Sunday, September 19, 2010

CMC 1/18 - 1936 AUTO UNION TYPE C


This racing car developed by Ferdinand Porsche wrote racing history right away like almost no other racing car had done before: In 1936 Auto Union presented with the Type C a monoposto which was almost totally different from all the other racing cars known so far. What stood out especially was the unconventional design of the sensational 16 cylinder V engine installed behind the driver and in front of the rear axle, an innovation which soon became the accepted thing. This high performance racing car was above all so successful because the bullet with 520 hp was driven by a highly talented racing driver: Bernd Rosemeyer. 1936 was his most successful year when he became European Champion and won numerous Grand Prix. In 1937 the new ace of the Auto Union could keep his main competitor, Mercedes-Benz, in check as well and was able to continue his successful career with five further wins. At the beginning of 1938, however, his career came to an abrupt and tragical end by a fatal accident which occurred during the attempt of breaking the speed world record. After the end of the Second World War, the remaining racing cars in Zwickau had to be handed over as reparation payment to the Soviet-Union. It is still unknown to what exactly happened to the racing cars after that day. The Auto Union Type C is hand assembled from 1026 parts to an extra class precision model. The single parts are of high-quality materials: 23 parts are zinc die-cast, 754 of metal, copper, or are photo-etched and 153 are made of plastic. The remaining 96 parts are screws, rivets or indicated screw heads. This model, wearing starting number 4, is a limited-edition of 5,000 pieces. Bernd Rosemeyer drove #4 to victory in the 1936 Grand Prix of Germany. Shop here

No comments:

Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Y-18C 1918 Atkinson Steam Lorry

    Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Y-18C 1918 Atkinson Steam Lorry was made in England by Matchbox International in 1986. It is 11 cm long an...