Audi Tradition has recreated one of the most famous racing cars from the 1930s, the Auto Union Lucca. The original car was built during a time when manufacturers were racing to set new land speed records, and it became a symbol of early automotive innovation.
The original vehicle was designed to be extremely aerodynamic, with a closed cockpit and smooth, streamlined body. It was developed to compete with Mercedes-Benz in high-speed record attempts, using advanced wind tunnel research for its time.
In 1935, driver Hans Stuck drove the car to a top speed of 326.975 km/h on a highway near the Italian city of Lucca. This was achieved without modern safety systems or driving aids, making it a major achievement in motorsport history.
Since the original car no longer exists, Audi worked with restoration experts Crosthwaite & Gardiner to rebuild it. The project took about three years and used old photographs and documents to carefully recreate the design.
The rebuilt version looks almost identical to the original but now uses a 6.0-liter supercharged 16-cylinder engine for reliability. It produces around 520 horsepower and weighs just under 1,000 kilograms, giving it impressive performance even by modern standards.
Audi says this is not just a display piece but a working piece of history. The car will soon be driven publicly for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
