1960 Auto Union 1000S Coupe

This is a fascinating little car and one that has charmed all of us here at HQ with its endlessly whimsical ways.

Everywhere you look there’s something you won’t have seen before – it’s bristling with all sorts of unique, or at least very distinctive, features, designs, ideas and technologies.

This particular vehicle has been kept warm, dry and stored for many years, having first been registered in the UK in 2007, at which point it had 40,218 kms on its odometer.

Today, the odometer is showing 40,581 kms so, as you will be able to discern, this car has been kicking its heels for the best part of 20 years.

The vendor tells us that the car received a light service shortly before its last MoT, which is valid until 5.11.25.

It appears to us to be in really quite remarkable condition and, if you didn’t know better, you’d think Gunther and Wolfgang must have put the finishing touches to it somewhere in Ingolstadt last month, not 54 years ago.

The curvaceous bodywork - somewhere between a Beetle and a Moggy Minor but, in our opinion, rather more distinguished and better looking than either - is pretty much beyond reproach and we’ve found no dinks, dents, dimples or other significant damage or aberrations anywhere.

The white-over-black paintwork is equally age-defying and has retained plenty of shine and depth of lustre.

Aside from a few light, swirly scratches here and there, there’s really nothing of note to point a finger at when it comes to flaws.

With the windows down, the coupé’s pillarless design is really very eye-catching.

Combined with the wrap-around windscreen and rear screen, it presents a profile that optimises the car’s perfectly balanced proportions and gives it a design personality that is somehow simultaneously quirky, cute and classy.

We particularly like the way the rear windows wind up and down through an elegantly described arc.

Despite being affixed to the car in 1960, the doors close with all the weight and precision we’ve come to expect of the best Teutonic engineering over the years.

The wheels are very good, too, and the matching Michelin MX tyres look to have plenty of life in them, although we don’t know how long in the tooth they might be.

The chrome-work is following the same script in terms of condition and presentation, with the only deviation being that a little of the chrome finish is missing from the trim around the rear wheel arches.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings look to be in excellent order.

We were intrigued by the German wording on the rear screen – “nicht einmal fliegen ist so schön”.

With a little help from Google, we learned that this roughly translates as “not even flying is this beautiful”.

We wouldn’t argue with that.

First things first.

This car has two pedals, but it isn’t an automatic, as such.

It has the Sax-O-Mat gearbox system.

This, we’re told by a well-known source of encyclopaedic knowledge on the Internet, consists of two independent systems: a centrifugal clutch, and a servo clutch.

The former engages above a certain engine speed by centrifugal force acting on spinning weights inside the clutch, similar to a centrifugal governor.

The latter uses an electric switch that supplies manifold vacuum via an actuator valve to a reservoir that disengages the clutch. The clutch is disengaged automatically whenever the gear-shift lever is touched.

Got that?

In a review of the 1000S in a May 1960 edition of MotorSport magazine, the Sax-O-Mat system is described as being a “two-pedal control available as an extra for lady drivers”.

The interior is a delight to look at, sit in and even just think about.

The upholstery on the seats consists of a checked fabric pattern (not dissimilar to Jacquard) in a broadly beige shade.

Aside from one or two small marks, it is fine fettle, front and back, and the seats are comfortable and supportive.

The same fabric can be found on the equally well-preserved door cards, together with some contrasting coral-coloured inserts.

The rubber mats on the floor are fine and the intriguingly individual dashboard has weathered the passage of time with apparent disdain.

Given that the various features of the dashboard and controls are so peculiar to this model, we’ll turn to MotorSport’s 1960 review once more, if we may.

“The unusual fibre-facia has a cubby-hole before the passenger, with press-button non-lockable lid of the same material. Vertical plastic knobs convenient to the driver’s right hand control choke, sidelamps, and panel-lighting, the latter with rheostat control.

To the right of these is a small Kienzle electric clock, prone to lose time on the test car. The heater and fresh air supply are neatly controlled by three small vertical quadrant levers, the only indication of their functions being small blue and red spots (cold and hot, respectively).

Another knob, unlabelled like the rest, controls the self-parking screen wipers. The wiring is unusual. in as much as when the ignition is off the wipers can be used but the horn, controlled by the steering wheel knob, is inoperative. There is a cigarette lighter, and a grab-handle for the front-seat passenger. The test car had parking light control of the side and rear lamps from a tiny tumbler-switch under the facia and Bosch fog and spot lamps which only worked with the ignition on.

Under the facia are three white knobs. That on the right of the steering column locks or unlocks the transmission free-wheel. The centre one controls winter and summer settings of the heating and ventilating system. The one next to it is the hand-grip of the hand brake, with normal ratchet control and quite well located, although a protruding split-pin did its best to puncture the driver’s right thumb on early acquaintance, an episode which momentarily depreciated the luxury aspect of the Auto Union!

On the extreme left under the facia there is a pull-out toggle handle controlling the radiator blind; this protrudes a long way and could be lethal to the passenger’s stockings or trousers.

The ignition key actuates the starter and can also be used to lock the steering, while an unusual but excellent item is a foot-operated screen washer. The treadle accelerator has dual pressure action, the initial depression sufficing for speeds up to 69 m.p.h. after which heavier pressure is required to attain greater velocities, this being a fuel conserving measure.”

We told you it was different.

There are no signs of obvious wear anywhere, save for some staining on the headlining, some rips to the fabric on the parcel shelf, and one or two patches of missing paint on the steering wheel rim.

Open up the boot and you’ll find a clean, intact space partially occupied with a spare wheel.

We’ve never seen an engine bay quite like it, frankly.

Right at the front is a three-cylinder two-stroke unit that’s about the same size as a sewing machine.

Behind it is the fan, the radiator and all the other bits and pieces that are normally in front of the engine.

We’re assuming that everything is in its right and proper place – wherever that may be.

The undersides of the car appears to us to possess plenty of structural integrity.

It all looks very good indeed.

The car comes with its original German registration documents, some stamped documents showing that it was living in or around Nuremberg up until 2007, a recent, clear HPI report, a hardback copy of ‘Four Rings – The Audi Story’, an owner’s manual, and a V5C.

It has an MoT certificate that’s valid until the 5.11.25.

If you’re happy for people to stop, stare and approach you with a quizzical expression and a list of questions every time you step out of your car, then this utterly charming and captivating Auto Union 1000S is undoubtedly the vehicle for you.

We think it’s great and we like pretty much everything about it.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £7,000 - £9,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.