When the last 1000 Sp cabriolet rolled off the line in 1965, Auto Union's successors didn't build another open-top car for nearly 30 years — not until the Audi 80 Cabriolet in 1994.
Lead trim: 1000 Sp coupé and cabriolet (981 cc two-stroke I3, 55 PS)
Auto Union 1000 SpAU1000-SP · 1958–1965
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Auto Union 1000 Sp yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactWhen the last 1000 Sp cabriolet rolled off the line in 1965, Auto Union's successors didn't build another open-top car for nearly 30 years — not until the Audi 80 Cabriolet in 1994.
Appearing in 1958, the Auto Union 1000 Sp was a low-slung two-seater sports car produced for Auto Union by the Stuttgart coach builders Baur (ca. 6,640 built 1959–1965); a fixed-head version was joined in 1961 by a cabriolet. Its stylish tail-finned look gave rise to the "baby Thunderbird" (schmalspur Thunderbird) soubriquet, though under the skin it was merely an Auto Union 1000 with an increased compression ratio and a claimed maximum of 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp); it was lower but not significantly lighter than the standard saloon, with a claimed maximum speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) putting its performance at the top of the range, and it was the last open-top car produced by the company until the Audi 80 cabriolet in 1994. In Argentina the Fissore-designed Coupé and Spyder "1000 SE" were based on it.
Collectors Spotted in the Auto Union 1000 Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Auto Union 1000 yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 Sp coupé and cabriolet (981 cc two-stroke I3, 55 PS) | 1958–1965 | 1.0 L Inline-3 | 54 hp | — | — | FWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
When the last 1000 Sp cabriolet rolled off the line in 1965, Auto Union's successors didn't build another open-top car for nearly 30 years — not until the Audi 80 Cabriolet in 1994.
Auto Union's 1961 "Lubrimat" oil injection system was meant to stop the 1000's two-stroke engine smoking blue — instead, the brutal winter of 1962-63 thickened the oil until it couldn't flow through the feeder pipe, and crankshafts started failing.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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