Auto Union 1000

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Auto Union 1000
2007-06-16 Auto Union 1000 (Frontpartie).jpg
Manufacturer Auto Union GmbH
Production 1958 - 1963 saloon
171,008 built
1959–1965 Sp (Sport)
ca. 6,640 built
Body and chassis
Body style 2- or 4-door saloon
2-door pillarless coupé
3-door estate
2-seat sports car
Layout FF layout
Engine 981 cc two-stroke straight-3 [1]
Transmission 4-speed manual
Wheelbase 2,350 mm (93 in) (2-door)
2,450 mm (96 in) (4-door)
Length 4,170 mm (164 in)
4,325 mm (170.3 in)
according to version
Width 1,727 mm (68.0 in)[2]
Height 1,486 mm (58.5 in)[2]
Curb weight 950 kg (2,090 lb) approx
Predecessor DKW 3=6
Successor DKW F102

The Auto Union 1000 was a compact front-wheel-drive saloon manufactured by Auto Union GmbH 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.

The Changes[edit]


Body options[edit]

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.

Fissore and Auto Union[edit]

In Argentina the 1000 was manufactured under license by IASFe (Industrias Automotriz de Santa Fe) between 1960 and 1970, in the city of Sauce Viejo, Santa Fe. The lineup consisted of the 2- and 4-door sedan, the 3-door Universal estate (station wagon), and Carrozzeria Fissore[3] drew the Coupé and Spyder "1000 SE" on the basis of German "1000 Sp", but this time more elegant and it departed from the visual appearance of the Ford Thunderbird, the "Fissore Coupé" stood out with one piece front bumpers and longer wrap around bumpers in back, an alternate roof line, side louvers in the front fenders between the front wheel cut outs and doors ornated with chrome strips and an elegantly appointed interior,[4] limited numbers of the coupé were built and are highly sought out by collectors. Licensed productions of the Coupés and Spyder where also assembled in Spain.

The Cupé Fissore had many famous owners (Julio Sosa, César Luis Menotti and others). Other important models were the Auto Union 1000 S (21.797 Sedán made until 1969), the Auto Union Combi/Pick-up and the Auto Union 1000 Universal S (6.396 made until 1969, too).[5] The last version of the Auto Union Combi/Pick-up launched in 1969, survives few months and after, IME use the cabs for this model.[6]


Auto Union 1000 pillarless coupé prefacelift
Auto Union 1000 estate prefacelift

A 1000S Coupé was tested by the British The Motor magazine in 1960 and had a top speed of 80.9 mph (130.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 23.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 31.5 miles per imperial gallon (9.0 L/100 km; 26.2 mpg-US) was recorded. The test car cost £1259 including taxes on the UK market.[2] In the same year, the much larger Austin Westminster retailed for only £1148 [7] in the UK, reflecting, in particular, the extent to which British automakers were still protected by import tariffs in their home market.


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 as the winter of 1962-63 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.


The Düsseldorf plant produced 171,008 Auto Union 1000s during the six year model run. The pretty 1000 Sp sports version continued in production for another two years, until 1965, notching up sales of approximately 5,000 for the hard top version and 1,640 for the cabriolet.

The end[edit]

In 1963 the Auto Union 1000 gave way in Europe to its successor, the contemporary looking DKW F102. The older model DKW 3=6 continued in production in a slightly modified form in Brazil until 1967, however, it was produced without modification in Santa Fé, Argentina until late 1969, about 30,000 copies were manufactured.


Auto Union 1000 S de Luxe
Auto Union 1000 pillarless coupé post facelift
Auto Union 1000 Sp Cabriolet 1962
DKW AU 1000 Coupé 1959


Sources and further reading[edit]

  2. ^ a b c "The Auto Union 1000S Coupé". The Motor. April 27, 1960. 
  3. ^ Carrozzeria Fissore - accessed 10 December 2008
  4. ^ "Historia de Auto Union en Argentina" [History of Auto Union in Argentina] (in Spanish). Auto Historia. Archived from the original on 2009-06-01. 
  5. ^ "Auto Union". Coche Argentino. 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2011-10-30. 
  7. ^ "The Austin A105". The Motor. August 22, 1956. 

