Multicar M24

Multicar M24: The Compact East German Workhorse That Could Do Almost Anything

The Multicar M24 occupies a fascinating place in the history of commercial vehicles. Small enough to work in narrow streets and industrial yards, yet capable of carrying a surprisingly substantial load, this compact East German truck was designed around a simple but powerful idea: one small vehicle should be able to perform many different jobs. Produced by VEB Fahrzeugwerk Waltershausen in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the M24 succeeded the Multicar M22 in 1974 and remained in production until 1978, when it was replaced by the better-known M25. During its relatively short production run, approximately 25,600 M24 vehicles were built, with a significant share exported outside East Germany.

Today, the M24 is remembered not simply as an old utility truck, but as a particularly successful example of compact commercial-vehicle engineering. Its dimensions were remarkably modest, but its usefulness was not. Depending on its equipment, the M24 could serve as a flatbed truck, tipper, municipal vehicle, tanker, ladder carrier, or other specialized machine. This versatility explains why Multicars became such familiar sights in municipal services, factories, construction operations, agricultural environments, and public-sector fleets throughout East Germany and other countries of the Eastern Bloc. The vehicle’s basic philosophy was straightforward: keep the truck compact, mechanically uncomplicated, economical to operate, and capable of accepting a wide range of attachments.

The Origins of the Multicar M24

From the M22 to a More Capable Work Vehicle

The story of the M24 begins with the earlier Multicar models produced at Waltershausen. The factory had already established a reputation for small transport vehicles, with the M21 and subsequently the M22 serving specialized transport and municipal roles. The M22 proved particularly successful, with approximately 42,500 examples produced, but its relatively low road speed and modest performance eventually became limitations as users demanded a vehicle that could participate more effectively in ordinary road traffic.

Development work for a two-seat successor had already influenced the proposed M23, but that design was not approved for production. Instead, the factory moved directly to the M24, which was introduced in 1974. The new model retained the compact philosophy of its predecessors while introducing a considerably more capable powertrain. A water-cooled, four-cylinder diesel engine of approximately two litres replaced the much smaller power units associated with earlier Multicars, providing around 45 horsepower. The result was a vehicle capable of reaching approximately 50 km/h, a significant improvement for a small work vehicle that increasingly needed to travel between job sites on public roads.

The M24 was therefore not intended to compete with conventional heavy trucks. Its purpose was almost the opposite. Where a full-size truck could be excessive in a narrow city center, factory yard, railway facility, farm, or construction site, the Multicar could maneuver into restricted spaces while still carrying a useful load. That combination of small size and relatively high payload became one of the defining characteristics of the model.

Production in Waltershausen

The M24 was manufactured at VEB Fahrzeugwerk Waltershausen, a company that became part of the East German IFA industrial organization. Production ran from 1974 through 1978, with approximately 25,659 examples manufactured according to Czech technical-history sources. Around 48 percent of production was exported, demonstrating that demand for this unusual type of compact utility truck extended well beyond East Germany.

Its successor, the M25, appeared in 1978 and continued the same fundamental concept with a more modernized design. The M24’s relatively short production period should therefore not be interpreted as a failure. Rather, it represented an evolutionary stage in the development of the Multicar concept. Many of the basic ideas introduced with the M24—including the more powerful diesel engine, compact dimensions, adaptable chassis, and specialized equipment—continued into the subsequent M25.

Design and Construction of the Multicar M24

A Tiny Truck With Serious Carrying Capacity

At first glance, the M24 can look almost too small to be considered a conventional truck. Its overall length was only around 3.9 metres in common flatbed configuration, while its wheelbase was approximately 1,950 mm. Yet its rated payload could reach roughly 2.48 tonnes, depending on configuration and the applicable specification. This created an unusually high relationship between the vehicle’s compact physical size and its useful carrying capacity.

That compactness was central to the M24’s appeal. A vehicle working in municipal environments does not necessarily benefit from the dimensions of a full-size lorry. Street cleaning, refuse collection, maintenance work, landscaping, snow removal, and small-scale construction often take place in confined spaces. A short wheelbase and narrow body make it easier to turn around, enter narrow access roads, and work close to buildings. The M24’s design was therefore highly practical for jobs where maneuverability mattered at least as much as outright speed.

The chassis was also intended to accommodate different body types. This transformed the M24 from a single-purpose truck into a flexible working platform. The basic vehicle could be equipped with a conventional cargo platform, while hydraulic and mechanical equipment could be incorporated for specialist applications.

