Auto Union

Auto Union diecast models represent one of the most important chapters in German automotive and motorsport history. Auto Union AG was formed in 1932 through the merger of Audi, DKW, Horch, and the automotive division of Wanderer, bringing four established manufacturers together under one organization. The famous four-ring emblem represented these four companies and eventually became the symbol associated with Audi.

For collectors, the name Auto Union is especially associated with the extraordinary Grand Prix racing cars of the 1930s. The Auto Union Type A, Type B, Type C, and Type D became legendary Silver Arrows, featuring advanced engineering, supercharged engines, and a mid-engine layout that was highly unusual for Grand Prix racing at the time.

An Auto Union model car can therefore appeal to collectors interested in prewar automobiles, German automotive history, Ferdinand Porsche designs, historic Grand Prix racing, Silver Arrows, and the origins of the modern Audi brand.

What Was Auto Union?

Auto Union was not originally a single automobile marque in the modern sense. It was a German automotive group created during the economic difficulties of the early 1930s.

The four companies retained their individual brand names and served different sections of the market:

• DKW focused primarily on motorcycles and smaller automobiles.
• Wanderer occupied the middle segment.
• Audi represented the upper-middle or deluxe mid-size segment.
• Horch represented the luxury end of the automobile market.

This division allowed the companies to share engineering, production resources, and other capabilities while reducing direct competition between their own brands.

For diecast collectors, this distinction is important. An automobile carrying an Auto Union four-ring emblem is not necessarily an "Auto Union model" in the same sense as the dedicated Grand Prix racing cars. Many road cars continued to be sold under the Audi, DKW, Horch, or Wanderer names.

The Four Rings

The four interlocking rings are one of the most recognizable symbols in automotive history.

Each ring represented one of the four companies that came together in 1932:

Audi – DKW – Horch – Wanderer

The companies retained their identities after the merger, while the four-ring emblem represented their union. The emblem eventually became inseparably associated with Audi, but its historical origin is specifically the formation of Auto Union AG.

For collectors of automotive memorabilia and historical diecast models, this makes Auto Union particularly interesting. A four-ring model can represent not only a specific automobile but also the beginning of a corporate and engineering lineage that eventually led to today's Audi.

Ferdinand Porsche and Auto Union

One of the most important names connected with Auto Union is Ferdinand Porsche.

Auto Union commissioned Porsche to develop a new Grand Prix racing car for the regulations that would take effect in 1934. Porsche's design placed the engine behind the driver and used a supercharged V16 engine, creating a configuration that was highly advanced for its time.

The resulting racing cars became some of the most technically distinctive automobiles of the 1930s.

Their engineering philosophy emphasized:

• Mid-engine placement
• Lightweight construction
• Supercharged engines
• Sophisticated suspension
• High power output
• Aerodynamic development
• Purpose-built Grand Prix performance

This makes an Auto Union diecast model particularly attractive to collectors who also appreciate the early engineering history of Porsche.

Auto Union Type A

The Auto Union Type A was the first of the famous Grand Prix racing cars developed for the new 750 kg formula.

It made its competition debut at the Avus circuit in Berlin in May 1934. The car used a supercharged 16-cylinder engine mounted behind the driver and produced approximately 295 PS in its initial configuration.

The mid-engine arrangement gave the Auto Union a distinctive appearance and helped establish the basic layout that would become increasingly important in high-performance racing decades later.

For collectors, the Type A represents the beginning of Auto Union's Silver Arrow era and makes an excellent starting point for a chronological collection of the Grand Prix cars.

Auto Union Type B

The Type B followed the Type A as Auto Union continued developing its Grand Prix car.

The Type B incorporated improvements to the chassis and powertrain as the team sought greater performance against its principal rival, Mercedes-Benz.

Although the individual technical details evolved throughout the racing program, the basic Auto Union philosophy remained: a powerful supercharged engine mounted behind the driver, advanced suspension, and a lightweight racing chassis.

A Type B model can therefore be displayed as part of the progression from the original Type A toward the much more powerful Type C.

Auto Union Type C

The Auto Union Type C is arguably the most famous of the company's Grand Prix racing cars.

By the time the Type C was developed, the engine had grown dramatically in performance. Audi's historical documentation records the progression of the Auto Union racing program from approximately 295 PS in the Type A to around 520 PS in the Type C.

The Type C became closely associated with drivers including Hans Stuck, Achille Varzi, and Bernd Rosemeyer. Its victories and spectacular performance helped establish Auto Union as one of the dominant forces in international Grand Prix racing during the 1930s.

The streamlined Type C was also used for high-speed record attempts. In 1937, Bernd Rosemeyer drove a streamlined Type C to more than 400 km/h on a public autobahn, creating one of the most famous speed-record achievements of the prewar period.

For collectors, the Type C is one of the defining subjects in the entire Auto Union category.

Auto Union Type D

The Type D represented the final major evolution of Auto Union's prewar Grand Prix program.

When the Grand Prix regulations changed to a three-liter engine formula for 1938, Auto Union developed the Type D with a 3.0-liter supercharged V12. It retained the rear-mounted engine configuration that had become a defining feature of the earlier Auto Union racers.

Italian driver Tazio Nuvolari became one of the most important drivers associated with the Type D after the death of Bernd Rosemeyer in 1938.

