SAC#581 : DKW roadster by Simon Michaux ( Belgium )1954

[SACO]

What's this  and powered by what , for 1 point ? 

[SACO]

Experts !

[frederick59]

Peugeot 404 base?

[SACO]

Not Peugeot 404 base !

[frederick59]

French car?

[SACO]

Not a French car !

[frederick59]

Italian car?

[SACO]

Not Italian car !

[frederick59]

Europeen?

[SACO]

Yes !

[frederick59]

Pegaso?

[SACO]

Not a Pegaso !

[Majeko]

German?

[SACO]

Yes !

[richard cuyler]

DKW underneath?

[SACO]

Yes !DKW Auto Union Prototype 1954
1 point for richard cuyler ! 

[Wendax]

I wouldn't call it a DKW Auto Union prototype (I know the seller does, but he also offers a Cobra replica as a 1956 AC Ace  ). The puzzle car is obvously based on a 1954 DKW Sonderklasse, the Auto Union brand appeared in 1958 with the model 1000. I don't think it is a works prototype either, but a private attempt to fit a fiberglass (?) body on a DKW chassis. The rev counter is in English, so it might be an American car which would fit to its Corvette-like rear design. I would call it a DKW Sonderklasse roadster.

[SACO]

OK !

[richard cuyler]

Thanks for the much needed point! It's pretty, whomever made it!

[Carnut]

This is apparently the story of this car:

QUOTE
According to the story, the original owner was the Belgian Auto Union DKW importer at the time, the Simon Michaux Garage located at 49 Rue de Hollande in Brussels. Mr. Michaux owner of the firm had this little spider created as an 18th birthday present for his daughter.

The designer of the car's bodywork is unknown but there are some obvious inspirations. Audi Tradition noted similarities to the 1954 Lancia B24 Aurelia Spider. To our American eye, there's a good deal of 1953 C1 Corvette, including the tail design and also the wrap-around windshield.

For mechanicals, the Michaux Spider was based on the chassis of an Auto Union DKW Sonderklasse. However, all of the car's bodywork and also the interior were hand made. The story goes that a special engine was also installed, though details are limited. We do know that it requires a fuel mix, suggesting it is a 2 stroke.

Though given to his daughter, Simon Michaux was active in racing and soon began to use the car for road rallies.

At some point during the car's current ownership or perhaps by the second owner, the car was examined by DKW specialist Daniel Preener who confirmed that the engine was specially made for this car. Just how it differs has not been divulged, though further repairs have been done including new brakes, bearings and seal, brake hoses, master cylinder, handbrake mechanism, carburetor overhauled, a new fuel pump and new head gasket including a new 6-volt battery. The car is said to be completely original and complete, including the convertible top with side windows.

Having never seen this car before, we reached out to Audi Tradition before putting together this story. They informed us that the car is a custom built body not by the factory and confirmed that it uses the chassis of a 1954/55 DKW F91 3=6 Sonderklasse.
UNQUOTE

[SACO]

Last news !
The car was building by Simon Michaux (importer DKW Bruxelles )
And thank's Wendax !