Hitler's dream sports car to fetch record €8.9m

[milmor_1]

Hitler's dream sports car to fetch record €8.9m



Monday January 8th 2007


IN its day it won two grands prix and reached speeds that would not be surpassed for decades. Now a racer conceived as a symbol of Nazi domination is about to set a new record, as the world's most expensive car, writes David Harrison.

The 15ft 1939 Auto Union D-type is expected to fetch about stg£6m (€8.9m) when it goes under the hammer at Christie's in Paris, surpassing the record £5.5m (€8.16m) paid for a 1931 Bugatti Royale 20 years ago.

The car's genesis dates back to the 1930s when Adolf Hitler provided funds for two companies, Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz, to start producing racing cars that came to be known as Silver Arrows. The revolutionary three litre cars were designed by the Austrian automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche.

The fuhrer's dream was fulfilled when the German cars dominated grand prix racing. Their Silver Arrows won most grands prix races from 1934 onwards. A spokesman for Christie's said the 1939 Auto Union " is more important than the Bugatti Royale, which is a fantastic car, but the Auto Union has everything."

Hitler's dream sports car to fetch record €8.9m - Irish Independent

[Woodmonkey]

I'll have to look for a pic on this.

Wasn't Hitler responsible for the Volkswagon and the Karman Ghia?

[milmor_1]

Yes the Volkswagon (peoples Car) and it certainly outlasted his thousand year Reich.

I attach a photo of the type of car mentioned in the article

[Woodmonkey]

Thanks for the pic. Nice car and I'm glad that it did outlive his thousand year Reich.

[Old Fart]

If this is the car I think it is (judging by the picture) it was a 16 cyl. airplane with wheels and one really nasty animal to handle.
It will sell for millions, mark my words.
DJH

[conlor]

It looks more like a silver bullet.

[Hooch Turner]

Auto Union are now known as Audi - by the way!