Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Auto Union 1000 1958-1965

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Barcelona
    Posts
    33,489

    Auto Union 1000 1958-1965

    The Auto Union 1000 was a compact front-wheel-drive saloon manufactured by Auto Union AG between 1958 and 1963. It was the first (and in many markets the last) model branded as an Auto Union by the manufacturer since the 1930s: it replaced the paradoxically named DKW 3=6, although the latter continued in production, reassuringly now branded as the DKW 900, for another year. The two cars were broadly similar, but the new car had its two-stroke engine enlarged to 981 cc yielding a 10% - 37% (according to model) power increase.

    Apart from the enlarged engine, which now provided in the base model 44 bhp (33 kW), the 1000 featured the old four ring Auto Union badge across the air grill along with the ‘Auto Union’ name above it, in place of the ‘DKW’ badge that had adorned the nose of the earlier model.

    In addition to the two- and four-door saloons, there was a ‘pillarless’ coupé which shared the profile of the saloons apart from the absence of any fixed B pillar. A three-door estate version was also offered, branded as the ‘Universal’, between 1959 and 1962. For the new decade, the saloon was renamed Auto Union 1000S and received, in August 1959, an eye catching wrap around windscreen. Neither the windscreen nor the name changes entirely concealed the fact that at a time when competitor designs employed the modern ponton, three box form, this Auto Union’s body along with most of its technical features descended directly from that of the Zwickau developed DKW F9 prototype of 1938. Fortunately in 1938 the front-wheel-drive DKW design had been an innovative one.

    Appearing in 1958 was the Auto Union 1000 Sp, a low-slung two-seater sports car that was produced for Auto Union by the Stuttgart coach builders, Baur. The fixed-head version was joined in 1961 by a cabriolet. Adorned with tail fins, the stylish modern look of the car gave rise to the "baby Thunderbird" (schmalspur Thunderbird) soubriquet in the press, and belied the fact that it was, under the skin, another Auto Union 1000, albeit one with an increased compression ratio and a claimed maximum of 55 bhp (41 kW) to place on the road. The 1000 Sp was lower but not (assuming only two people were in the car) significantly lighter than the standard-bodied saloon: a claimed maximum speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) nevertheless put its performance at the top of the range. It would prove to be the last open top car produced by the company until the Audi 80 cabriolet in 1994.

    The Auto Union's 981 cc two-stroke three-cylinder engine came in various states of tune. After 1960, advertised power in the saloon versions was increased to 50 bhp (37 kW). Power was delivered via a four-speed manual gear box, controlled using a column-mounted lever. The electrical system was a six-volt one which by this time was beginning to look old fashioned.

    1961 saw the introduction of the so-called Clean Oil Regulator “Frischölautomatik”, a system incorporating a separate oil tank and pump to dispense the oil which, in a two-stroke engine, is mixed with the fuel ahead of combustion. The stated purpose was to reduce the characteristic blue smoke emission for which the car was known. This was to be achieved by ensuring that oil was introduced in exactly the correct 1:40 proportion to the fuel, and the device was advertised as a way to improve engine longevity. The timing of this innovation proved unfortunate The 1962/63 winter was an exceptionally cold one in Europe. The Auto Union 1000 model experienced an unexpected increase in crankshaft damage because the oil, its viscosity affected by the cold weather, was unable to flow freely through the narrow feeder pipe in the carburettor.

    Source: wikipedia.org
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Barcelona
    Posts
    33,489
    Auto Union 1000 #2
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    3
    DKW cabriolet, are there photos?
    Thank you

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Barcelona
    Posts
    33,489
    Quote Originally Posted by lro View Post
    DKW cabriolet, are there photos?
    Thank you
    The DKW is here:

    DKW 3=6 (F91/F93/F94) 1953-1959 - Ultimatecarpage.com forums
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    3

    Thanks -dkw

    Thanks by the link

    Luis Rocha

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    3

    Thanks -dkw

    Thanks by the link

    Luis Rocha

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Auto Union 1000 SP (Roadster & Coupé)
    By netburner in forum Classic cars
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 01-28-2014, 06:21 PM
  2. Auto Motor und Sport Videos - Are you interested ?
    By Gt1Street in forum Multimedia
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 11-05-2012, 09:10 PM
  3. Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-16-2009, 06:25 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •