HORCH 853 ERDMANN & ROSSI SPEZIAL ROADSTER

Introduction

The Horch 853 Spezial Roadster by Erdmann & Rossi is one of the most iconic and luxurious cars of the 1930s. This beautiful vehicle represents the pinnacle of German automotive engineering and design from the pre-war era.

The Horch 853 was introduced in 1935 by the Horch factory, part of Auto Union (later Audi). The 853 was designed as a luxury grand tourer, intended for society’s absolute elite. The Spezial Roadster, a modified version of the 853, was designed and built by the Berlin-based body shop Erdmann & Rossi. They were renowned for their high-quality, tailored bodies for Europe’s most prestigious clients.

The design of the Spezial Roadster is stunning: a long bonnet, flowing lines, and a low, streamlined body with striking mudguards. The car also featured a distinctive Art Deco-style interior, with luxurious materials such as leather and wood veneer. The attention to detail and craftsmanship were second to none.

Only a handful of Horch 853 Spezial Roadsters were built. A symbol not only of the technical progress and craftsmanship of the 1930s, but also of the culture of luxury and exclusivity that prevailed among the European elite before World War II. It is one of those cars that represent an era and still evoke admiration for their beauty and technical performance.

The history of Horch

Horch is a historic German automobile brand founded by August Horch, a pioneer in the automobile industry, on November 14, 1899. The history of Horch is closely linked to the development of the German automobile industry.

August Horch was a talented engineer who previously worked for Karl Benz, the inventor of the automobile. In 1899 he decided to found his own company in Cologne under the name “A. Horch & Cie.” In 1901, Horch produced his first car. The company quickly became known for its technically advanced and reliable vehicles.

In 1904 the company moved to Zwickau, Saxony, where it expanded further and changed its name to “A. Horch & Cie. Motorwagenwerke AG”. During this period, Horch began producing larger and more luxurious cars, earning the brand a prestigious reputation.

In 1909 a conflict arose between August Horch and the other shareholders of his company. This led to Horch leaving the company. Soon after, he founded a new car brand called Audi. “Audi” is the Latin translation of the German word “Horch”, which means “to listen”. This allowed Horch to keep his name in a creative way without infringing on the rights of his former company.

Despite the departure of the founder, Horch continued to grow as a brand. In 1932, it merged with three other German car brands (Audi, DKW, and Wanderer) to form Auto Union. This merger led to the creation of one of the largest car companies in Germany. The logo with the four rings, still used by Audi, symbolizes these brands.

After World War II, Horch’s headquarters, located in the Soviet occupation zone, were nationalized and the brand disappeared completely in the 1950s.

Although the Horch brand no longer exists, it remains an important part of the history of the German automotive industry. The luxurious and innovative cars produced under the Horch name

are highly appreciated by collectors and car enthusiasts today. Horch’s heritage also lives on in Audi, which as part of Auto Union is a direct descendant of the original Horch company.

The history of Erdmann & Rossi

Erdmann & Rossi was a prestigious German coachbuilder, famous for luxurious and bespoke designs for automobiles in the early 20th century. With a focus on sophistication and craftsmanship, the company gained a reputation as one of Europe’s leading coachbuilders, with an exclusive clientele and rivals in the same elite class.

Erdmann & Rossi was founded in 1898 by Wilhelm Erdmann and Eduard Rossi in Berlin. Initially, the company focused on building carriages and horse-drawn vehicles, but with the rise of the automotive industry, they shifted their attention to designing luxury car bodies.

The company grew rapidly thanks to their craftsmanship and attention to detail. In the 1920s and 1930s, Erdmann & Rossi was one of the few coachbuilders in Germany to produce handcrafted bodies for brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Horch, Maybach, and Bugatti. Their designs were known for their elegance, perfection, and innovation, making them a favorite among Europe’s elite.

They became famous for clean, streamlined designs that were both elegant and functional. Their bodies were often handmade, with great attention to detail and customization, which allowed them to create unique vehicles that perfectly met the needs of their discerning customers. One of their most famous creations is the Mercedes-Benz 540K, a luxury convertible that is still considered a masterpiece of automotive design to this day. The design featured flowing lines, an impressive grille and a refined finish: a true status symbol.

Erdmann & Rossi’s clientele consisted of the most influential and prosperous people of their time. European royalty, industrialists, prominent politicians and celebrities were among their clientele. Erdmann & Rossi’s cars were often personalized to the customer’s taste, making each vehicle unique. One of their most famous customers was the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who had several cars built by the company. In addition, the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso was also a well-known customer. And Dutch Prince Berhard of course or Rudolf Caracciola, just to name a few.

One of their most stiking designs however, is accomplished in ‘ Manuela’, a Horch 853 Coupe buildt for race car driver Bernd Rosemeyer.

Erdmann & Rossi operated in a competitive market, in which the most renowned coachbuilders in Europe were active. Their main competitors were companies such as Jacques Saoutchik, Carrosserie Vanvooren, Chapron and Hermann Graber. Each of these companies was known for their craftsmanship and building custom, luxury bodies for high-end car brands. Although Erdmann & Rossi was often seen as one of the top names in this industry, the competition meant that they had to continuously innovate in order to maintain their position at the top.

Horch Chassis Number 853177

Unfortunately, already in the chaos of war, the body structure of the Horch 853177 appeared to have been damaged and lost. According to the information we have, somewhere in the past, the chassis had been equipped with a flatbed and used it as an agricultural vehicle. In 2009 the rolling remains of this once automotive marvel, the rolling chassis with engine and gearbox were discovered on a farm in the Ukraine.

After establishing that it was not possible to retrieve through research what body structure this Horch was originally equipped with and since the original body was no longer available for restoration, Horch Classic had decided to build a Horch 853 Spezial Roadster with a body from Erdmann & Rossi Berlin on the restored, original chassis. Erdmann & Rossi were closely involved in the project to ensure its consistency with the historic original bodies. In fact, it is today the only fully licenced Erdmann & Rossi Horch Spezialroadster in the world!

Due to their technical know-how, professional competence and the claim to achieve the highest quality, Horch-Classic enjoys a more than positive reputation both nationally and internationally. The vehicles restored or rebuilt by them are known in the scene for a superb standard of quality. It is not without reason that Horch-Classic was the only restoration company in the world to receive the license from AUDI Tradition to carry the “protected Horch brand” in the company name to be able to continue the tradition of this luxury brand.

The full restoration and reconstruction of Horch 853177 lasted over 5 years, and many thousands of man-hours invested. Actually, the rebuild value for such an unique automobile exceeded 2.5m€ as confirmed by the original Expert Evaluation.

Let’s have a closer look into some of the details of this car, just a few examples to get an idea of the exceptional quality of this car:

• The extensive trims are made of brass and are chrome plated.

• The Horch logo’s front and rear are plated with 24 karat gold.

• All glass is new and period-correct except for the use of laminated glass on the windscreen and sidescreens out of security reasons.

• The ‘Fish’-silver/red color combo is based on historic documentation.

• The dash is covered with Canedian burl veneer, laquered with a red hue varnish and polished to match the interior and exterior.

• The interior is clad in period-correct grain and quality hide, throughout dyed to match the authentic and distinctive sporty look.

Today it, this Horch SpeziaRoadster represents the very best in elegance, craftsmanship, performance and design of the most prestigious pre-war cars.

And still today, this Horch offers an unique opportunity for someone who carves his own path to secure a truly exceptional car, matching his personality.

Ask for our free brochure, featuring the wonderful pictures of Rémi Dargegen.