Audi completes radical Auto Union Type 52 road-racer after 90 years

Audi chose the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed to reveal a restored Auto Union Silver Arrows that has been nine decades in the making.

The Type 52 Schnellsportwagen was originally designed in the 1930s, and intended to be a road-going version of the famous Auto Union racing cars. 

Despite Auto Union building a prototype model based upon drawings by Ferdinand Porsche, the Schnellsportwagen never became a production reality.

Now, after 90 years, Audi has completed construction of a Type 52, even down to fitting a period-correct 16-cylinder supercharged engine.

Talk about a long delivery time…

Ferdinand Porsche penned the original concept for the Type 52 in 1933, then made further refinements the following year. Although a prototype car was created, any trace of this disappeared during the dissolution of Auto Union.

Following the Second World War, the Auto Union factory was located in the Russian-occupied area of Germany. As a result, many documents and photographs concerning the marque’s grand prix cars were lost forever.

Fortunately, the technical drawings that survived gave Audi enough direction to understand the vehicle that Ferdinand Porsche had envisaged. 

Audi Tradition then commissioned British restoration experts, Crosthwaite & Gardner, to build a new Type 52 Schnellsportwagen from scratch.

A road-going race car

Crosthwaite & Gardner had to make some adaptations during the build process, such as adjusting the wheelbase to ensure the front suspension and transmission would fit. 

The 6.0-litre 16-cylinder supercharged engine from the Auto Union Type C produces a considerable 520hp, far more than the 200hp envisaged for the original car. Given that Auto Union planned for a top speed of 120mph, today’s completed car could be much faster. 

The interior of the Schnellsportwagen boasts a McLaren F1-style layout, with a central driver’s seat flanked by spaces for two passengers. 

Timo Witt, head of Audi’s historical vehicle collection, said the interior is “inspired by the Auto Union grand prix race cars, with a modern interpretation of colours and fabrics”.

Making its dynamic debut

Auto Union left no details about what colour the Type 52’s bodywork should be painted, so Audi Tradition opted for Cellulose Silver – as used on the marque’s grand prix cars.

With the build process completed in 2023, the Type 52 Schnellsportwagen has finally been able to hit the road after 90 years. 

Audi Tradition showcased the Type 52 throughout the weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, including dynamic runs on the famous hill climb course. 

Nine-times Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen and racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck were on hand to drive the Schnellsportwagen.

Fittingly, Stuck’s father drove several original Auto Union grand prix cars at hill climb events in the 1930s.