The Auto Union Lucca was a high-speed experiment born out of a fierce 1930s “arms race” between Auto Union (Audi’s ancestor) and Mercedes-Benz.
1. Why was it made?
The car was built for one specific reason: Prestige. In late 1934, Mercedes-Benz set a record of 196.7 mph. Auto Union couldn’t let that stand. They took their Type A Grand Prix car, gave it a massive V16 engine, and wrapped it in a “streamliner” body developed in a wind tunnel at the Berlin-Adlershof Aeronautical Research Institute. It was one of the first times aviation aerodynamics were seriously applied to a car in Europe.
2. The Famous Record Run
On February 15, 1935, legendary driver Hans Stuck took the car to a closed stretch of highway near the city of Lucca, Italy.
- Top Speed: 203.2 mph (326.975 km/h).
- Achievement: It became the fastest road-racing car in the world at the time.
- The Nickname: Because the record happened there, the car was forever dubbed the “Lucca.”
3. The Reconstruction (2026)
Since the original prototypes vanished during WWII (likely scrapped or taken as war spoils), Audi commissioned British specialists Crosthwaite & Gardiner to rebuild it from scratch using archival photos and blueprints.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6.0-liter Supercharged V16 (upgraded from the original 5.0L) |
| Horsepower | ~512 hp |
| Weight | ~2,116 lbs (960 kg) |
| Bodywork | Hand-beaten aluminum |
| Drag Coeff. | 0.43 Cd (incredible for 1935; a standard sedan then was ~0.60) |
4. Why does it look so “Funny”?
The “Stingray” shape the long tapered tail, the enclosed wheel arches, and the tiny cockpit was designed purely to “slice” through the air. While it was world-beating on a straight line, it was notoriously difficult to drive. The mid-engine V16 made it tail-heavy, and at 200 mph on 1930s tire technology and public roads, it was essentially a silver missile.
Images were sourced at motor1.com