The Distinctive Cab

Early M24s were produced with a single-seat cab, continuing a characteristic of earlier Multicar designs. The arrangement reflected the vehicle’s origins as a compact working machine rather than a conventional transport truck. Later in the production period, a two-seat cab became available, addressing the practical needs of crews who frequently worked in pairs. Sources describe the two-seat M24-0 version as appearing in 1977, shortly before the M24 was replaced by the M25.

Another important feature was the tilting cab. This made access to the engine considerably easier than it would have been with a fixed cab, particularly because the engine was mounted beneath the forward portion of the cab. For a vehicle expected to spend much of its working life in municipal and industrial fleets, easy access for servicing was a major practical advantage.

The cab was not designed around modern concepts of luxury or long-distance driver comfort. Instead, it provided a compact and functional operating station. Large modern seats, extensive sound insulation, climate control, and sophisticated instrument systems were not the priorities. The M24 was essentially a piece of working equipment with a road-going cab attached to it.

Engine and Mechanical Characteristics

The 2.0-Litre Diesel

The M24’s principal engine was the 4 VD 8.8/8.5-1 SRF, a four-cylinder, four-stroke, water-cooled diesel engine produced by VEB Motorenwerk Cunewalde. The engine had a displacement of approximately 1,996 cm³ and produced about 45 horsepower (33 kW). Published specifications give a maximum output around 3,200 rpm, while some technical documentation cites the engine’s rated power at a slightly different engine speed.

For a vehicle this small, the engine offered an appropriate balance between economy and useful pulling power. The M24 was never intended to accelerate rapidly or travel at motorway speeds. Its working environment was more likely to involve short trips, frequent stopping, heavy loads, and operation at relatively low speeds. Diesel torque and a simple mechanical powertrain were consequently more important than high horsepower.

The documented fuel consumption was approximately 13 litres per 100 kilometres, with a fuel tank capacity of around 50 litres in one published technical specification. Actual consumption would naturally depend on payload, equipment, terrain, driving style, and vehicle condition.

Four-Speed Manual Transmission

The engine was paired with a four-speed manual transmission, with one reverse gear. The gearbox was fully synchronized according to historical descriptions, making gear changes easier than on many older commercial vehicles with unsynchronized transmissions. The transmission also incorporated a power take-off, an especially useful feature on a multifunctional vehicle because auxiliary equipment could draw mechanical power from the engine.

This power take-off capability was fundamental to the M24’s versatility. A truck carrying a simple flatbed required relatively little additional equipment, but a tipper, ladder, sweeper, hydraulic implement, or other specialist body could require an auxiliary power source. By integrating such capabilities into the basic vehicle architecture, Multicar could offer a wide range of working configurations without creating an entirely new vehicle for every application.

Multicar M24 as a Multi-Purpose Machine

Flatbed and Tipper Versions

The flatbed configuration was one of the most straightforward M24 variants. Historical specifications describe a load platform around 2,050 mm long and a load area of approximately 3 square metres. The vehicle could be used for transporting materials, equipment, tools, and other relatively compact loads. Its small dimensions were particularly useful in environments where conventional trucks were cumbersome.

Tipper versions increased the truck’s usefulness for construction and municipal work. A three-way tipping arrangement allowed the cargo body to discharge material to the rear or either side, making it practical for situations where there was limited room for maneuvering. Historical specifications document tipping angles of approximately 48 degrees to the rear and 55 degrees to the side for one three-way tipper configuration.

This capability made the M24 suitable for transporting sand, soil, gravel, waste material, and similar bulk goods. Again, the point was not to compete with a full-size quarry truck. The M24 was designed for smaller quantities and locations where accessibility was more important than maximum carrying volume.

Municipal and Specialist Equipment

The M24’s real significance becomes apparent when looking at its specialist equipment. Historical documentation records versions equipped with equipment such as rotating extension ladders, while other sources describe the broader Multicar tradition of refuse bodies, water tanks, sweeping equipment, snow equipment, and other municipal attachments.

A compact ladder vehicle, for example, could enter streets and courtyards where a larger emergency or service vehicle might struggle. The documented M24 ladder configuration used a hydraulic system for raising and extending the ladder, while its supporting frame could be manually rotated through approximately 210 degrees. The maximum ladder extension was around 10 metres in the cited configuration.

This illustrates why the Multicar concept became so useful to public services. The same basic chassis could perform entirely different functions depending on the equipment mounted to it. Instead of purchasing numerous large specialist trucks, an organization could use compact equipment carriers for jobs where a full-size vehicle would have been inefficient.

