1954 Auto Union DKW Michaux Spider Prototype

[JHF]

For today’s find of the day, we’re turning to Europe where one reader has alerted us to an incredibly unique 1950s era Auto Union – DKW based sportscar we’re dubbing the Micheaux Spider. It appears to be one of a kind and is currently for sale at The Stolze Collection in the Netherlands.

For the history of the car, we first turned to the dealership that currently has it. They told us they stumbled across the car in Lorient, France and on a visit to Atelier DKW Service. There he met the car’s owner who claimed to be the second owner of the car, having bought it from the original owner. This man offered a brief history of the car.

According to the story, the original owner was the Belgian Auto Union DKW importer at the time, the Simon Michaux Garage located at 49 Rue de Hollande in Brussels. Mr. Michaux owner of the firm had this little spider created as an 18th birthday present for his daughter.

The designer of the car’s bodywork is unknown but there are some obvious inspirations. Audi Tradition noted similarities to the 1954 Lancia B24 Aurelia Spider. To our American eye, there’s a good deal of 1953 C1 Corvette, including the tail design and also the wrap-around windshield.

For mechanicals, the Michaux Spider was based on the chassis of an Auto Union DKW Sonderklasse. However, all of the car’s bodywork and also the interior were hand made. The story goes that a special engine was also installed, though details are limited. We do know that it requires a fuel mix, suggesting it is a 2 stroke.

Though given to his daughter, Simon Michaux was active in racing and soon began to use the car for road rallies.

At some point during the car’s current ownership or perhaps by the second owner, the car was examined by DKW specialist Daniel Preener who confirmed that the engine was specially made for this car. Just how it differs has not been divulged, though further repairs have been done including new brakes, bearings and seal, brake hoses, master cylinder, handbrake mechanism, carburetor overhauled, a new fuel pump and new head gasket including a new 6-volt battery. The car is said to be completely original and complete, including the convertible top with side windows.

Having never seen this car before, we reached out to Audi Tradition before putting together this story. They informed us that the car is a custom built body not by the factory and confirmed that it uses the chassis of a 1954/55 DKW F91 3=6 Sonderklasse.

For more information, you can find the car listed HERE at the Stolz Collection. Americans interested in the car will be pleased to know that it is old enough to be imported as an antique, which greatly simplifies the process of importation.

http://fourtitude.com/news/vintage-audi-news/find-of-the-day-1954-auto-union-dkw-michaux-spider-prototype/