1960 Auto-Union 1000 Sp Sedan

Post World War II, Auto Union was re-established in Ingolstadt and officially launched in September 1949 as Auto Union GmbH producing vehicles under the DKW brand. In April of 1958, Daimler-Benz acquired a majority stake in the company and immediately decided to launch a revamped line of cars to be sold under the Auto Union logo, focused on a more demanding market that valued styling and performance. As a result, later in 1958, the company began producing the 1000 SP, a coupe with significant design cues taken from the immensely popular '57 Ford Thunderbird. The body of the SP was produced for Auto Union by renowned coachbuilder Baur in Stuttgart and was propelled by a 981cc three-cylinder, two stroke engine mated to a four-speed column-mounted transmission. Less than 6,000 units of the SP were produced between 1958 and 1963, less than 400 were delivered outside of Europe and less than 10 are known to exist in the United States (only three of which are known to be restored). Closing the story on Auto Union, the company was sold in late 1964 to Volkswagen (aside from the Horch brand, which Daimler-Benz retained) and became the Audi brand we know today.

Delivered in December 1959 to Baden Baden, Germany.

Reportedly purchased by race car driver Eckhard Schimpf and driven in races across Germany and Austria in the 60s and 70s. Eckhard drove a 1000 SP at the Nurburgring Six Hours winning his class. Imported to Canada in November 1999, brought to the US in 2003. A complete restoration was performed from 2020 through 2022 and won the Randor Award for the best post-war European car in the 2022 Randor Hunt Concours d'Elegance.

This Auto Union is powered by its original three-cylinder, two-stroke, 981cc engine with mixer built into the fuel tank. It has its original single Solex 40ICB downdraft carburetor.