exclusive-life - Auto Union Model 1:8 Typ C1936

		A 3/4 front view of the model, backed by a painting of a conteporary scene. More pictures
Auto Union model scale 1:8 Seventy years ago, the Auto Union Type C was one of the most powerful cars on the racing circuit. A vibrant piece of racing history was lost the day the Zwickau-based company closed in 1939. Martin Schröder's 1:8 scale model of the legendary car in which Bernd Rosenmeyer won rekindles the spirit of Zwickau, bringing it back to life for us in the 21st century. They won on the Nürburgring, the Avus in Berlin, in Monza, Donington and countless mountain races all over Europe. Between 1934 and 1939, Alfa, Mercedes and Auto Union raced against each other over gravel tracks and barely secured racing circuits the spectators standing as close to the course as British football fans to the pitch. The pilots crouched over their enormous steering wheels, without helmets, fireproof overalls or neck protection. Those were the heady, crazy days of motor racing, where you were quite likely to see the rear wheel enter the pit 30 seconds before the rest of the car, and the driver would drive into the pit without causing an accident, nonchalantly change cars and still make it onto the winners' podium. Crazy times indeed. Unfortunately, there are very few people left who actually witnessed thrilling scenes such as these. Human eyewitnesses are scarce on the ground, and mechanical ones almost just as rare. Even the legendary Silver Arrows disappeared after the war, as the Russian army had other things than racing cars on their minds. It wasnšt until the 1970s that a new chapter in the history of these magnificent racing cars started. In a breathtaking piece of undercover stealth Martin Schröder from Hanover was able to remove an original engine from an Auto Union car in East Germany. He subsequently reunited it with the appropriate chassis in the West. The resulting vehicle catapulted Schröder, who was then co-owner of a famous car book shop and a classic car collector, into the top league of Auto Union experts. His knowledge of the complex technology of the Porsche constructions is famed far beyond the borders of Germany and is greatly in demand. His passion for pre-war German racing cars remains unabated, even after the spectacular East German deal. And letšs admit it: the fascination exerted by Auto Union and other earl German marques is simply irresistible. It was thanks to Andras Noszvai that Martin Schröder was able to team up with three specialists from Hungary and build a superb reproduction of a Type C, a task which took five years to complete. The result of their efforts can quite rightly be called a milestone in model building, and at the same time it adds a new and deeply fascinating chapter to the history of Auto Union. After years of meticulous searching for artefacts from German motor sports culture, 25 of these highly-professional models have been made, revealing the Auto Union car in all its three-dimensional, miniature glory . Three years ago, we were given a glimpse of the first photos of the preparatory work for Project Type C 1:8. The car which took Bernd Rosenmeyer to victory was to be the first in a series of top-class models. Perfect in every detail. Each dimension and feature reduced by a factor of 8: wheel profiles, pedals, sparkplugs and retracting springs. This was watchmaking craftsmanship, but without the clock face and hands. The plan and the task appeared virtually impossible. Today, or rather during the Oldtimer GP on the Nürburgring, Martin Schröder showed us pictures of the first model. Outside the smell of petrol, rubber and engine oil hangs in the air. As several participants start up their engines literally a few feet from us, Martin Schröder proudly points out details. Even the two-dimensional picture of the Rosenmeyer car is fascinating, conjuring up images and scenes from bygone days. You literally sense the driver, sitting behind the vast steering wheel with an expression of extreme concentration. His eyes concealed behind goggles and his face covered with grime and oil. The victories on the Nürburgring, the Avus an in countless other circuits have become legendary. Martin Schröder's Type C will tell stories, stories of battles, rear wheels with a mind of their own and truly incomparable constructions. In case you are interested in purchasing this famous model-car please click the button bellow More pictures The original Please also take a look at our EXCLUSIVE-LIFE-SHOP and find some very exclusive accessories and distinctive works of table art. TOP		No doubt the rear view of the Type C is the most photogenic one, emphasizing the predominance of the power unit, characterized by the numerous louvers. More pictures
