09/10/2026
A legendary racing champion. A one-of-a-kind car that vanished in the chaos of war. And the incredible effort to bring it back to life. 🏁
This is the story of the Horch 853 Spezial Streamlined Coupe — a car built for Bernd Rosemeyer, the fearless Auto Union racing star who dominated the tracks in 1936 and 1937. After his championship victories, this magnificent German machine was crafted in his honor. He affectionately named it Manuela.
Under the hood sits a powerful 4.5-liter straight-eight engine producing 100 horsepower, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The body was built on a shortened 853 chassis, with flowing lines and tapered pontoon-style fenders shaped by the renowned coachbuilders Erdmann & Rossi.
Then came the tragedy. The original Manuela disappeared during World War II, lost to history.
But passionate craftsmen refused to let it fade away. Using an authentic 853 chassis, they painstakingly recreated the body with wooden forms before paneling it in aluminum. Finished in deep blue with black leather and crowned by a rare Gülde fabric sunroof, this reconstruction stands as a moving tribute to one of motor racing's greatest figures.
Some legends are too important to be forgotten. 💙