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Lateral head with charm - Auto Union 1000 SP in (historic) test

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Created on November 1, 1960

Text:

Olaf von Fersen

Photos:

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The Auto Union 1000 SP is undoubtedly an eye-catcher, but how does it drive? The picture shows an example from 1963, which can be distinguished from the first years by the radiator grille, the rounded rear fins and the position of the side mirror.

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The 1000 SP is a special car that guarantees the attention of others, as this illustration from a 1957 brochure suggests.

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The roadster version of the 1000 SP was already envisaged in the 1957 sales brochure, but it would be 1962 before it was available to buy.

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The Auto Union 1000 SP polarizes and is therefore the perfect utility car for people who like (and have) rough edges.

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Auto Union 1000 SP Roadster (1962) - at the Geneva Motor Show with fresh oil automatic transmission

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Planned as a class hit - Auto Union designer Jupp Dienst drew the Auto Union 1000 Sp based on the Ford Thunderbird. The less successful coupé presented in 1955 was joined by a convertible in 1961

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Both the bold lines and the handling are convincing, but you have to get used to certain quirks.

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Auto Union 1000 SP Coupé (1961) - the Monza Coupé's internal competition was strong

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Auto Union 1000 SP (1957) - View into the cockpit on the occasion of the IAA 1957

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Georges Theiler came second in the Swiss championship in the touring car class in 1960, a testament to the good driving characteristics of the Auto-Union sports coupé.

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Auto Union 1000 SP Roadster (1962) - no less pretty open than the Coupé

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Auto Union 1000 SP Roadster (1961) - almost like a small Thunderbird - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1961

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Auto Union 1000 Sp (1959) - flat and graceful front end

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Auto Union 1000 SP Roadster (1962) - A look under the hood

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The tried-and-tested three-cylinder two-stroke engine ensures high performance values, but also has several unpleasant characteristics such as loud idling and the emission of unpleasant odors.

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Auto Union 1000 SP (1957) - Silhouette

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Auto Union 1000 SP Roadster (1957) - sweeping drawing of the open-top version

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Despite its sporty orientation, the sports coupé offers impeccable all-round visibility and more than enough interior space for two people.

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The Auto-Union models 1000 S and 1000 SP are based on the DKW 3=6.

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Summary

When you first look at the Auto Union 1000 SP, you inevitably think of a daintier copy of the early Ford Thunderbird. But if you take a closer look, the German two-stroke sports coupé reveals many other mechanical peculiarities in addition to the front-wheel drive, which give the 1000 SP its very own character. In 1960, a pair of journalists investigated whether it was possible to warm up to it and why it was better to take off your good shoes before setting off. This article quotes an original test report and shows the Auto Union 1000 SP in extensive historical images and sales material.

This article contains the following chapters

Design-related characteristics
No concession to the "fast line"
The driving experience
Equipment
All in all
From the female perspective
Technical data and test results

Estimated reading time: 12min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Auto-Union 1000 sports coupé certainly has a personality. It is therefore a particular pity that its creators did not give it a snappy name, because "AU 1000 SP" sounds as sober as aspirin. But this car is anything but a sober piece of mechanics. It has charm and character. It is a thoroughly feminine car: because we found elegance and beauty, vanity and defiance and - a bit of swagger in it. You get annoyed by its little nasties and are then immediately reconciled. Like its brothers from the same stable, the sports coupé is a maverick - but it has a special charm that is hard to resist. Everything about this car is different: the circuit diagram is mirror-inverted, if you take your foot off the gas, you miss the braking effect, if it is cold, the engine starts immediately, if it is warm, you often have to fight with it for a long time, and under certain circumstances it consumes more fuel when you drive slowly than when you drive fast.

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