Ferdinand Porsche's mid-engined Silver Arrow — 520 bhp from a supercharged V16 in a 1936 Grand Prix car.
The Auto Union Type C was the 1936–1937 evolution of Ferdinand Porsche's revolutionary mid-engined Grand Prix design. Powered by a 6,005cc supercharged V16 producing approximately 520 bhp, it won the 1936 European Championship in the hands of Bernd Rosemeyer. The mid-engined layout was unique in Grand Prix racing at the time and was not widely adopted until the 1950s. Most Type Cs were destroyed in WWII or absorbed into the Soviet Union after the war; only a tiny number of authentic chassis or factory parts have survived.
Engineering far ahead of its time; recognisably the foundation of modern racing-car architecture.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type C | 1936–1937 | — | 6.0L supercharged V16; 1936 European Champion. |
| Type C/D Hillclimb | 1937–1939 | — | Twin-rear-wheel variant; legendary photographs. |
For pre-war and vintage cars such as the Auto Union Type C, provenance is paramount. Chassis and engine number matching, period coachbuilder records, factory build sheets where available, continuous ownership documentation, original handbooks and any competition or concours history are the foundation of value. Verified pre-war Auto Union identity; almost all market activity is reconstruction-grade.
The supercharged V16 is operated only by Audi Tradition; private operation of an original car is unprecedented in modern times. A pre-purchase inspection by a recognised marque specialist should include compression and leak-down testing, magneto and ignition checks, chassis straightness and frame survey, axle and steering wear assessment, brake system review (mechanical or hydraulic per period), and an extended road test on varied terrain to expose carburation, cooling and gearbox issues that only emerge under sustained running.
Pre-war coachwork is rarely truly original after a century of use. Establish whether the body is original to the chassis (period photographs, build records, coachbuilder plates), whether it has been re-bodied at any point, and the standard of any restoration. Quality of timber framing, ash health, panel beating and paint depth are all critical. Concealed structural rot, re-bodies presented as original, and 'tribute' cars built on later or unrelated chassis must be priced accordingly.
Verified original survivors are in museum collections (Audi Tradition, Russian museums and a handful of private collectors). Reconstructed cars exist and are clearly identified as such. For vintage cars, event eligibility — Mille Miglia, Goodwood Revival, Pebble Beach, VSCC events, Le Mans Classic — can underwrite a substantial proportion of market value. Verify FIA/FIVA papers, period race history where claimed, and the car's standing with the relevant marque registry before purchase.
Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion
Vintage cars require disciplined preventive maintenance: lubrication regimes, magneto service, carburettor synchronisation, brake adjustment, and timber and trim conservation. A car used regularly and serviced annually by a specialist will outlast a stored example neglected for decades.
Audi Tradition is the global reference; almost no private specialists exist. Confirm the availability of marque specialists, period-correct fasteners, coachwork trim, instruments and tyres before committing. A car requiring fabricated one-off parts will absorb time and cost that a similar example with active specialist support will not.
Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions
Effectively a museum-only category; public sales of authentic cars are not a present-day market phenomenon.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | Private — | 1936 Type C (reconstructed) | — | Not disclosed Sold |
The most revolutionary pre-war Grand Prix car. Original survivors are essentially national-heritage objects.
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