DKW Auto Union 1000 History
Catalog record
Photography for this nameplate has not yet cleared the archive’s licensing and identity checks. The researched text below remains available while the page stays out of search and advertising inventory.
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.
Body styles
- Sedan
- Coupe
- Cabriolet
- Estate
Notable special editions & performance variants
1000S Coupé
Low-roofline fastback coupé body; 50 PS; the sporting flagship of the Auto Union 1000 range.
1000SP Roadster
Open two-seater; 55 PS; the highest-output variant of the 1000 family.
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the DKW Auto Union 1000
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.