This 1964 DKW Auto Union 1000 Spezial Roadster combines an elegant open body with the unusual three-cylinder technology that makes DKW unmistakable to this day. The car has been restored and is finished in red with black imitation leather; Matching Numbers and Matching Colors have been confirmed following inspection. The Roadster is registered, carries a German H-plate for historic vehicles, and continues to be driven regularly. The car also comes with a Classic-Data valuation report; however, as its recorded condition rating has not been approved for current use, it is deliberately not taken into account in the assessment here.
The Auto Union 1000 Spezial Roadster is one of the more distinctive German sports cars of its era. Its appeal lies precisely in the contrast between appearance and engineering: the low, open body looks elegant and almost sophisticated, while beneath it is a distinctly individual DKW concept.
The car offered here is powered by a 981 cc inline three-cylinder engine producing 55 hp or 40 kW. Power is transmitted to the front wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. The Spezial Roadster therefore follows an engineering philosophy that differs considerably from that of many classic roadsters with longitudinally mounted engines and rear-wheel drive.
That is precisely where much of its appeal lies today. The DKW is neither a scaled-down British sports car nor a conventional German touring car. Its distinctive engineering and open two-seat body combine to create a car with a character all of its own.
The Roadster is finished in red. The photographs show a complete, well-presented body with the characteristic chrome details and classic proportions of the open Spezial. The consignor describes the visual condition as good; the photographic impression likewise conveys a coherent overall appearance.
The existing folding soft top deserves a differentiated assessment. According to the consignor, it is fully watertight from the outside. On the inside, however, it shows clear signs of age, meaning that replacement may be worthwhile depending on personal expectations. This point is deliberately not concealed: the soft top fulfils its basic function, but its interior appearance no longer matches that of the rest of the vehicle.
The red exterior colour has been confirmed as a Matching Color following inspection. No known accident damage is recorded according to the inspected information; nevertheless, accident-free status is not expressly guaranteed due to the available data.
Inside, the DKW features black imitation leather. The combination with the red bodywork reinforces the classic Roadster character. The photographs convey a neat and coherent overall appearance, with a simple period-style dashboard and a cockpit clearly focused on driving.
The interior colour likewise corresponds to the confirmed original specification according to the inspected documentation. A formal condition rating for the interior is deliberately not adopted, as the existing valuation report is not being used as a currently approved condition assessment.
Under the bonnet sits the 981 cc three-cylinder engine producing 55 hp. It is paired with a four-speed manual gearbox, with power delivered to the front wheels. Disc brakes are fitted at the front and drum brakes at the rear according to the recorded vehicle data.
The vehicle is registered and roadworthy and, according to the consignor, continues to be driven regularly. Its current usability is summed up rather neatly in the description: “get in and drive.” The German H-plate further confirms its current registration as a historic vehicle.
Matching Numbers have been confirmed following inspection. A reliable total mileage figure is not available and is therefore deliberately not stated.
The vehicle, ownership and restoration history has been reviewed on the basis of the available documentation and is supported by the confirmed information. The DKW is recorded in the data as a restored vehicle.
For its current classification, it is particularly relevant that the Roadster is not merely treated as a display object. It is registered and continues to be driven. This gives the example an appealingly practical character: a restored classic that fulfils its purpose not only while standing still.
The relevant vehicle documents and historical records are present and have been inspected. The car also comes with a Classic-Data valuation report. As the report's currency and the use of its recorded condition rating for this auction have not been confirmed, the rating is deliberately not reproduced as a current assessment of the vehicle.
The DKW carries a German H-plate, is registered and roadworthy. A valid roadworthiness inspection is recorded; however, no specific expiry date was provided in the vehicle data supplied.
The DKW Auto Union 1000 Spezial Roadster is a classic for collectors who find engineering individuality more interesting than convention. A three-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive and four-speed manual transmission are combined here with an elegant open body that gives little indication at first glance of just how unusual the engineering concept beneath it really is.
This example combines a restored condition with confirmed Matching Numbers and Matching Colors and immediate usability: the car is registered, carries a German H-plate and continues to be driven. The aged interior of the soft top remains a minor but transparently disclosed point. Overall, this is a DKW whose appeal lies not only in its rarity, but above all in the fact that it brings a highly distinctive chapter of German automotive history onto the road.
A roadster with three cylinders and front-wheel drive initially sounds as though someone misunderstood the rules of the classic sports car. With the DKW, that is precisely the point. It looks elegant, is wonderfully unconventional mechanically, and does not take itself more seriously than it needs to. I particularly like this car because it is still being driven. The soft top may eventually deserve a more attractive interior – but it keeps the rain out. So drop the roof, work through the four gears and remember that driving enjoyment has never necessarily required six cylinders and rear-wheel drive.
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