The Auto Union Type 52 was poised to be one of the fastest cars in the world, but it never reached production—until now.
We all love quirky old classic cars, don’t we? This one hails from Audi—specifically, Auto Union. Known internally as the Type 52, the so-called “Schnellsportwagen” or “fast sports car,” was intended to be a road-going version of the 1930s Type 22 Grand Prix race car. It would have featured a 16-cylinder engine with over 200 horsepower and a top speed of 125 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest cars of its era.
Unfortunately, this incredible supercar never moved beyond the design phase; the Auto Union Type 52 project was abandoned by 1935 in the lead-up to World War II. However, Audi has decided to revive this piece of automotive history and bring it to life for the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Audi enlisted Crosthwaite & Gardner, a renowned historic race car manufacturing company, to recreate the Auto Union Type 52 from the ground up. Using original sketches and blueprints, they custom-made everything for this unique concept, from the chassis and body panels to the engine. The project began in early 2023 and took over a year to complete.
Under the rear deck is a mid-mounted, supercharged 16-cylinder engine, similar to what would have been used in the original car. However, this version features a 6.0-liter motor instead of the original 4.4-liter engine. Audi increased the power output from an estimated 200 horsepower to an impressive 512 horsepower, paired with a manual transmission.
To accommodate the new engine and chassis, Audi had to enlarge the car’s dimensions. The Type 52 now boasts a 130.5-inch wheelbase, compared to the original’s 118.0-inch wheelbase, and weighs 3,196 pounds, whereas the original would have weighed 2,866 pounds.
Open the rear-hinged doors, and you’ll find a three-seat layout reminiscent of the McLaren F1, only 60 years earlier. Audi kept the interior retro with old-school cloth seats, lacquered wood paneling, and large vintage-style gauges.
But this stunning one-off isn’t just for show. Audi will run the Type 52 concept at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen and Hans-Joachim “Strietzel” Stuck behind the wheel. We can’t wait to see this car in action.
