Monday 4th December 2006
Hitler's Porsche set to break record
Auto Union D-Type will sell for millions
 Nuvolari in his Auto Union D-Type at Donington Park in 1938  The car now |
A car that Ferdinand Porsche built at Hitler's behest is coming up for auction. It looks set to become the most expensive car ever auctioned.
In February, Christie's will sell off a 1939 Auto Union D-Type racing car, believed to be one of only two in existence. Porsche built the machine at Hitler's direct request -- the Nazi dictator wanted to show off German engineering prowess.
The car was one of the fastest of its day with 485bhp and a Vmax of 186mph. It did the job, winning a GP in Belgrade with Nuvolari at the wheel in 1939, just before the outbreak of war.
Most of the D-Types were destroyed during hostilities but this particular model shipped off to the Soviet Union by the Red Army so its technological secrets could be dissected.
Later, a car enthusiast discovered it and it made its way to the UK, where was recreated by Rod Jolley Coachbuilding to the exact dimensions of the original on its original underpinnings, the bodywork having long been lost. The car was fully restored by Crosthwaite and Gardiner at Audi's expense, and was tested for the first time by Dick Crosthwaite at the Nürburgring in October 1994.
The current world record for a car at auction is held by a 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Sports Coupé that Christie's sold for £5.5 million in the late 1980s.
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trenchtown
Original Poster
147 posts
89 months
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Don't think it will actually break a record; its been hyped too much...
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mini_ralf
6,051 posts
87 months
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So how much of this car is original?
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havoc
20,223 posts
105 months
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mini_ralf said: So how much of this car is original? Sounds like most of it bar the shell. Enough, I suspect, for it to be a genuine original, not a replica. Although whether it's an original like my grandad's old broom (4 new brushes and 2 new shafts, but still going strong!  )...
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oppressed mass
217 posts
153 months
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I cant work out if that is a very big car or is being driven by a very small person...
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Marki
15,763 posts
140 months
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oppressed mass said: I cant work out if that is a very big car or is being driven by a very small person... I think Gigantic is the word rather than big
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droptheclutch
2,408 posts
95 months
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Yep, it's massive. Should be an interesting auction to attend!
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mini_ralf
6,051 posts
87 months
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oppressed mass said: I cant work out if that is a very big car or is being driven by a very small person... It's a damned big car and he was a very small chap at only 5ft 3.
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ccharlie6
773 posts
110 months
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i really hope that the person that buys that races it, i would love to see it racing again against ERA's etc at any VSCC race meeting, or even fast demo laps. it would be a travesty if it was bundled away into a large car warehouse to be stared at.
does anyone know if this is the same D type that was at the shelsley 100 meeting last year or is that the other private one (the karassik one?)
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FourWheelDrift
56,832 posts
154 months
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ccharlie6 said: does anyone know if this is the same D type that was at the shelsley 100 meeting last year or is that the other private one (the karassik one?) Not sure but here are the photos - www.pbase.com/redmorgan/auto_union
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skintrich
43 posts
81 months
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Smuggled to Russia so it's secrets could be dissected.
Blocwocks - Some Ruskie minister wanted a toy. I dont recall Zil's being a big name on the racing scene!
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Chris71
20,102 posts
112 months
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Surely that would be Hitler's audi?
I wouldn't like to authenticate any of these cars - theres rumours of one silver arrow being leant to a company in order to make a copy and [allegedly] returning as the replica!!
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sprinter885
10,178 posts
97 months
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havoc said: mini_ralf said: So how much of this car is original? Sounds like most of it bar the shell. Enough, I suspect, for it to be a genuine original, not a replica. Although whether it's an original like my grandad's old broom (4 new brushes and 2 new shafts, but still going strong! )... Another classic from PHer !!  Sounds like a great machine to see at Goodwood tho'. Lord March are you on PH ??
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rlk500
830 posts
122 months
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Thought it was. Didn't Alan McNish drive it up the hill ???
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andyturner
119 posts
79 months
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Gah, I might have known it'd have Audi's new front grill on it...
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joesnow
1,267 posts
97 months
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The Donington collection has a very similar AU (i think, they certainly have a merc) which raced the track in the 30's. The owner Tom Wheatcroft also had a replica Bugatti Royale built, which has been added to the total number produced, it is that faithful to the original.
Worth a visit if you have never been. Mr Wheatcroft is an amazing chap - eccentric and memorable, i've had the pleasure of meeting him. He has done wonders for the heritage of motorsport, and his biography 'thumber in the park' is an awesome read. Hats off to the chap.
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kurtiejjj
163 posts
87 months
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I've read about this in some car magazine, damn where is it?. It was quite a big feature, due to the car's fascinating history, being rescued from Russia, east-germany etc...
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tr3a
104 posts
97 months
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Why does the headline say Hitler's Porsche? Porsche is a brand name and this car never wore that name. The fact that a certain mr Porsche was involved in its design doesn't make it a Porsche. It's an Auto Union and nothing less.
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Hemibum
833 posts
87 months
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tr3a said: Why does the headline say Hitler's Porsche? Porsche is a brand name and this car never wore that name. The fact that a certain mr Porsche was involved in its design doesn't make it a Porsche. It's an Auto Union and nothing less. Yes, with you there. Also, my understanding was that it was Ferry Porsche who sold the idea to Hitler , not the other way around as is being touted in order to push the profile of the auction potential up.
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littlegearl
3,139 posts
127 months
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if i'm right i think this is probably one of about 3 or 4 auto union's that audi has paid tens of millions to have restored back to as close as original as possible.
i think they're paying for one more (or may have paid for it now) but that's it as it's costing so much...
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4WD
2,289 posts
101 months
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It really does look like the veyron of it's time. That speed was quite extrodinary then, really quite amazing.
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