Rare German Auto-Union / Wanderer 1937 W50L.
Wanderer is one of the four rings of Auto-Union, 4 companies that banded together to survive the German depression post WWI. Those four companies were DKW, Audi, Wanderer and Horch. Only DKW and Audi survived past WWII, DKW eventually being purchased by Daimler-Benz in the early 60's, leaving the 4-rings symbol to Audi.
95% complete, little or no rust, but in need of complete restoration. It's been stored indoors for years, the paint is rough but mostly original. Bumpers etc. need a rechrome. Original Bosch semaphore blinkers / turn signals.
The door panels are intact but the cloth on the seats has been replaced several times. The engine has a broken timing gear, head is off, will work on gradually as I have time. The original distributor and starter were replaced with Delco instead of the standard Bosch. The speedometer is intact but the other multi-guage is missing.
The Russians captured the Wanderer Werke after WWII and carried off the dies and tooling, eventually building their "Moskovitch" well into the 50's. I understand that some pieces fit the pre-war cars, others are available during "Old-Timer Festivals".
Wanderer 2 door sport convertibles are pricey but reasonably easy to find, this car is one of three W50's I believe to have found in the world!
If you google "Wanderer W50L", you'll find a nearly identical car in the Netherlands in similar condition, the other, identical car is in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. Professor Porsche left Daimler-Benz in a huff to open his own design studio, this car and it's engine were some of the first commissioned works he did.
Although this car is titled and it's ID plates confirm it as a 1937, it doesn't completely resemble a "proper" model for that year. It also has rear mounted spare tires instead of side mounts as in the car in the Netherlands. The grill, front and rear suicide doors match the Porsche museum car.
The collector I purchased this car from passed on the story from older car buffs that it originally belonged to the German Embassy as the diplomat's limousine. When the Germans bombed Poland in 1939, they were kicked out of the U.S., the keys handed over to their American driver. As told, he eventually sold the car to one of JFK's under secretaries who drove it into the 60's when it broke it's timing gear. After Kennedy was shot, the gentleman was reassigned to North Africa. While in Tunisia, he stopped his car for fuel and struck up a conversation with the station attendant, telling him about his broken Wanderer. The attendant promptly went into the back room and produced a NOS gear! I Have Not been able to verify this story but it's certainly interesting!
If true, is certainly adds to the value of the car.
The price reflects the rarity of the vehicle, it needs work to be original. Once restored, it would be a significant historic car that showed the genius of professor Porsche and the state of German technology in the late 30's. Interest in these cars has increased since Audi had done such a fine job with it's museum pieces. The movie "Valkyrie" also shows many of these pre-war cars.
Included are are various owners manuals (reprints) and sales brochures. The price has been reduced from before the ad ran out. I would be interested in mostly cash plus car (low mile 1991 Audi 200 Turbo-Quattro 20V 3B - 5 speed sedan or Avant or A8 / A8L / S8)
Please feel free to e-mail questions. No "tire kickers" please! If you don't have the money for both the car and it's restoration, please don't waste my time.
I will NOT entertain scammers who will "send a representative with a check and a transporter to get the car"!
Thanks for looking!
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