The Forgotten Silver Arrow: Auto Union Type 52

In the 1930s, Auto Union and arch rival Mercedes-Benz pitted their famous Silver Arrow racing cars against one another, each hoping to reign supreme.

Inspired by their Type A and Type B racers, their designer, Ferdinand Porsche, worked up a road-going version with an enclosed streamlined body and a supercharged V-16 engine.

Auto Union called it the Type 52 "Schnellsportwagen", but it was never built...until now.

In 2023, Audi Tradition commissioned the prestigious UK engineering firm Crosthwaite & Gardiner to build the "Forgotten
Silver Arrow", as it were. The firm has previously restored other Silver Arrows as well as recreating some that has been lost in the decades since they were raced.

The weirdly wonderful streamlined alloy coachwork is a vision of the future as viewed by Ferdinand Porsche in the early 1930s. Those with a keen eyes will immediately spot certain influences and inspirations. The car's shape and engineering details are also predictive of Porsche's later eponymous sports cars.

The Type 52 made its worldwide debut any the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2024 with Le Mans legends Hans Joachim Stuck and Tom Kristensen behind the wheel.

ALL THE LINKS:

WEBSITE:
https://horsepowerheritage.com

INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/horsepowerh...

BUY ME A COFFEE:
https://buymeacoffee.com/hpheritage



Music:
"Peaceful Desolation" by Kevin MacLeod
"Expressive Blockbuster" by Rafael Krux
"Whispers of the Forest" by Sascha Ende



Footage and stills provided by:

Audi Media
Porsche Newsroom
Mercedes-Benz Media