"Potentially the most expensive car to ever go to auction at Christie’s, the 1939 Audi Auto Union Type D was expected to sell for as much as $12 million. It was eventually acquired by Audi for an undisclosed price. There is so much history in the Auto Union Type D. To begin with, the car’s design was produced by none other than Ferdinand Porsche. The rear-engine design delivered unpredictable oversteer and Porsche attempted to counter this with a swing half-axle suspension before following the Mercedes lead and going with a de Dion system. The twin-supercharger V-12 delivered amazing horsepower and was known to break the rear tires loose at 100 mph. Tire slippage was an issue addressed by another Porsche innovation, the limited-slip differential. All this technology was developed during a period of state-sponsored motor racing. The success of the Auto Union Type D was ended by the course of Germany and World War II. When the war was over several Auto Union team cars were found by invading Russian Army forces and taken as spoils of war. These cars were disassembled and studied by the Soviets until, in the 1980s, American car enthusiast Paul Karassik tracked down chassis number 19 and many Type D original parts. Karassik handed over the collection to noted restoration shop Crosthwaite and Gardiner and the Type D was restored to its original form. With a top speed in excess of 200 miles per hour and that thundering, whining V-12 behind the driver, there isn’t another driving experience that can match the Auto Union Type D."—Official description[1]
The 1939 Auto Union Type D - abbreviated as "AutoUnion Type D" - is a vintage Grand Prix race car by Auto Union and Audi[2].
It appears in Forza Motorsport 5 as part of the Hot Wheels Car Pack and in all subsequent Motorsport main titles, as well as in Forza Horizon 4 and Forza Horizon 5.
Synopsis[]
The fourth and final car out of Auto Union's racing department, the Type D was a Grand Prix race car which competed in the final two years of Grand Prix racing before World War II began. The biggest difference between the Type D and its predecessors is the use of a 3.0L V12 engine instead of a 4.4L - 6.0L V16, which was done to comply with the new Grand Prix regulation limit of 3.0L for supercharged engines.[3]
The #4 (chassis 19) took part in two races during the 1939 Grand Prix season. At the Eifelrennen race at the Nürburgring, the car would finish in 5th at the hands of Rudolf Hasse, while at the French Grand Prix, Hans Stuck would drive the car to a 6th place finish.[4] The Type Ds would do well overall in their final year of competition, winning 3 races, including the aforementioned French GP, which was won by Hermann Paul Müller. The winner for the European Championship that year was never officially announced due to the outbreak of war, but if it had been, Müller likely would have won the championship due to the win, a 2nd place at the German GP, and a 4th place at the Swiss GP.[5]
The car is currently on display at the Audi museum mobile near the company's headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany.[6]
Statistics[]
|
Speed 8.7 Handling 4.0
Acceleration 8.4
Launch 7.7
Braking 3.6
|
B 501 |
|---|---|---|
Required DLC:
Requires the Hot Wheels Car Pack | ||
Unlock Requirements
Car Dealer:
Purchase from the car dealer for 1,650,000 CR or 2,750 T | ||
Performance & Body Family
Body Family: None
Value: 1,650,000 CR
Speed:
Top Speed: 229.8 mph (369.7 km/h)
Acceleration:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 3.800 secs.
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 8.500 secs.
Braking:
60-0 mph (97-0 km/h): 114.4 ft (34.9 m) 100-0 mph (161-0 km/h): 315.4 ft (96.1 m)
Lateral Gs:
60 mph (97 km/h): 1.02 g
120 mph (193 km/h): 0.98 g | ||
|
Speed 8.6 Handling 4.7
Acceleration 8.3
Braking 4.3
|
A 603 |
|---|---|---|
Unlock Requirements
Car Dealer:
Purchase from the car dealer for 1,700,000 CR | ||
Performance & Division
Division: None
Value: 1,700,000 CR
Speed:
Top Speed: 230.9 mph (371.5 km/h)
Acceleration:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 3.800 secs.
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 8.500 secs.
Braking:
60-0 mph (97-0 km/h): 104.3 ft (31.8 m) 100-0 mph (161-0 km/h): 283.6 ft (86.4 m)
Lateral Gs:
60 mph (97 km/h): 1.10 g
120 mph (193 km/h): 1.06 g | ||
|
Speed 8.6 Handling 4.7
Acceleration 8.3
Braking 4.3
Super Rare
|
A 602 |
|---|---|---|
Unlock Requirements
Unlock:
for 500,000 CR | ||
Performance & Division
Division: The Birth of Grand Prix
Value: 500,000 CR
Collection Tier:
Tier 4 - Super Rare (+900)
Speed:
Top Speed: 230.8 mph (371.4 km/h)
1/4 Mile: missing data
Acceleration:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 3.800 secs.
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 8.500 secs.
