s. The car was technically advanced for its era, utilizing a mid-engine layout and a unique W6 engine configuration. Despite its efficiency and innovation, it was a commercial failure due to cooling issues and a lack of luggage space, leading to a production run of only about 100 units.
Rumpler Tropfenwagen specs
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen produces 36 bhp (27 kW). It has a top speed of 68 mph (110 km/h).
| Make | Rumpler |
|---|---|
| Model | Tropfenwagen |
| Trim | 2.6 |
| Years | 1921–1925 |
| Type | Classic |
| Body style | Saloon |
| Country | Germany |
| Production | About 100 built |
| Engine | 2.6-litre Siemens & Halske W6 |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,580 cc (2.6 litres) |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Power | 36 bhp (27 kW) at 2,000 rpm |
| Top speed | 68 mph (110 km/h) |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1,400 kg (3,086 lb) |
| Power-to-weight | 26 bhp per tonne |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
How much is a Rumpler Tropfenwagen worth?
A typical Rumpler Tropfenwagen is estimated to be worth $400,000 – $600,000 (about £298,000 – £447,000).
Values are directional estimates for a typical example, not appraisals. Condition, mileage, history and specification all change what a real car is worth. Pound figures use the exchange rate of 3 November 2026. How values are estimated
Rumpler Tropfenwagen rarity in CarSpot
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 100 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
Rumpler Tropfenwagen fun facts
- The Tropfenwagen's drag coefficient of 0.28 was so low that Volkswagen used it for testing in their wind tunnel in 1979 to understand how it compared to modern designs.
- Many Tropfenwagens were famously destroyed during the filming of Fritz Lang's 1927 sci-fi masterpiece, Metropolis, where they were used as futuristic props.
- It was the first production car to feature a mid-engine layout, a configuration that would not become common in performance cars for several decades.