Audi 920

Luxury Sedan / Cabriolet 1938–1940 75 hp Petrol

The Audi 920 was Auto Union's pre-war flagship under the Audi brand — a rare, hand-crafted luxury saloon from 1938 to 1940 that represented the pinnacle of Audi engineering before World War II halted production and transformed the automotive world.

Horsepower (3.2L straight-six)

27s

0–100 km/h

120km/h

Top Speed

1938

Year Introduced

Overview

The Audi 920 was produced between 1938 and 1940 as the premium offering under the Audi brand within the Auto Union family of companies — the consortium formed in 1932 from the merger of Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. Auto Union positioned its brands carefully: Horch for true luxury, Audi for upper-middle prestige, Wanderer for middle quality, and DKW for economy. The 920 sat at the very top of the Audi range, using a 3.2-litre straight-six engine derived from the Horch parts bin — a smooth, well-engineered unit producing 75 hp that gave the 920 genuine performance for its era. The body was offered in multiple configurations: a four-door saloon, a cabriolet, and, in very limited numbers, a roadster, each finished to an exceptional standard by coachbuilders working alongside the factory.

The 920's styling reflected the aerodynamic thinking of the late 1930s — a long bonnet, integrated headlamps partially faired into the front wings, and a smoothly rounded body with a relatively low roofline for the period. The interior was appointed to a high standard: leather upholstery, polished wood trim, clear instruments, and quality switchgear that communicated Audi's aspiration to compete with the established luxury marques of the era. Production numbers were extremely small — approximately 170 examples were completed before wartime materials shortages and factory reallocation ended production in 1940. This rarity makes surviving 920 examples extraordinarily valuable to collectors and historians of pre-war German automobiles.

After World War II, Auto Union's original factories were lost to the Soviet Occupation Zone. The company was rebuilt in West Germany — initially in Ingolstadt, Bavaria — where it eventually re-emerged as the modern Audi AG. The 920's pre-war engineering legacy was largely disconnected from the post-war rebuild, but the car represents an important chapter in understanding the depth of Audi's technical and luxury heritage before the conflict. The four-ring logo that the 920 wore — representing the four merged Auto Union brands — remains Audi's badge today, carrying the weight of this rich, if interrupted, history. A surviving Audi 920 is now a museum piece of the highest order, appearing occasionally at concours events and commanding prices in the hundreds of thousands of euros when offered at specialist auction.

920 in Pictures

Visual references for exterior styling, cabin design, and key details. Images fall back gracefully on load error.

The Audi 920 Cabriolet — the most luxurious variant of the 920 range, a four-seat open-top body crafted to the same premium standard as the flagship saloon and aimed at wealthy European buyers seeking the finest pre-war German motoring.

The Audi 920 four-door saloon — produced between 1938 and 1940 by Auto Union under the Audi brand name, using a 3.2-litre straight-six engine from the Horch 930 parts bin to deliver a refined, powerful driving experience.

The four-ring Auto Union badge worn by the Audi 920 — representing the four brands (Audi, DKW, Horch, Wanderer) united under Auto Union AG in 1932. Today those four rings remain Audi's symbol, one of the most recognisable logos in the automotive world.

The Audi 920's production coincided with Auto Union's dominant Grand Prix racing programme — the silver racing cars of the late 1930s shared a brand heritage with the 920, giving the road car a sporting identity even as it served as a luxury transport.

Key Specifications

Body: 4-door saloon, 4-seat cabriolet, 2-seat roadster — built on a pressed-steel ladder-frame chassis
Engine: 3.2L inline straight-six (Horch-derived), water-cooled, single carburettor — 75 hp at 3,400 rpm
Gearbox: 4-speed all-synchromesh manual, floor-mounted shifter
0–100 km/h: approx. 27 s | Top speed: approx. 120 km/h — competitive for a pre-war luxury car
Suspension: Transverse leaf spring front, swing-axle rear — period-typical layout; the 920 prioritised ride comfort over handling precision
Brakes: Hydraulic drum brakes all round — adequate for the 920's performance level, operated via a period hydraulic master cylinder
Kerb weight: approx. 1,450 kg (saloon) | Wheelbase: 3,150 mm — a genuinely large pre-war luxury car
Production: 1938–1940 | Units produced: approx. 170 total across all body styles | Status: museum-grade rarity