Braking:
60-0 mph (97-0 km/h): 108.6 ft (33.1 m) 100-0 mph (161-0 km/h): 284.1 ft (86.6 m)
Lateral Gs:
60 mph (97 km/h): 1.10 g
120 mph (193 km/h): 1.06 g | ||
|
Speed 6.2 Braking 2.4
Handling 2.9
Acceleration 4.9
|
B 598 |
|---|---|---|
Unlock Requirements
Car Dealer:
Challenge Hub:
Can be purchased from the Car Dealer for 163,000 CR This vehicle has been made available as a Challenge Hub reward. Update 21 & thereafter - Complete the "Single Seat Tour Challenge" challenge | ||
Performance & Division
Division: The Birth of Grand Prix
Value: 163,000 CR
Speed:
Top Speed: 228.1 mph (367 km/h)
1/4 Mile: 12.117 secs.
Acceleration:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 3.787 secs.
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 8.470 secs.
Braking:
60-0 mph (97-0 km/h): 162.4 ft (49.5 m) 100-0 mph (161-0 km/h): 414.2 ft (126.2 m)
Lateral Gs:
60 mph (97 km/h): 0.84 g
120 mph (193 km/h): 0.83 g | ||
|
Speed 8.7 Handling 5.1
Acceleration 6.0
Launch 7.3
Braking 4.6
|
B 692 |
|---|---|---|
Unlock Requirements
Autoshow:
Purchase from the Autoshow for 10,000,000 CR Auction House:
Can be purchased or bid on through an Auction House listing Seasonal:
| ||
Performance & Car Type
Car Type: Vintage Racers
Value: 10,000,000 CR
Rarity:
Legendary
Speed:
Top Speed: 228.2 mph (367.2 km/h)
Acceleration:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 3.800 secs.
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 8.500 secs.
Braking:
60-0 mph (97-0 km/h): 185.8 ft (56.6 m) 100-0 mph (161-0 km/h): 480.1 ft (146.3 m)
Lateral Gs:
60 mph (97 km/h): 0.75 g
120 mph (193 km/h): 0.74 g | ||
|
Speed 8.4 Handling 4.2
Accel 4.5
Launch 3.4
Braking 2.7
Offroad 4.2 |
B 675 |
|---|---|---|
Availability
Autoshow:
Can be purchased from the Autoshow for 15,000,000 CR
"Fairy Tale Ending" completion reward ({{{accoladecat}}}) Wheelspin:
Possible Wheelspin or Super Wheelspin prize
Auction House:
Can be purchased or bid on through an Auction House listing
Seasonal:
This vehicle may appear as a listed item in the Forzathon Shop or as a Festival Playlist reward.
Forzathon Shop:
N/A Festival Playlist:
Series 8 - Earn 160 PTS (Series milestone) | ||
Performance & Car Type
Car Type: Vintage Racers
Value: 15,000,000 CR
Rarity:
Legendary
Speed:
Top Speed: 228.1 mph (367 km/h)
Acceleration:
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 3.787 secs.
0-100 mph (0-161 km/h): 8.485 secs.
Braking:
60-0 mph (97-0 km/h): 161.8 ft (49.3 m) 100-0 mph (161-0 km/h): 413.5 ft (126 m)
Lateral Gs:
60 mph (97 km/h): 0.84 g
120 mph (193 km/h): 0.83 g | ||
Conversions[]
|
Conversion - Drivetrain |
|
AWD Drivetrain |
|
AWD Drivetrain |
Trivia[]
- In games from Forza Motorsport 6 onwards, the Type D is badged as an Auto Union vehicle.
- In Forza Motorsport (2023), prior to Update 21, it was valued at 241,000 CR.
Gallery[]
Forza Motorsport 6
Forza Motorsport 7
(Front)
(Front)
Forza Motorsport 7
(Rear)
(Rear)
Forza Horizon 4
(Front)
(Front)
Forza Horizon 4
(Rear)
(Rear)
Forza Horizon 4
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
Promotional[]
Forza Motorsport 5
Forza Motorsport 5
Forza Motorsport 5
Forza Motorsport (2023)
Forzavista[]
Interior
Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 4
Engine
Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 4
References[]
- ↑ "Forza Motorsport 5 - Cars" . forzamotorsport.net . Retrieved 08-17-2018.
- ↑ Manufacturer in Forza Motorsport 5
- ↑ "Auto Union racing cars" . wikipedia.org . Retrieved 07-10-2025.
- ↑ "UPDATE: Christies explains pulling Auto Union D Type from auction block" . autoblog.com . Retrieved 07-10-2025.
- ↑ "1939 Grand Prix" . The Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing . Retrieved 07-10-2025.
- ↑ "Auto Union Type D returns to the fold" . Hemmings.com . Retrieved 07-16-2025.
| Auto Union | |
|---|---|
| 1930s | Type D |
| Related | Audi |