Best In World? 1959 Auto Union 1000 Coupe
In 1932, Auto Union was formed from … well, the union of four companies: DKW, Audi, Horch, and Wanderer. These four companies were symbolized by a badge with four interlocking rings (in a line, so as to not be confused with the five rings representing the Olympic Games), usually displayed on the radiator of its cars. DKW itself was founded to produce steam fittings and then a steam-driven car. Its name basically translates to “damp car”. When steam didn’t sell, DKW turned to motorcycle manufacture, then two-stroke cars. After World War II, DKW was the only one of the union of four to continue making cars. until Audi resurfaced a couple of decades later. In 1958 Auto Union introduced the 1000, which was a successor to the DKW 3=6. This was a luxury front-wheel-drive compact, and it was the first car branded “Auto Union” rather than DKW. Several body styles were offered. Here at Lucky Collector Car Auctions, taking place now online and August 28th in person, is a 1959 Auto Union 1000 coupe, currently bid to just $50. If you want to show up to bid, the location is Tacoma, Washington, at the LeMay Event Center. Thanks to Mark K. for the tip!
An upgrade from the prior model brought the two-stroke three-cylinder motor more displacement, a big 981 cc’s, good for about 43 bhp and a top speed somewhere in the 80 mph area, if you dared. Speaking of dare, the 1000 was occasionally rallied and my research turned up some international success. The little two-stroke was paired with a four-speed manual column shift.
The scanty description for this car claims it is the best Auto Union 1000 in the world. The dash is certainly glorious – with that thermometer-style speedometer and the white steering wheel, knobs, and dash. The seats are in great shape, too. The 2+2 seating arrangement in the pillarless two-door was considered swanky back in the day.
The underside of this 1000 supports the claim that this may be the very best example in the world. Other than some dust, this car looks like it was put together a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, the website description gives no history of its ownership or the restoration process. Maybe that’s the value of showing up at Lucky’s auction office – the opportunity to ask the consignor a question or two. While a DKW wasn’t on my shopping list, I am a big fan of weird cars and this seems satisfyingly weirder than a VW Bug. What do you think?
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Comments
In these days of huge SUV I got reminded here that this exact model was what my uncle drove up until the early 70’s and they had 4 kids. I still recall riding with them on Northern Sweden gravel roads going on different fishing trips, and using the free wheel to full effect Tore would push the car hard going uphill, and then coast downhill. At some point that car got hit hard from behind and was left at the village dump and was burned together with all the other trash.
I don’t think that rebranding to Auto Union really worked. It was to be the most upscale version with the “big block” 1000 cc engine but I don’t think anyone ever referred to them by that name. They were always called the DeKa anyway. Overall they were considered good cars. Solidly built, long lasting, good ride and handling and decent performance for the time. They just fell too far behind in development. The 1960’s came around and it became an anachronism with the separate frame and 2 stroke engine at prices that were higher than what you would pay for a modern Opel Rekord or Ford 17M. DKW fell and got taken over by Mercedes, launched the stop-gap F102 which a year or so later got upgraded with a Mercedes developed 4-stroke engine and branded with the rejuvenated Audi name and things started to turn better again.
The quality of the DKW´s was strictly Mercedes-Benz, the looks in real life were great, the comfort was tops and the performance was amazing. The draw backs were, mixing the gas with oil, and a shortage og mechanics to handle the seervice in the USA. Those who bought them, swore by them, the Auto Union 1000 Sp convertible was gorgeous, albeit too costly. Their motorcycles were as good and as advanced as they come, their RT 350 twin being superb in every way. The demise of the 2-stroke engine did them in.
Very popular here in Brazil back in the day and still a lot of them around today in car clubs. They have a very strong following here and everyone knows someone who had one. Quirky little Noddy cars but nice to drive.
Call me crazy, but I think that this is an incredibly good-looking car. The pillarless hardtop look coupled with an aerodynamic design is pretty amazing for a 1959 European. I had a 2-cycle 1966 Saab with free-wheel and 4 on the column and it was a lot of fun. Also, I can’t believe I’m looking at COP technology on a 59 when it has only become popular in the last decade. One bid of $50 is laughable. Seller needs to take it to a better venue.
