Auto Union

Auto Union was a German automobile consortium — formed in 1932 from the merger of Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer — whose Grand Prix racing programme from 1934 to 1939 represented one of the two pillars of the Silver Arrows era. Alongside Mercedes-Benz, Auto Union received substantial funding from the Third Reich and produced the revolutionary mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive Type A through D racing cars designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

In the context of this vault, Auto Union is significant as part of the German challenge that ended Alfa Romeo’s dominance of Grand Prix racing from 1924 to 1933. The Auto Union’s unusual mid-engined configuration and extreme power — the Type D produced over 500 bhp — contrasted sharply with conventional pre-war design philosophy and proved difficult for even experienced drivers to manage. Achille Varzi drove for Auto Union in 1935–1937, providing a direct connection between the Italian racing world and the German programme.

Connections

• Alfa Romeo — the Italian marque displaced by Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz in the 1934–1939 Silver Arrows era, source: wikipedia.org
• Mercedes-Benz — jointly represented Germany in the Silver Arrows era, source: wikipedia.org
• Achille Varzi — drove for Auto Union 1935–1937 after leaving the Italian teams, source: wikipedia.org