Auto Union 1000

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Auto Union 1000
Manufacturer	Auto Union AG
Production	1958 - 1963 saloon 171,008 built 1959 – 1965 Sp (Sport) ca. 6,640 built
Predecessor	DKW 3=6
Successor	DKW F102
Body style(s)	2 or 4 door saloon 2 door pillarless coupé 3 door estate 2 seat sports car
Layout	FF layout
Engine(s)	981 cc two stroke straight-3 [1]
Transmission(s)	4 speed manual
Wheelbase	2350 mm (92.5 in) (2 door) 2450 mm (96.5 in) (4 door)
Length	4170 mm (164.2 in) - 4325 mm (170.3 in) according to version
Curb weight	950 kg (2094 lb) approx

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

Contents 1 The Changes 2 Body options 3 Technical 4 Commercial 5 The End 6 Data 7 Sources and further reading

[edit] The Changes

Apart from the enlarged engine, which now provided in the base model 44 bhp, the 1000 featured the old four ring Auto Union badge across the air grill along with the ‘Auto Union’ name above it, in place of the ‘DKW’ badge that had adorned the nose of the earlier model.

[edit] Body options

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 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 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.

[edit] Technical

The 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 The 1962/63 winter 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.

[edit] Commercial

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, till 1965, notching up sales of approximately 5,000 for the hard top version and 1,640 for the cabriolet.

[edit] The End

In 1963 the Auto Union 1000 gave way in Europe to its successor, the contemporary looking DKW F102. The older model continued in production in a slightly modified form in Brazil, however, and was produced without modification in Santa Fé, Argentina until 1967.

Auto Union 1000 pillarless coupe prefacelift

Auto Union 1000 pillarless coupe postfacelift

Auto Union 1000 Sp

Auto Union 1000 Sp Cabriolet

[edit] Data

[edit] Sources and further reading

• This article is based on a translation of the article Auto Union 1000 from the German Wikipedia.