DKW Auto Union 1000 History

The Auto Union 1000, introduced for 1958, was an evolution of the F93/F94 Sonderklasse enlarged to 981 cc — the '1000' in the name denoting the approximate displacement in cubic centimetres. Unusually, it was sold under the Auto Union name rather than DKW, wearing the four-ring badge across the grille, making it the only Auto Union passenger car branded with the parent company's name rather than a constituent marque's.

Power ranged from 44 PS in the base 1000 to 50 PS in the 1000S and 55 PS in the 1000SP roadster, with an optional Saxomat semi-automatic clutch available. The 1000S coupé, with its low roofline and chrome detailing, gave the range a sporting image that the functional sedan body lacked.

German production ended in mid-1963 with 18,085 units built in Düsseldorf. The design then had a substantial second life in South America: Vemag in Brazil and IASF in Argentina both built the 1000S under licence, producing a combined 30,000-plus further cars through the late 1960s.