Nazi era racer to fetch $12m

Plex · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject: Nazi era racer to fetch $12m

An Auto Union Type D racing car, the ultimate expression of a racing programme funded by Adolf Hitler, is expected to fetch $12 million (�6.1 million) at auction in Paris.

One of only five remaining, this would make the Type D the most valuable car ever sold at auction according to Christie�s which will be conducting the sale in February. The record has been held since 1987 by a 1931 Bugatti Royale which fetched $9.95 million.

The story of the Type D, which is being dubbed �Hitler�s racing car� begins in 1932 when Ferdinand Porsche, having lost his job at Steyer, decided to bring together the struggling German car manufacturers Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer under the Auto Union banner. Deciding that their new venture needed a way to demonstrate their prowess, Porsche, Auto Union Chairman Baron Klaus von Oertzen and famous German racer Hans Stuck approached the German Chancellor, Adolf Hitler. The Nazi leader had promised a boost to the German car industry, firstly with his �People�s Car� which would spawn the Volkswagen Beetle and secondly by funding a racing programme to the tune of half a million Reichmarks.

Initially earmarked for Mercedes-Benz, the trio from Auto Union successfully persuaded Hitler to give them half the pot. The money was put to good use, resulting in a mid-engined, racer designed by Porsche and powered by a 4.4-litre, 295bhp V16, the Type C. By 1936 when the car was producing 550bhp thanks to an engine enlarged to 6.0-litres, the car was powerful enough to spin its wheels at 150mph and allowed Bernd Rosemeyer to win the European Championship. The following year, Mercedes, still smarting over the loss of the full 500,000 Reichmarks pulled out all the stops and its new W125 beat the Type C by seven races to five.

80 years of Mercedes-Benz
It was the 1938 season which saw the debut of the Type D and new rules limiting engine size to 3.0-litres. Auto Union chopped its V16 down to a V12 and added a two-stage supercharger. The death of Rosemeyer in a land speed record attempt saw him replaced by Italian driver Tazio Nuvolari who struggled with the Type D�s mid-engined layout and won just two Grand Prix in 1938. The following year saw another brace of victories including one at the last race held in Europe before the outbreak of WW2, the Yugoslavian Grand Prix in Belgrade.

Six years later, 18 Auto Union racers were hidden in a mine shaft but were discovered by Allied Forces and handed over to engineers in the Soviet motor industry. All are believed to have been dismantled. Christie�s have not revealed who is selling the Type D but it is likely to be American collector Paul Karassik who scoured the Eastern Bloc for remnants of the cars and then commissioned British firms Roach Manufacturing and Crosthwaite & Gardiner to rebuild two cars, one of which he sold in 1996 to Audi, which had adopted Auto Union's four-ringed symbol (representing the founder companies) as its own.

Source: http://cars.uk.msn.com/News/car_news_article.aspx?cp-documentid=1390092

NarendZORCE · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:42 am Post subject:

Now THAT is some amazing history... I wonder how much a piece of the death star will go far? Luke!!! Laughing

Seriously though, that car seems way more menacing after reading about the people involved in making it.
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NarendZORCE · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:58 am Post subject:

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Plex · Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:14 am Post subject:

When i saw this i was amaze of its history..Unusual appearance..

NarendZORCE · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:33 am Post subject:

The one pictured there seems to have two superchargers and 550hp.

I came across this information that looks like the same car in an earlier state of tune:

Car: Auto Union Type D
Engine: 60 deg V12, Supercharged
Maker: Auto Union
Bore X Stroke: 65 X 75 mm
Year: 1938
Capacity: 2,990 CC
Class: Grand Prix
Power: 420 bhp at 7,000 rpm
Wheelbase:108 in
Track: 45 in front and rear
Weight: 850 kg / 1874 lbs

"The engine could rev at over 10,000 rpm but usually never exceeded 7,000 rpm while racing."

"the Auto Union weighed exactly 850 kg dry and 1220 kg in racing trim including driver."

"Eberan adopted a trucker's 24-hour tachograph to monitor the cars performance while it was being driven by one of the works drivers. "Isidor" as the drivers dubbed it, was called a cockpit spy. The device, heavily modified by Eberan and an associate by the name of Kienzle, could record revs, speeds, shift points, brake pressures and acceleration/deceleration all on a paper disk. For security the device could not be opened without a key; of which Eberan von Eberhorst had the sole copy!"

http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/auto_d.htm
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Plex · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:51 pm Post subject:

Look at the year 1938 and those cars achieve 420hp, thats amazing to think they knew how to make horsepower and real horsepower .. Shocked

dahmun · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:55 am Post subject:

3.0l in 1938 producing 420bhp....very noice, and its a high revving V12. Germans knew and know their stuff.