The only surviving pre-war Horch 855 roadster will be put up for auction (24 photos)

At the end of October, the RM Sotheby's auction house will put up for auction a unique example of the pre-war European automobile industry - the only surviving serial Horch 855 roadster, released in 1939. Considering the status of the model, as well as the rarity and condition of a particular example, they plan to get from 3 to 4 million dollars for it.





In the 1930s, the model of the premium brand Horch with the index 853 was considered a competitor to the famous Mercedes-Benz 500K and 540K. However, the flagship position at that time was occupied by the Horch 855 grand tourer, which was based on the same, but shortened chassis and was equipped with a similar inline "eight" with a capacity of 120 hp.

According to the auction house, only five to seven 855 chassis were assembled, the bodies for which were both made by Horch itself and ordered from the most reputable European workshops. The Horch 855 Special Roadster put up for sale has a body by the Glaser studio, for which the roadster is called one of the most beautiful pre-war cars in Europe.

It is generally accepted that only two Horch 855s have survived to this day, but one of them is a factory prototype. Thus, the serial roadster is currently unique. Over the years, the car has repeatedly changed owners, has been in famous private collections and has even starred in films. In addition, the roadster spent several years in the Audi factory museum, where it was sent by then owner Rudi Klein in exchange for a full restoration. It is claimed that the rarity is capable of driving on public roads, although before that it must undergo a number of preventive measures.