The History of the Silver Arrows Auto Union is one of those that have made an impact in the world of motorsport. Almost a century has passed since the formation of that manufacturer that brought together Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer; and that focused heavily on competition. At that time, races were contested with the silver arrows of Mercedes, although with a different philosophy. And they also proposed something that never came to fruition. Until today: this is the Auto Union Type 52 which Audi has brought back to life.
It should not be forgotten that during this era, Mercedes-Benz was betting on front-mounted engines and Auto Union innovated for bring the mechanics behind the pilot. This rear position configuration has been maintained in recent times for high-performance vehicles, although not so much for conventional models. However, between 1933 and 1935 a new design was proposed homologated sports saloon for the street that was very revolutionary. Initially named “Schnellsportwagen” (high-performance sports car), it never saw the light of day, but the project has now been revived.
It was something in common between Auto Union and the Ferdinand Porsche Design Officewhich was intended to captivate buyers who could also compete in long-distance races, such as the Mille Miglia. Ultimately it would not take off and would be lost in the archives of the brands, but the Documentation was recovered and the car executed following the original plans. The Auto Union Type 52 is a unique vehicle built on a ladder frame and with a mid-mounted engine.
Carry a 16-cylinder 4.4-liter engine with around 200 bhp and 436 Nm of torque, reducing compression so it can run on regular petrol. The transmission is an Auto Union Type 22, although its ratio is reduced by a Roots supercharger. All in all, the saloon offers a maximum speed of 200 km/hwhich would have been a real milestone at the time and would have lived up to its name of “Schnellsportwagen”. The construction was the work of the specialist, Crosthwaite & Gardner, who had the original documents, plans and sketches at their disposal.
Technically, the Auto Union Type 52 is a model with a length of more than five metres, whose design is conceived to achieve the maximum aerodynamic efficiency. It was also designed for daily driving and that is why it had a roof, headlights and two spare wheels. One of its peculiarities is that its cabin has capacity for three passengers in a 1+2 position, as others like the McLaren F1 would do later. It announced a empty weight of 1,300 kg and we are pleased to see how it has become a reality almost a century after the original project could not be executed.