Driving and Road Performance

A 50 km/h Working Vehicle

The M24’s maximum speed of approximately 50 km/h reflects its intended role. On modern roads, this appears extremely slow, but the truck’s primary operating environment was local and regional rather than high-speed long-distance transport. Its duties frequently involved moving between nearby work locations, operating in towns, or working within industrial areas.

The relatively low maximum speed also made sense given the vehicle’s compact construction, load-carrying role, and modest 45-horsepower engine. The M24 was engineered around productivity at low and moderate speeds rather than rapid highway travel. Its short wheelbase contributed to maneuverability but could also make the ride more noticeable on uneven surfaces.

The driving experience of an M24 is consequently very different from that of a contemporary utility truck. Steering, braking, clutch operation, gear changes, engine noise, and suspension behavior are all much more mechanical and direct. There is little electronic assistance between the driver and the machinery. For modern enthusiasts, that simplicity is part of the vehicle’s character.

The M24 Compared With the M25

Why the Next Generation Was Needed

The M25 followed the M24 in 1978 and refined many of the ideas introduced by its predecessor. The later model received a more modern-looking cab with a larger windshield and additional side windows, while the two-seat configuration became standard. The basic 2.0-litre diesel concept was retained initially, demonstrating how important the M24’s powertrain architecture had been to the design.

The M25 ultimately became much more successful in production terms, with more than 100,000 examples manufactured over its long career. It also evolved considerably, including the introduction of four-wheel-drive versions and later engine changes. Nevertheless, the M24 deserves recognition as an important stepping stone toward that success. Its compact dimensions, modular equipment philosophy, and improved road performance established a formula that the M25 would develop further.

The contrast between the two models also demonstrates how quickly practical requirements could change. The M24 already represented a substantial improvement over the M22, but customers continued to request greater practicality, better visibility, easier access, and additional capability. The M25 responded to these demands without abandoning the central idea that had made the Multicar successful.

The Legacy of the Multicar M24

Why the Little Truck Remains Memorable

The M24 is historically interesting because it solved a very specific transportation problem in an unusually effective way. It was too small to be considered a conventional heavy truck, yet far more capable than an ordinary light utility vehicle. That middle ground gave it a distinctive role. It could carry a substantial load while occupying very little road space, and its chassis could accept equipment that transformed it into a specialized municipal or industrial machine.

Approximately 25,600 M24s were produced during the model’s four-year production period, and nearly half were exported according to historical accounts.  The vehicle therefore became familiar far beyond Waltershausen and East Germany. In Central and Eastern Europe, the compact Multicar became closely associated with municipal work, construction, industrial transport, and public-sector services.

Today, surviving M24s are valued by collectors and historic-commercial-vehicle enthusiasts because they represent a distinctive chapter in European utility-vehicle development. Their mechanical simplicity makes them particularly interesting to people who appreciate vehicles that can be understood and serviced without the electronic complexity of modern machines. At the same time, restoration can be challenging because surviving examples have often spent decades in hard-working environments rather than protected storage.

Conclusion

The Multicar M24 was a remarkably capable little truck whose importance came from versatility rather than size or speed. Introduced in 1974 as the successor to the M22, it brought a 2.0-litre diesel engine, approximately 45 horsepower, a four-speed manual transmission, improved road performance, and a chassis capable of supporting a wide range of equipment. Its approximately 50 km/h top speed and compact dimensions made it especially well suited to municipal and industrial environments where maneuverability and practical utility mattered more than long-distance speed.

The M24 also helped establish the formula that would make the later M25 such a significant success. It showed that a very small vehicle could perform the work of a much larger truck when its chassis, powertrain, and attachments were designed as an integrated system. Flatbeds, tippers, ladders, and specialist municipal equipment turned the M24 into a genuinely multifunctional machine.

More than four decades after production ended, the M24 remains a memorable example of East German engineering. Its unusual proportions, simple diesel mechanics, compact footprint, and remarkable carrying capability give it a character that few modern vehicles reproduce. It was not designed to be glamorous, fast, or luxurious. It was designed to work, and that straightforward purpose is precisely what makes the Multicar M24 such an interesting vehicle today.

Multicar M24 Technical Specifications

The figures below represent commonly documented specifications for the M24 and M24-0. Exact figures can differ according to body style, production year, equipment, and whether the vehicle is a flatbed, tipper, ladder carrier, or another specialist version.

The Multicar M24’s specifications should therefore be understood as a family of configurations rather than a single completely uniform vehicle. Its ability to accept different bodies and working equipment was one of its defining characteristics and arguably more important to its historical significance than any individual performance figure.