Auto Union at Laguna Seca

Intimidating examples of German technological prowess, the Grand Prix cars of Auto Union and arch-rival Mercedes-Benz dominated European racing in the 1930s.  Auto Union starred at the Monterey Historics in 1999.
 
The streamliner recreated.  After an autobahn run of 279 mph, Bernd Rose- meyer lost his life when this special Auto Union went out of control.  The replica displayed here at Laguna Seca features exquisite craftsmanship.
 
The awesome V16 Type "C" Grand Prix car of 1937.

The epic battles between these cars and  the equally ferocious Mercedes  W125 are recounted in detail on Leif Snellman's excellent website.
 
Auto Union was a consortium of four German carmakers, Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer.  Although they continued to sell cars under their individual names, they raced as Auto Union to publicize their new identity.
 
The Type "D" V12 Auto Union of 1938-39.

This car's supercharged 3-liter engine was built to a new formula meant to slow the cars.

As usual, this effort failed and lap records fell to these cars and their nemeses, the Mercedes- Benz W154.
 
(Thanks to Dennis David's "Grand Prix History" site for info on Auto Union & Mercedes-Benz GP cars.)

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All photographs and text are the property of Tam McPartland and are protected under United States and international copyright laws.  All rights are reserved and the images and/or text may not be digitized, reproduced, stored, manipulated, and/or incorporated into other works without the written permission of the photographer, Tam McPartland.