Horch

One of the most prestigious German automobiles of the pre-war era, the Horch 853A Sportcabriolet combined luxury, engineering excellence, and Art Deco styling. Powered by a 4.9-liter straight-eight engine producing 120 hp, it featured a synchromesh 4-speed manual with overdrive and a steel body partially mounted on an ash wood frame. Only 397 examples of the 853A were built. This particular car underwent a meticulous 30-year restoration in Sweden by Kjell Ståhl, who preserved every detail down to the correct cloth-wrapped wiring and walnut burl interior veneers. Discovered as a disassembled wreck in 1988—with bullet holes and signs of fire damage—it has been transformed into a concours-worthy masterpiece. Finished in black and ivory with a thick multi-layered fabric roof, it stands as a testament to pre-war craftsmanship and one man’s extraordinary dedication. Originally priced at 15,250 Reichsmarks in 1939—equivalent to about 720,000 SEK today—it remains one of the finest examples of Horch’s automotive legacy, now connected to Audi’s early history through the Auto Union heritage.