Collection Gift Guide: Small Wunderbar

Paul Meyers

12/01/2006

"Bernd Rosemeyer was the greatest Auto Union driver of his era,” says Jim Mendelsohn of Automotive Fine Art, “and quite possibly the best of all time.” For this reason, Martin Schröder, a German automotive historian, pays homage to the Auto Union racing legend by replicating the Type C, the car that took the gold 70 years ago at the Auto Union Grand Prix. Schröder’s model is one-eighth the size of the original, with more than 6,000 individually manufactured parts. “This is watchmaking and jewelry making at its finest,” says Mendelsohn. “It is an extremely time-consuming process, and every part is handcrafted to form the final model.”

Schröder worked alongside Andras Noszvai and Janos Rakoczi, the two master craftsmen who helped him take measurements from the blueprints of the actual car using only a straight edge, compass, and curved templates. A limited run of only 25 of the Type C 1936 will be assembled worldwide, and 18 have already been ordered. These models are created under guidelines of extreme quality and exclusivity, proffered by the hand of a qualified artisan who is aware of the car’s racing history. The first Type C model was presented to Bernd Rosemeyer Jr. on June 15, 2005, as a tribute to his father’s accomplishments on the racetrack, and Schröder insists that the 1:8 Type C is closer to the original than any other model in existence—except by size. (Click image to enlarge)

There will be six Auto Union Grand Prix and Record Car models to follow the Type C, spanning Auto Union’s racing years from 1934 to 1939.  The Auto Union Type A Longtail, Type B, Type Lucca, Type Avus Hill Climb Car Type C/D, 1938 Record Car, and Type D will each have a limited run of 25 and will be built with the invariable exactitude exhibited in the Type C model. The Auto Union 1:8 Type C 1936 is priced at $40,000. (Click image to enlarge)

Automotive Fine Art
914.762.0191
www.autounion1-8.com