The DKW actually has a breaker plate mounted at the front of the crankshaft, behind the harmonic balancer. There are three sets of ignition points and three condensers mounted on it. They each supply one coil and spark plug. I’d call it a one coil for each plug system, kind of a forerunner of COP.
If you’re crazy, that makes two of us. This is truly a gorgeous one-of-a-kind automobile. And I agree that the venue is a poor one. The owner should have just gone to eBay, Craig’s List, or…Barn Finds.
“DKW” = “Dampfkraftwagen” or “steam car”. “Dampf” is German for “Steam”. “Dampfer” = “steamer” or “steamship”, “Dampflokomotiv” = “steam locomotive”. “Moist” or “damp” would be “feucht”.
‘Damp’ in German is ‘feuchte.’ However, ‘dampf’ in German translates to ‘steam’ as in ‘dampflok’ for ‘steam locomotive.’ Or, ‘dampfwagen’ for ‘steam automobile.’ DKW played with its initials in advertising, as “Das Kleine Wunder’ or ‘Die Kinder Wunsche’ for ‘small wonder’ or ‘child’s wish.’
‘The 2+2 seating arrangement in the pillarless two-door was considered swanky back in the day.’
A pillarless two door is called a two door hardtop.
Seems like a reasonable claim. I wonder how much money the owner spent searching the globe to ensure they had “Best One In The World?” I will admit though, you guys may be the “Best In The World” at producing winning clickbait lines. You got me again! If only he/she could convince a bidder.
Take this to an Audi dealership for an oil change then watch all the tech’s heads explode.
Mike, I did something similar many years ago, when a certain national chain of oil/lube centers first opened up in my area. They had paper coupons offering “Free engine oil change & chassis lube for ANY car, plus the cost of oil”. So I drove my Auto Union SP1000 [same engine as in this featured car] to the location.
I watched as they pulled the car over the floor pit. Within a few minutes there were 3 guys in the pit. The manager was consulted and came over to ask me a question: “Do you know where the drain plug is on the engine?”
I replied “There isn’t one, it’s a 2-stroke motor.” He then said “Damn, I think they just drained your gearbox oil.” Then he asked “Why did you bring it in here for an oil change then?” “I didn’t, the coupon says free oil change and lube, and I brought it in for the free lube service!”
So not only did I get a free lube service, but a free gearbox oil drain and fill. They wanted to charge me for the gear oil, except that I never asked for that service.
I noticed a few years later when I was on a road trip and needed my modern car’s oil changed, the signs in the front customer area said “Most cars” instead of “All cars”!
IIRC, in or about 1958, a Chrysler dealer or perhaps Chrysler Corp. imported a few DKW based sedans (Auto Union Model 1000 or East German Wartburg?). One ad used the old DKW two stroke 3=6 slogan. Obviously, it was not a successful venture.
DKW two stroke engines achieved some success in the Formula Junior class
of open wheel racing. I still remember the high pitch scream of Stanguellini-DKW single seaters at full chat on the back stretches of SCCA tracks in the early 1960’s drowning out the sound of Fiat and BMC four bangers.
I think this is a unique auto, it’s in great shape for it’s age. As for the lonely bid
of $50. I hope he gets it for that price. Be a good joke on the seller. All these high prices for a car ready for the junk heap give me a headache. It is about time the buyer got a break.
When I lived in Harare, Rhodesia, back in the sixties my next door neighbour friend had a DKW 1000 s which was a bit of an upgrade on this one. He gave me a lift into town one morning as my Chev Brookwood wouldn’t start, and I was mightily impressed. Very comfortable, a bit noisy but overall a great little car even though he told me that it was a bit thirsty.
True story – 2-strokes were thirsty, to put it mildly. DKW´s were very popular in South Africa and Rhodesia back in the day, I think they even has a factory in South Africa. as they did in Brasil.
What color was that Chevy? I ask because I have friends in the UK who own a 1959 Chevy Brookwood with RHD, built in South Africa, it is Black, 6-cylinder & 3 speed stick, and doesn’t have a heater.
