Horch 853A Sportcabriolet 1938

1938 Horch 853A Sportcabriolet
Coachwork by Gläser of Dresden (see text)
Chassis no. 854126
Engine no. 851320

•Premier German marque
•One of only a handful of surviving Sportcabriolets
•Fully restored by Horch Classic
•Getrag five-speed gearbox

Part of the Auto Union since 1932, Horch produced a veritable plethora of model variations in the 1930s, ringing the changes on engine capacity, wheelbase, and styles of coachwork, but all were aimed squarely at the prestige end of the market where Horch was the only serious domestic rival to Mercedes-Benz. Introduced for the 1936 season, the 4.9-litre Type 853 was powered by a Fritz Fiedler-designed, SOHC, ten-bearing straight eight mounted in a solidly built chassis boasting a four-speed overdrive gearbox and servo-assisted hydraulic brakes. A stylish sports cabriolet, the 853/853a was produced up to the outbreak of war, by which time a mere 950 of these exclusive cars had been built.

It is believed that only five or six examples of the Horch 853a Sportcabriolet by Gläser are still in existence. Gläserkarosserie was a specialist in cabriolet coachwork, having taken out numerous related patents during the 1920s, and built many such bodies for Horch. Establishing who were the customers for these exclusive cars is very difficult, as Heinrich Gläser's original company ceased to exist after WW2, and nearly all factory records were either lost or destroyed. In February 1945, bombing damage had forced the relocation of Gläserkarosserie from its Dresden home to Ullersricht, near Weiden in Bavaria, where owner Erich Heuer resumed production after the war. In its new incarnation, Gläser manufactured cinema equipment, though the company did return to its traditional coachbuilding activities, albeit only briefly, as maker of the first cabriolet versions of Porsche's 356 sports car.

Found in Ukraine in 2012, this ultra-rare Horch 853a has been restored over a four-year period by Horch Classic. The body is most likely by Gläser, as many original body parts were identified before the restoration began, and these were cross-checked with an article in the December 1989 edition of 'Auto Illustrierte'. Compared with the standard 853a body, the most significant change in is the front wings, which lack the twin spare wheels; the recess is covered with metal panels, and without the spare wheels the car looks much more elegant.

In the course of restoration, the Horch was completely dismantled, including the interior, hood cover, doors, and all accessories. All the mechanical components, including the engine, gearbox, front and rear axles, etc were removed and the body separated from the chassis. The chassis frame was then cleaned, measured and the metal checked for thickness and corrosion. Parts of the frame that showed either too much corrosion or were deemed too thin were replaced and then primed and painted with multiple coats.

When removing the body, it became apparent that the wooden frame had rotted severely, necessitating the fabrication of a new wooden frame in ash, which was then given a protective coating against rot and fungi. The body's metal panels were restored by hand and replaced where necessary. Re-assembly was carried out using laser measurements. The hood was completely renewed, including the timber elements and the polished aluminium embellishments.

Mechanical assemblies such as the engine, axles, differential, gearbox and steering were dismantled, measured and overhauled where necessary. The engine received new bearings and new pistons, while the camshaft drive and crankshaft were overhauled, and seals fitted to the valve guides. The crankshaft was finely balanced together with the flywheel. Dynamometer tested for some 20 hours before reinstallation, the engine is reported to run very smoothly. Modern radial oil seals are fitted to the engine at front and rear. A Getrag five-speed gearbox was chosen (the later Horch 853a models could be ordered with a five-speed 'box), and this modern all-synchromesh transmission makes the car very easy to drive.

A new wiring loom has been made and covered with woven cotton to replicate the appearance of the original. It goes without saying that safety-critical components for the steering and hydraulic brakes were renewed also. All fuel pipes are made from copper and the brake pipes from Kunifer, while the exhaust system is stainless steel.

The body has been refinished in black, with a clear top coat and coach line applied by hand. The beige leather for the seats was chosen for its period-authentic surface texture. The Horch logo has been stitched into the back of the front seats and the door cards with a black thread, while the interior has been trimmed in high quality woollen carpet piped in the same leather as used for the seats. The car's complete and original condition prior to restoration meant that all lights, headlamps, chromed trim, and the mechanisms for the seats and doors could be refurbished rather than replaced.