Variant Comparison

Variant	Engine	Power	Drive	Best For
920 Saloon	3.2L straight-six	75 hp	RWD	Formal use — the four-door saloon body offered the most practical passenger capacity and formal exterior appearance, making it the natural choice for senior business or official transport in the late 1930s German market
920 Cabriolet	3.2L straight-six	75 hp	RWD	Open-air prestige — the cabriolet body combined the 920's luxury appointments with the glamour of open-top motoring, making it the choice of wealthy buyers who wanted to be seen as well as transported in comfort
920 Kombi/Roadster	3.2L straight-six	75 hp	RWD	Sporting character — the roadster, built in the smallest numbers of all 920 body styles, offered the most dramatic exterior styling and a more intimate driving experience, appealing to buyers who valued character over practicality

Competitor Snapshot

Model	Strength	Compromise
Mercedes-Benz 320 (W142)	Mercedes-Benz's strong engineering reputation and broader dealer network gave the W142 greater brand prestige in the German luxury market; the three-pointed star carried more cachet than the Auto Union four rings for most buyers	The W142 was more expensive than the Audi 920 for comparable specifications; the 920's Horch-derived engine delivered comparable power and smoothness at a lower purchase price, representing genuine value in the upper-middle luxury segment
BMW 326	BMW's 326 offered a more sporting character with its twin-carburettor engine and sportier handling — appealing to buyers who wanted performance alongside comfort; BMW's racing reputation also enhanced its road car desirability	The BMW 326 was a smaller, lighter car than the Audi 920 and offered less interior space and formal presence; the 920's longer wheelbase and more generous cabin made it a better choice for buyers prioritising passenger comfort
Wanderer W23	The Wanderer W23, from another Auto Union brand, shared some engineering resources with the 920 and offered strong parts availability within the Auto Union dealer network; the W23 was also somewhat lighter and more nimble	The Wanderer W23 positioned below the Audi 920 in the Auto Union hierarchy, with less powerful engine options and a less prestigious brand identity in the luxury segment; the 920 was the clear step up within the Auto Union family

Cost-of-Ownership Estimator (Azerbaijan)

Annual distance (km)Fuel consumption (L/100km)Fuel price ($/L)Annual service budget ($)Annual insurance ($)Annual tires ($)

Annual fuel use: 140 litres
Annual fuel cost: $91
Total yearly estimate: $7891
Monthly average: $658

Audi 920 parts are effectively bespoke — almost nothing is interchangeable with any post-war vehicle. Mechanical restoration requires specialist pre-war German vehicle expertise and access to pattern parts or original stock from museum collections and dedicated restorers in Germany.
The straight-six engine, though mechanically simple by modern standards, requires period-correct oils with no modern detergent additives — use only monograde mineral oil conforming to pre-war specifications to avoid seal and bearing damage.
An Audi 920 in Azerbaijan would be among the most extraordinary automotive rarities in the country — requiring full customs documentation, historical vehicle registration, and connection with European pre-war Audi specialists for any maintenance or restoration work.

Maintenance & Service in Azerbaijan

Annual mechanical inspection by a pre-war German vehicle specialist — given the extremely limited parts availability, any mechanical work requires expert assessment before disassembly, as replacement parts may require months of sourcing.
Cooling system inspection every season — the 920's water-cooled straight-six has a copper-core radiator and period rubber hoses that become brittle with age; replacement hoses require custom fabrication from period-equivalent materials.
Lubrication with period-correct monograde mineral oil — modern multi-grade or synthetic oils contain additives that attack the 920's non-detergent engine seals; drain and refill with SAE 30 or SAE 40 monograde every 2,000 km or annually.
Electrical system inspection annually — the 6-volt positive-earth electrical system is unfamiliar to most modern mechanics; specialist pre-war electrical knowledge is required to maintain original wiring, dynamo, and ignition systems safely.
Brake adjustment and fluid flush every 2 years — the hydraulic drum brakes use rubber seals susceptible to degradation; period-correct non-glycol brake fluid must be used to avoid seal swelling that can cause complete brake failure.

Used 920 Buying Checklist

Commission a complete provenance and chassis number verification — with only approximately 170 units produced, any Audi 920 offered for sale should have detailed documentation history; request factory build records through the Audi Heritage database if possible.
Engine cold-start inspection — listen for bearing noise, check oil pressure gauge, and verify coolant temperature rise; a pre-war straight-six should run smoothly from cold without excessive smoke or mechanical clatter.
Full body and chassis inspection for structural rust and repair quality — the 920's steel body with its aluminium panels requires specialist assessment; amateur bodywork repair using incorrect materials dramatically reduces historical value.
Verify originality of coachbuilt body elements — the 920's cabriolet and roadster variants were bodied by external coachbuilders; confirm that the body style matches the chassis number documentation.
Gearbox engagement test — the 920's four-speed manual should engage all gears cleanly with progressive synchromesh action; a slipping gearbox on a car of this rarity is a major restoration cost.
Confirm import and registration status — an Audi 920 being considered for purchase in Azerbaijan requires verification of customs clearance, historical vehicle status registration, and transport arrangements capable of handling a vehicle of this extreme rarity and value.

