In a bold move combining history and innovation, Audi Tradition has just unveiled the Auto Union Type 52, a racing car designed in the 1930s but never built at the time. This spectacular rebirth, the result of meticulous work based on historical archives, marks a turning point in the preservation of automotive heritage.
An ambitious project born from the Audi archives
The Audi Tradition department, guardian of the heritage of the brand with the four rings, has taken on an extraordinary challenge: to bring to life a racing car that had remained in the project stage for almost 90 years. The Auto Union Type 52, initially designed in 1934, had never gone beyond the stage of sketches and technical plans. Thanks to meticulous reconstruction work, this exceptional racing car was finally able to take shape, making its first public appearance at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed.
This project exemplifies Audi’s commitment to preserving its automotive heritage. The brand not only restores existing models, but also resurrects concepts that never saw the light of day, offering a fascinating glimpse into what automotive history could have been.
The fascinating story behind the Auto Union Type 52
The Auto Union Type 52, nicknamed Schnellsportwagen (fast sports car), has its origins in the glorious era of the Silver Arrows. These legendary racing cars, developed by Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz, dominated the Grand Prix between 1934 and 1936 in the 750 kg class.
Born from the merger of Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer in 1932, Auto Union had entrusted Ferdinand Porsche with the development of a racing car for endurance events such as the Mille Miglia or the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite promising plans, the project was abandoned in 1935, sleeping in the archives for almost a century.
An impressive technical renaissance
To bring this forgotten project to life, Audi Tradition called upon the expertise of Crosthwaite & Gardner, specialists in the reconstruction of historic cars. Drawing on archive documents, the teams faithfully recreated the Auto Union Type 52, while making some necessary adjustments to ensure its technical viability.
The result is spectacular: a car over 5 metres long, with a worked aerodynamic body, equipped with a roof and headlights, even offering space for luggage and two spare wheels. The interior design is inspired by the Auto Union Grand Prix cars, with a modern interpretation of the colours and materials of the time.
An exceptional mechanical heart
Under the hood of the Auto Union Type 52 beats an exceptional mechanical heart. Audi has chosen to install the 16-cylinder engine from the Auto Union Type C, a power monster running on methanol. This power unit is mated to a five-speed gearbox from a Grand Prix car.
Although less powerful than its Grand Prix counterpart, the 4.4-litre engine still developed 200 hp at 3,650 rpm for a maximum torque of 436 Nm from 2,350 rpm. This performance allowed it to reach a top speed of 200 km/h, an impressive figure for the time.
A tribute to automotive innovation of yesteryear
The rebirth of the Auto Union Type 52 is more than just a styling exercise. It embodies Audi’s commitment to keeping alive the spirit of innovation that has shaped its history. The project also demonstrates the brand’s ability to combine heritage with modern technology, creating a fascinating bridge between the automotive industry’s past and present.
Timo Witt, Head of Audi's Historic Vehicle Collection, underlines the importance of this project: “We had to adapt certain aspects of the original design to ensure technical compatibility between the individual components. The end result is a faithful homage to the spirit of the Auto Union racing cars, while incorporating a touch of modernity.”
The impact on the world's automotive heritage
The presentation of the Auto Union Type 52 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed has attracted considerable interest from motoring enthusiasts and historians alike. This exceptional achievement contributes to our understanding of the evolution of automotive technology and highlights the audacity of the engineers of the time.
This project is part of a broader trend of active preservation of automotive heritage. Many manufacturers, such as Audi, are now engaged in the reconstruction of historic models, thus offering the public the opportunity to discover little-known aspects of automotive history.
The Auto Union Type 52 now joins Audi’s private collection, a vibrant testament to a glorious past and a source of inspiration for future generations of automotive engineers and designers. This spectacular rebirth reminds us that automotive innovation has always been the result of a bold vision, capable of transcending eras and technologies.