1937 Auto Union Typ C Stromlinie (test car) Pilot: Bernd Rosemeyer Team: Auto Union Race: 1937 land speed record attempt Brumm - R352B (diecast)
Published 11/20/18
For the 1937 VI Internationales AVUS-Rennen, Auto Union built a special version of the Typ C. Covered by an aerodynamic aluminum body, the idea was for the car to have the lowest drag coefficient possible. And that is how the 1937 Typ C Stromlinie. Powering the sleek beast was a 6006 cm³ V16 placed behind the pilot. Supercharged by a Roots-type supercharger, and with SOHC and 32 valves, it delivered up to 560 hp. Designed by none other than Ferdinand Porsche, it was monstrously complex for the times. However, the car’s most important feature was the totally enclosed the chassis. There were cut-outs over the wheels so that the pilot could see how the tires were holding up.
Though it didn’t fare well AVUS, Auto Union decided to use the same car for a LSR attempt. At the end of October, on the Frankfurt/Main Autobahn, the Rekordwoche (“record week”) would take place. German authorities closed the highway so that both Mercedes and Auto Union could do LSR attempts. Auto Union used the same car used in the AVUS race, but with a closed cockpit and totally closed wheels. Bernd Rosemeyer was the pilot, and did a few test runs in this configuration. After these tests, the engineers found out that the closed cockpit was adding drag. So for the actual record attempt (32” film) Rosemeyer piloted the car with an open cockpit. On October 25th, 1937, Bernd Rosemeyer was the first man to drive at 406.3 km/h on a public road. That was a new Class B (5 to 6 l engines) international LSR.
This model replicates the test car, with the closed cockpit. And made by Brumm 😳. Nonetheless, I have to admit it impressed me. Since my only other model from them is a real turd, I was pretty worried before it arrived. But fortunately, in the case of this 1937 Typ C, they aced it. Well, it’s a pretty simple model, with few details, but still, it looks VERY good. Not as refined as Minichamps’ cars, but good enough. Since they also offer the actual record car, with opened cockpit, this will not be my last Stromlinienwagen.