920 FAQ — Azerbaijan Buyers

Q: What is the Audi 920 and why is it significant?

The Audi 920 was the pre-war flagship of the Audi brand, produced between 1938 and 1940 by Auto Union AG — the consortium that merged Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer in 1932. The 920 represents the highest expression of Audi's pre-war engineering ambitions, using a 3.2-litre straight-six engine from the Horch parts bin in a coachbuilt body of exceptional quality. With only approximately 170 examples produced before wartime halted production, the 920 is one of the rarest and most historically significant Audi vehicles in existence. It predates the modern Audi brand by several decades and offers a window into the luxury automotive standards of late 1930s Germany.

Q: How does the 920 relate to today's Audi brand?

The Audi 920 carries the same four-ring Auto Union badge that Audi wears today — making it a direct brand ancestor despite the upheaval of World War II. After the war, Auto Union's original factories in Zwickau and Chemnitz were in the Soviet Occupation Zone and were taken over to produce what became Trabant and Wartburg cars. West German operations were rebuilt from scratch in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, initially producing DKW vehicles before the Audi name was revived in 1965 with the F103 series. The 920's engineering DNA was not directly continued in post-war Audis, but its brand identity — four rings representing four merged companies — survives unchanged as one of the world's most recognisable automotive logos.

Q: Is the Audi 920 available in Azerbaijan?

An Audi 920 in Azerbaijan would be an extraordinary rarity — given that only approximately 170 examples were produced and most survivors are now in German museums or private collections, the probability of finding one available for purchase through any conventional channel is essentially zero. If one were to appear, it would command a price in the hundreds of thousands of euros and require specialised pre-war vehicle expertise for any assessment, transport, or maintenance. For Azerbaijani automotive enthusiasts interested in pre-war European luxury, visiting the Audi Museum Mobile in Ingolstadt, Germany — where several historical Auto Union vehicles including period Audi models are on display — is the most accessible way to experience this era of Audi history.

Q: What engine did the Audi 920 use?

The Audi 920 used a 3.2-litre water-cooled straight-six engine derived from the Horch range within the Auto Union portfolio. This engine produced 75 horsepower at 3,400 rpm — a respectable output for a large luxury car of the late 1930s — and was paired with a four-speed all-synchromesh manual gearbox. The choice of a Horch-derived engine reflected Auto Union's strategy of sharing mechanical components across its brands to achieve economies of scale while maintaining brand differentiation through body styling and interior specification. The straight-six was smooth, quiet, and well-engineered — characteristics that positioned the 920 as a credible competitor to the Mercedes-Benz 320 and BMW 326 in the German upper-middle luxury segment.

Q: How many Audi 920 examples survive today?

The exact number of surviving Audi 920 examples is not precisely documented, but most automotive historians estimate that fewer than 20 complete vehicles remain in any form — whether original, partially restored, or in the process of restoration. The vast majority were lost to wartime bombing, requisition, or post-war scrapping during the severe material shortages of the 1940s and 1950s. Those that survive are primarily held by German automotive museums (including the Audi Museum Mobile in Ingolstadt), private European collectors, and occasionally the August Horch Museum in Zwickau. A complete, running Audi 920 in original or fully restored condition is a genuinely world-class automotive rarity worth preserving.

Should You Buy the Audi 920?

The Audi 920 is not a car to purchase — it is a car to revere, research, and experience in a museum setting. Its extreme rarity, specialised maintenance requirements, and historical significance place it far beyond conventional classic car ownership.

For Azerbaijani automotive enthusiasts, the Audi 920 is best understood as a piece of European industrial and cultural history rather than a vehicle with any practical connection to the Azerbaijani market. No example is likely to be found for sale through any conventional channel, and even if one were, the maintenance infrastructure, specialist expertise, and parts sourcing required would place it firmly in the category of museum-grade preservation rather than active ownership. The 920's significance lies in what it represents: the highest ambition of the Audi brand before the catastrophe of World War II, and the pre-war foundation of the four-ring heritage that all modern Audis carry. If you want to understand where Audi came from, the Audi Museum Mobile in Ingolstadt is the place — not the used car market.