		Side view of the model in front of the 1:1 scale top view of the blueprint for the 1:8 scale model. More pictures
		The power unit in all its glory: 16-cylinder engine, central camshaft, pushrods to operate the exhaust valves, Roots type supercharger, dual charge carburetor, the fuel pump is located next to the right cylinder bank, top right the crankcase ventilator. More pictures
		View of the uncovered cockpit: dashboard with gauges and ignition key, adjustable steering column, detachable steering wheel, floor pan, pedals, steering gear with steering coupler, tie rods; note the cut out for the cooling pipe on the right side of the dashboard. More pictures
		This view of the engine unveils details hidden when the engine is mounted in the car: the water pump and the oil overflow pipe are located close to the fuel tank. More pictures
		AUTO UNION 1:8 Project Contributors - Attila Fabri (53), approved goldsmith and interior designer for banks. - 1990 Fabri Design founded as an independent company. - 2005 organization of the workshop designated to produce the series of 1:8 scale models under the management of Peter Szuecs. - Andras Noszvai (53), worked as an aircraft engineer in Hungary until 1979, when he moved to Austria. He returned to Budapest in 1989 and in 1994 he became the representative for Chronoswiss, manufacturer of mechanical watches. He is still doing wholesale and retail business with high quality watches. In 1999 it was Noszvai who contacted Martin Schroeder and really initiated the project: AUTO UNION 1:8 scale models. Andras Noszvai has close relations to the collector car community in Hungary, Austria and Germany and is the organizer of the Chronoswiss-Audi-Hungarian Classic Rally. - Janos Rakoczi (55) is chief of the model department of the Hungarian Museum of Transport and the man who developed the model from measurements taken from blue prints to the prototype. He is the unrivaled master model builder having made a one-off model of the NSU TT-engine and a series of five 1:8 scale models of the Daimler motorcycle with all internal components working. He designed the model, created a complete construction manual and invented numerous methods of technology to enable reproducing the prototype. - Martin Schröder (65) is executing his constant search for the secrets of the AUTO UNION racing history since 1973. In 1979 he managed to "export" the AUTO UNION 12-cylinder engine from behind the iron curtain to the West and thus made the first AUTO UNION GP car run at the Nürburgring after WWII. He is also one of the authors of the first racing history ever published on AUTO UNION, titled "AUTO UNION Die Grossen Rennen 1934-39" - now out of print and highly sought after by collectors. From 1982 to 1986, he developed the first large scale AUTO UNION model of the Type D 1938 which was scheduled for a limited edition of 25 cars, although only 17 were built due to Carlo Brianza's sudden death. From 1999, Martin was the man who promoted the development of the actual series of the 1:8 scale model AUTO UNION Type C 1936, Bernd Rosemeyeršs winning car at the German Grand Prix. Technical data of the 1:8 scale model AUTO UNION Type C 1936 The complete model contains 5,379 parts built to serve a purpose, all manufactured from scratch. Including tools, patterns and casting molds, there is a total of 6,000 parts in the model. Some Figures that Serve as Examples: Engine: 804 parts Spark plug: 3 Gearbox : 10 Differential 7 Body: 22 Dashboard: 12 Gauges: 44 Wheels: 648 Pedals: 52 Front Suspension: 390 Rear Suspension: 489 Break System: 52 Main Brake Cylinder: 20 Hand Break Lever: 20 Rear View Mirror: 16 Water Radiator: 239 Oil Radiator: 211 Weights and Measures Overall Length: 515 mm Width: 210 mm Height: 132 mm Weight: 5700 g The model will be supplied in a show case made from brass coated with nickel and a stainless steel base and glass cover. Overall Length: 690 mm Width: 340 mm Height: 250 mm Text: Martin Schröder/Ralf Bernert Photos: Dietmar Riemann In this context VIRTUOSO CRAFTMANSHIP: Wood/Metal here. Glass here. Fabrics/Leather here. Painting/Photography here.