Great shots Boa...Thank you. Auto Union was featured several years back at the Monterey Historics as someone else mentioned, to see them "at speed" at Laguna Seca was a treat for the eyes and ears! Hopefully the new owner will drive it from time to time at Goodwood or Monterey once again.
I believe this one is all original bar the bodywork which had to be completely reproduced, according to the Octane article I read last night. Supposedly the Russians sent it all to be s****ped but ultimately only the original bodywork was. A truly gorgeous car.
Did you see it was pulled from the auction with a question of authenticity? I can't find anything on the Christie's site but here is some story on Hemming's blog... http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/02/13/auto-union-withdrawn-from-christies-auction/
Via SCM, Christie's press release: CHRISTIE'S AUTO UNION FINDINGS In a joint effort with Audi Tradition over the past three weeks, we have completed considerable additional research on the race history of the 1939 Auto Union D Type V12 Grand Prix Racing car originally scheduled for sale at Retromobile in Paris on February 17. Our joint research confirms that the car's ch***is is frame 19, and not 21, the ch***is of the 1939 French Grand Prix winner. Regarding racing history, Audi has confirmed that ch***is 19 is a genuine 1939 D Type ch***is and that it was first raced by Rudolf H***e in the Eifelrennen on the 20th May 1939 at the Nurburgring, in which H***e finished in 5th place. It was next raced at the 1939 French Grand Prix in the hands of legendary Auto Union pilot Hans Stuck, who brought the car home in 6th place, behind the company's 1st and 2nd finishers. Audi has kindly been able to support these race results with extensive do***entation. During our now completed verification process, no alteration has been made to the car itself which we believe to be the only Auto Union to which Grand Prix racing results can be attributed. Christie's was delighted at the response and interest that the car received in the run up to and while on view at its highly successful Eu7.2m auction in Paris. Based on our now completed research, we are accepting sealed tender bids for a period of one week today and invite prospective bidders to contact Christie's London office directly to receive applications for this tender.
That is a beautiful car. The thread from the other day has some great info on them. I have a great painting of one by an old Mercedes designer that really shows them in action (Walter Gotschke) I'll ake a pic of it and post it here some time. The old Mercedes stramliners are also cool, there's one at Indy it is awsome.
The Jalopy Journal