Hi Bill. iIt was blue when I had it back in 1963/4. 3 speed manual, 6 cylinder. Don’t know about a heater but it being Africa I doubt very much that it had one. Very stong car. I was driving down the main street in Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia, when an old man in a 1952 Vauxhall Velox turned left across in front of me. I slammed into the side of his car which would have turned over if it hadn’t been stopped by a traffic light pole in the roof! I ran across to the old boy and told him that I would go to the Post Office to call the police but when I got back he had driven off, so that’s exactly what I did! The only damage to the Chev was to the chrome headlight surround on the right side corner. Keep well, love your stories.
I guess there must have been a few ’59 Brookwood wagons running around in the southern half of Africa, because their wagon was black from the factory.
I don’t remember ever seeing another Brookwood in the 55 years that I lived in Africa.
Solosolo,
That comment reminds me of the time I had my Tatra 603 at a local car show. I was talking about how rare they are, and my car was probably the only one in the middle-Atlantic region. Someone standing not far away said “My neighbor has a Tatra like this”. Sure enough, there was another Tatra less than 20 miles away.
Not only the best but maybe the only survivor
Nope, there are plenty of DKW and Auto Union 1000 cars all over the world. After they stopped production in Europe, they continued to make them in South America for many years. As a matter of fact, the best place for spare parts is located in Paraguay or Uruguay [Can’t remember which]. 30 years ago I was able to get a complete front & rear suspension & steering overhaul kit including king pins and shipping, for less than $50.
Plenty in South Africa in Concours condition.
LA conversion…
LS conversion…
I have a DKW, it has suicide doors and semaphores, sort of looks like a luxury VW Beetle. Mines a 1954 body on a 1951 chassis, with a 2 cylinder 2 stroke. A project I couldn’t resist, I’m going to restore it someday. Hahaaa, if anything, I’ll put a fwd Toyota engine/tranny in it, and make a beater.
Put a Hayabusa in it, guaranteed to make the old sphincter pucker up!
This is not weird. I bet its aerodynamic drag coefficient is satisfying.
This 3=6 are a rare sight today. From a first glance it looks like a prior
German restoration. Haven’t seen cars from behind the big pond
who could compete in detail quality. Mandatory road worthiness
checks are something like a warrant for a ..responsible’
restauration.
In 1984 Maryland introduced the federally mandated emission testing requirements. They also began using the State Police in an attempt to get visually polluting cars off the road by pulling over cars that had blue smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe.
I was returning home from attending a car show in my Auto Union SP1000 with the DKW 2-stroke engine, when a State Police trooper pulled me over and issued a vehicle emissions inspection order. I tried to explain that ONE, I had historic license plates, and TWO, it was a 2-stroke engine, but he said they had been told to issue the emissions order to any vehicle with excessive blue smoke.
So I took the car and the paperwork over to the VIP [Vehicle Inspection Program] facility and they said it had to go thru the inspection because the State Police issued the order. Of course it failed, but when I got the paperwork showing it failed, it was also stamped with a permanent exemption because it had historic tags.
the GM of chremany.
Not much left now, even the wankel got sold off to become the rotary.
Love the under (frame) shot. Not over built like our ladder frames but almost. Less weight here, a vert to boot, I’ll take 2 – one red’n this one !
IIRC, a Chrysler Dealer of perhaps Chrysler Corp. imported a few DKW based cars in the late 1950’s (Auto Union 1000 or Wartburg?). Obviously the venture was not successful. The print Ad used the DKW 3=6 slogan.
FWIW, DKW engines found a home in the Formula Junior class of open wheel monoposto race cars. I well remember the scream of Stanguellini-DKWs at full chat on the back stretches of SCCA race courses during the early 1960’s. The sound of the DKW engine stood out amongst that of the competing Fiat and BMC A series 4 bangers.
This has Audi and Volkswagen written all over it to me. I see the headlights and see the Beetle, the four rings tell me Audi. The interior upholstery just screams old Karmann Ghia, nice oddball little hardtop that I would actually love to have.
If you look hard enough, I am sure you find a lot of Ford Model T in it; or how about that Duesenberg look? I mean it has tail lights, doesn´t it?
I was ready to bumpt that bid all the way up to $60. But today, with just under 2 hours to go, it’s at $20,000.