• First post-war Auto Union sports car set five world records in 1956
• In action at this year’s Mille Miglia
Ingolstadt, 26 April 2006
Small-volume production of just 230 models, exceptionally popular with the Americans and a world-record setter to boot: the DKW Monza. This car was named after the world-famous Italian Grand Prix circuit where the first sports car in Auto Union post-war history enjoyed outstanding success. In 1956, the DKW Monza set new world records in the 1100 cc class over distances of 4000 miles, 5000 miles and 10,000 kilometres as well as over the time distances of 48 and 72 hours. That all happened 50 years ago. Audi Tradition is now taking advantage of this anniversary to put the DKW Monza back on the road. This post-war racer will be showing just what it is capable of at the Mille Miglia from 11 to 14 May.
After the series of wins by the DKW 3=6 Sonderklasse in European touring car racing and rallying in 1954 and 1955, two racing drivers started to develop a sporty body for the successful model. Günther Ahrens and Albrecht W. Mantzel designed a record-breaking car on the basis of the 3=6, incorporating an extremely lightweight plastic body built at Dannenhauer & Stauss in Stuttgart. The first prototype was presented in 1955 at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The DKW Monza went on sale after its world record runs in 1956. Surprisingly enough, a large number of this small-volume model were exported to the USA, where the lightweight sports coupé with its new plastic body proved to be extremely popular. Despite a modest 44 horsepower, its straight-three, two-stroke engine propelled it to a considerable top speed of 140 kilometres per hour. The DKW Monza cost 10,500 marks in 1956. The fact that only 230 of it were built can be attributed to Auto Union GmbH already having another exciting new sports car project up its sleeve: the Auto Union 1000 Sp which was launched in 1957.
The four rings of the Audi badge symbolise the brands Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer, which were later combined under the umbrella of Auto Union. Auto Union and NSU, which merged in 1969, made many significant contributions towards the development of the car. AUDI AG was formed from Audi NSU Auto Union AG in 1985. Together with the two traditional companies Auto Union GmbH and NSU GmbH, Audi Tradition nurtures and presents the deep and diverse history of Audi.
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