For Sale: 1961 Auto Union 1000S in Christiansburg, Virginia

The 1961 Auto Union 1000S is a classic, compact executive car built by the German manufacturer Auto Union (a direct predecessor to modern-day Audi) under the DKW brand name. It is highly celebrated for its distinctive, aerodynamic body shape and its unconventional engineering.The defining trait of the 1000 S is its powertrain, which relies on a layout vastly different from most cars of its era:- Engine Type: 3-cylinder, inline, two-stroke engine.- Displacement: 981 cc- Power Output: 50 horsepower (38kW)- Top Speed: Approximately 130 km/h (81 mph).- Simplicity: The engine was famous for having only 7 moving parts (three pistons, three connecting rods, and one crankshaft), making it incredibly durable.- The "3=6" Concept: DKW heavily marketed their 3-cylinder two-stroke engines under the slogan "3=6". They claimed that because a two-stroke fires twice as often as a four-stroke, a 3-cylinder engine possessed the power and smoothness of a standard 6-cylinder engine.The 1000-series was among the last major vehicle lines powered by two-stroke engines before Volkswagen purchased Auto Union in the mid-1960s. Volkswagen soon phased out the smoky two-stroke motors in favor of four-stroke engines, subsequently re-introducing the "Audi" nameplate to the global automotive market. Today, models like the 1000 S are prized collector cars, carrying the iconic four interlocking rings that symbolize the original merger of Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer.This 1961 Auto Union 1000 S has been a part of the Duncan Imports collection since 2017.