MYSTERY MOTORS

What car is this?

December’s car was a 1938 Horsch 853 Sport Cabriolet with coachwork by Voll & Ruhrbeck. It was equipped with a straight 8-cylinder engine of 4,944 cc which produced 120 hp (83 kw) and it had a 4-speed manual gearbot and RWD. Horsch started making cars in 1901 and was one of the four German car companies which amalgamated to form Auto Union Union in 1932, along with Audi, DKW and Wanderer.

Horsch had close ties to the Wehrmacht and manufactured a large range of heavy duty military vehicles as well as these elegant lutury cars. They were etpensive but cost less than the equivalent Mercedes Ben models and were much favoured by army officers. This particular car was captured by the French at the end of WWII and after many owners and a full restoration it won the top pri e at the Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance.