In the 1950s, there was great demand for small, fuel-efficient cars to counter the thirsty land yachts - opens in new window or tab. from Detroit. And Americans were even willing to buy the funny foreign jobs if they saved money, as the success of the Volkswagen Beetle proved.
Auto Union—an umbrella for four German auto brands, founded in 1932—eventually became Audi. But before that happened, Auto Union established a tentative hold on the American market with cars like the 1962 Auto Union 1000 now for sale on eBay Motors.
The suicide doors open to reveal white upholstery with red piping.
The restoration of this 1000 wagon was a labor of love. “It’s a very solid car, with a body as straight as an arrow,” the seller says. “All doors, trunk, and the hood are aligned as they should. The car has always been garage kept and well cared for. All the exterior chrome, trim, latches and bumperettes are in great shape. Underneath the floor pans and rails are good!”
The rare wagon version of the 1000 features a split tailgate.
German Surf Wagon with Suicide Doors
The “splendid” interior features its original suicide doors and split tailgate. The white interior has been newly upholstered and contrasts nicely with the two-tone grey and white paint.
The three-cylinder powerplant, just under one liter, makes only 50 horsepower (but that was up from 44 in earlier versions). After 1961, the 1000 sported the Clean Air Regulator, with a separate oil tank and pump to ensure that the right oil/gas mix was achieved. This addressed a central complaint against two-strokes (and diesels)—that they produced clouds of blue smoke.
The 1000 featured functionally aerodynamic styling.
“Back then, the…horsepower was right in line with the competition over at VW, but the design was radically different,” says the seller. He points out that the Auto Union was traditionally water cooled (unlike the air-cooled VW) and used a high-revving design with ignition coils for each cylinder. “It is a very interesting machine,” he said. “And the exhaust note is something very unique in the world of motoring.” If you would like to hear it rumble, the eBay Motors listing for the 1000 wagon includes a link to a video.
The Auto Union isn’t as Spartan as the Beetle, but there are rubber mats instead of carpet.
The 1000 is great fun to drive with its three-speed manual shifter on the column. These Auto Unions are particularly rare in the form of a three-door wagon, branded as the “Universal” trim. “You probably won’t see another for sale,” the vendor says.
The Auto Union displays the cool four-ring badge we know from Audis. Although descending from a 1938 design, it featured advanced styling, with an aerodynamic body. The front-wheel-drive chassis was also based on that pre-war concept but nicely updated.
1960 Auto Union 1000 SP
A nifty variation was the Auto Union 1000 SP, a two-seat sports car with some resemblance to the first generation of Ford Thunderbird. It even had the fins. It featured the standard chassis of the 1000, but was lighter, so an 87 mile-per-hour top speed was claimed. There was both a coupe and, after 1961, a classy cabriolet. A listing on eBay Motors in 2016 featured a hardtop 1960 Auto Union 1000S converted to run on electricity - opens in new window or tab..
eBay is glad to supply your Auto Union needs, including literature and parts - opens in new window or tab. and models.
About the author
Share your feedback
This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.