Auto Union Grand Prix Rennwagen Type C V16 driving at high speed. Panning photo in black and white.
The Auto Union Grand Prix Rennwagen Type C V16, introduced for the 1936 racing season, was one of the most formidable machines of the pre-war era. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche and engineered around Auto Union’s pioneering mid-engine layout, it featured a monstrous 6.0-liter supercharged V16 engine mounted behind the driver. This powerplant produced around 520 horsepower—an astonishing figure for its time—and propelled the car to speeds exceeding 340 km/h (211 mph). Its rear-biased weight distribution made the Type C notoriously challenging to control, demanding exceptional skill from drivers like Bernd Rosemeyer, who achieved legendary status behind its wheel. Built on a lightweight tubular chassis with advanced independent suspension, the Type C embodied technical daring and aerodynamic experimentation. Its raw power, mechanical innovation, and striking silver-arrow presence cemented it as an icon of 1930s Grand Prix racing and a symbol of Germany’s technological ambitions.
I'm a freelance photographer with a passion for landscape photography and everything concerning the theme mobility. I shoot a lot of my work in the Dutch IJsseldelta region , but also during my trips abroad to eg Iceland, Norway and Scotland . I also have an extensive.. Read more…