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Description
The current owner—whose father had driven and owned DKWs since the 1930s—was instantly captivated by a newspaper ad in Dagens Nyheter. Visiting the dealership on Lidingö with his wife, he found his dream car. A deal was struck, and on August 9, 1968, he became the proud new owner. The car was in good shape with around 60,000 km on the clock at the time.
Over the years, it has served as the family’s treasured classic and enthusiast car, always stored indoors and lovingly cared for. Maintenance and servicing have been done by the owner himself—a trained engineer—just as many classic car owners used to do in the past.
One deviation from factory spec is a replacement brake fluid reservoir, added for improved oversight. The car was repainted in the 1980s, and the soft top has been replaced a couple of times, but otherwise, most of it remains in original condition.
The odometer now shows 29,220 km, but it's important to note it has turned over once—true mileage is just over 120,000 km. A badge mounted in the grille commemorates 100,000 km of driving with an Auto Union.
Included with the car is a binder full of documentation, literature, and period paperwork—workshop and parts manuals, club newsletters, magazine features, and more. The car is MHRF-insured, fully road-ready, and permanently inspected (“slutbesiktigad”). It comes with two complete sets of ignition keys, including keys for the doors and glovebox, plus a stack of useful spare parts.
Free history (18)
Technical data
Condition
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Mechanical condition
Starts easily and the engine runs smoothly and calmly. During a gentle test drive through a residential area, everything appeared to function well—steering, clutch, gear changes, handling, maneuvering, and brakes all performed as expected. It’s not the most powerful engine, so keeping up speed on inclines required some revving, but the charm and enjoyment of the drive were undeniable.
The car has not been inspected on a lift, but the vital components underneath appeared to be in good condition. -
Interior condition
Pleasant interior in original condition with comfortable seating. The door panels, trim, carpets, and the rear area with "jump seats" are all in good shape. The steering wheel, controls, dashboard, and gauges are in well-preserved original condition and functioning properly.
Some paint traces on the rubber seals suggest the car was repainted at some point. A period-correct radio is fitted but not operational—the tube unit is included. Also found in the glove compartment was a rare original cigarette lighter accessory. -
Exterior condition
Nice and glossy paintwork (resprayed in the 1980s). The glass, trim, emblems, lighting details, and moldings are all in good condition considering the car’s age and mileage. Wheels are in great shape with clean hubcaps and good tires. The soft top is in excellent condition, having been replaced a couple of times over the years. Both the engine bay and luggage compartment present well in original condition.
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General condition
The history, condition, and delightful design of this vehicle make it a true gem from the late ’50s to early ’60s. It's not just the unique Swedish ownership history, but the model itself—with all its details and features—that makes it a historically significant classic and an enthusiast’s car with strong collector value.
MOT (tech. insp.)
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1962-03-01 (regbes)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1962-03-06
Senast godkända besiktning: 2017-05-06
Besiktningsbefriad: Ja
Skattebefriad: Ja
Körförbud: Nej
Antal ägare: 3
Owner's comment
Facts about the model
If it’s smooth engine performance you’re after, a two-stroke three-cylinder engine is the way to go. DKW naming its car 3=6 was no coincidence—the equal sign symbolized that this small 900cc engine offered the same refinement as a straight six. DKW was the brand Saab emulated, and the truth is that the German engines weren’t just bigger and more powerful—they were also better. Combine that with a beautiful body and inviting interior, and DKW cars from the 1950s and ’60s remain highly attractive purchases today.
Speaking of beautiful design, the AU 1000 Sp Coupé was a special model produced between 1958 and 1965 in just 5,004 units. A much rarer version was the roadster, built from 1961 to 1965 in only 1,640 examples—both with bodies by coachbuilder Baur. In Sweden, only 44 such cars were sold between 1961 and 1965, of which just one was a roadster. Today, approximately 30 cars remain in the country, including the sole roadster.
As a curiosity, the model was nicknamed “the Järvsö car” in Sweden due to singer Lill-Babs owning a coupé. It was also dubbed “the little Thunderbird” thanks to certain styling similarities.
When DKW set out to modernize its vehicle lineup in the mid-1960s, the company decided to phase out the DKW name entirely in favor of another of the four rings—reviving Audi as the lead brand for the group. But that is another story entirely.
Location and viewing Information
For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:
Tore Thallaug
+46 705 90 23 65
tore@bilwebauctions.se
Pick up
NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.
Auction information
General information about the condition of the vehicles .
- At this auction, many vehicles have been included in car collections and have been stored (mothballed) for a long time. For this reason, they are described from a collector's perspective and may need technical reviews and maintenance service - oil, battery replacement, new tires, brake review, etc. - before they can be used. .
- During the auction days information about a vehicle may be updated up to the day before the auction ends. When you bid at the end of the auction period - and also if you have made an earlier bid - we therefore ask you to read the descriptions carefully, in case something has been changed due to new information.
Important to know before placing your bids!
- Once you have called in an item and the reservation price is reached we want you to deposit the entire purchase amount into our client funds account before retrieval can take place.
- When you need to retrieve a called in object we want you to examine it carefully. If you consider that the item does not match our description you do not need to complete the purchase. In this case the deposited purchase sum and the entry fee are refunded.
- If you do not examine the item on the spot the call charge will be debited, but you do not have to complete the deal.
- If you make the entire purchase exclusively at a distance you have 14 days to cancel, but must return the item at your own expense.
- Your shipping costs and other costs are not reimbursed when the right of withdrawal is exercised. Swedish court applies.
- For items that have not been collected within 14 days storage costs may be charged.