Auto Union Auto Union 1000 History

Introduced in January 1958, the Auto Union 1000 was the direct successor to the DKW 3=6, sharing a similar front-wheel-drive, two-stroke layout but with the engine enlarged to 981 cc. Between January 1958 and July 1963, Auto Union produced 171,008 sedans and coupés of the 1000 and 1000 S types at the Düsseldorf-Derendorf plant, making it the most commercially successful car the company produced in the post-war era.

Power ranged from 44 PS in the base 1000 to 50 PS in the 1000 S, with the 1000 Sp sports model producing 55 PS. A Universal three-door estate was offered from 1959 to 1962. The 1000's conventional three-box styling gave it broader appeal than its predecessor, and the Auto Union nameplate on the bodywork made it the public face of the merged company for European buyers.

Production of the standard sedan and coupe ended in 1963 when the more modern DKW F102 took over the product slot. The 1000 Sp sports variants continued independently until 1965.