The Type D is therefore an important subject for collectors who want to represent the final stage of Auto Union's original Silver Arrow Grand Prix era.

Auto Union and the Silver Arrows

Auto Union's racing cars became part of the legendary Silver Arrows era of 1930s Grand Prix racing.

The principal rivalry was between Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz, with both manufacturers developing technologically advanced racing cars and competing for victories and records.

Auto Union's cars were visually distinctive because of their streamlined aluminum bodies and rear-mounted engines. Their unusual configuration, dramatic power, and famous drivers helped make them some of the most recognizable racing machines of the period.

For motorsport collectors, an Auto Union Silver Arrow model can represent an important period when manufacturers used Grand Prix racing not only for competition but also as a showcase for engineering and technological development.

Auto Union Road Cars

Although the Silver Arrows are the most famous Auto Union subjects, the company's history was much broader.

The four constituent brands continued producing road vehicles according to their assigned market segments. Audi developed models such as the Audi Front, DKW produced small cars and motorcycles, Wanderer built mid-size automobiles, and Horch remained associated with large luxury cars.

This means collectors researching Auto Union may encounter models carrying the names Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer rather than simply "Auto Union."

The relationship between these brands is an important part of the appeal of collecting them together. A display can show how four independent manufacturers became part of one automotive group while retaining distinct identities.

Auto Union After World War II

The end of World War II brought a dramatic change.

Auto Union's production facilities in Saxony were expropriated and dismantled after the war. In 1949, a new Auto Union GmbH was established in Ingolstadt in western Germany to continue the four-ring tradition. The postwar company initially concentrated on DKW motorcycles, vans, and passenger cars using two-stroke engines.

The company later became part of Daimler-Benz and eventually Volkswagen's growing automotive organization. In 1965, the Audi name was revived for a new four-stroke model based on the DKW F 102, beginning the modern revival of Audi.

In 1969, Auto Union merged with NSU, creating Audi NSU Auto Union AG. The company adopted the name AUDI AG in 1985, completing the transition toward the modern Audi identity.

Consequently, an Auto Union diecast model can represent an important part of the historical lineage behind today's Audi brand.

Auto Union Type 52

Another fascinating Auto Union subject is the Type 52, a planned road-going sports car based on the Grand Prix technology.

The Type 52 was envisioned in the 1930s as a road-legal sports car using the basic technical foundation of the Auto Union Grand Prix racers. The project was never completed during the original period.

Audi Tradition eventually built a running interpretation of the Type 52, presenting it publicly in 2024. The project demonstrates how much interest remains in Auto Union's extraordinary prewar engineering concepts.

For collectors, the Type 52 is an intriguing companion to the Type A, B, C, and D because it shows how Auto Union's Grand Prix technology could have been translated into a road-going automobile.

Collecting Auto Union Diecast Models

Auto Union offers several ways to build a focused collection.

Collect by Grand Prix Type

The most obvious approach is a chronological Silver Arrow collection:

• Auto Union Type A
• Auto Union Type B
• Auto Union Type C
• Auto Union Type D

Displaying these together highlights the rapid technical development that took place between 1934 and 1939.

Collect by Driver

Motorsport collectors can also focus on the drivers associated with Auto Union, including:

• Hans Stuck
• Achille Varzi
• Bernd Rosemeyer
• Tazio Nuvolari

Different drivers, race events, body configurations, and liveries can make otherwise similar racing cars distinct collecting subjects.

Collect the Four-Ring Heritage

Another approach is to combine Auto Union racing cars with historic Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer models.

This creates a broader historical display showing the four companies that formed Auto Union and the eventual development of the Audi brand.

Auto Union Diecast Scales

The most appropriate scale depends on the specific model and manufacturer.

1/18 scale is particularly appealing for large display pieces because the Grand Prix cars' unusual engineering and bodywork can be shown in considerable detail.

1/24 scale offers a practical balance between size and detail and works well for collectors displaying several historic automobiles together.

1/43 scale is especially useful for chronological collections because multiple Auto Union racing cars and related historic vehicles can fit into a relatively compact display.

1/12 scale, when available, provides an even larger presentation format for collectors looking for a centerpiece model.

When comparing Auto Union models, check the exact Type designation, race configuration, driver, livery, year, and scale. Grand Prix cars often underwent significant changes during their competitive lives, so two models carrying the same general Type name may represent different configurations.

Why Collect Auto Union Models?

Auto Union occupies a unique position in automotive history. It connects four historic German manufacturers, the origins of the four-ring emblem, Ferdinand Porsche's early racing-car engineering, the Silver Arrows era, and the historical development that eventually led to modern Audi.

For motorsport enthusiasts, the Type C and Type D are especially compelling. For automotive historians, the relationship between Audi, DKW, Horch, Wanderer, and Auto Union provides an important look at how the German automobile industry evolved during the 20th century.

Whether you are building a prewar racing collection, collecting historic German automobiles, following Ferdinand Porsche's early engineering work, or looking for a distinctive Silver Arrow model, Auto Union diecast models offer an opportunity to preserve one of the most remarkable periods in automotive history.

Browse the Auto Union models available at DiecastModelsWholesale.com to find historic racing cars and scale models that can add an important piece of German automotive and motorsport history to your collection.