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Hitler's Favorite, 1939 Auto Union D-Type Failed to Sell

The 1939 Auto Union D-type auctioned by Bonhams at the Quail Lodge this weekend failed to sell, in spite of what everybody thought. The bidding for this rare piece of automotive history stalled at $6 million, thus failing to reach the car’s reserve price set at $8 million.

As we said, this D-type with rear-mounted 3-liter twin-stage supercharged V12-cylinder engine was driven by Hans Stuck in the 1939 Grand Prix racing season.

One of Hitler’s favorites, the car in question is chassis ‘19’, which finished on the fifth place in the German EifelRennen event on the North Circuit of the Nurburgring, and on the sixth in the Grand Prix de l’Automobile Club de France.

Hitler’s obsession for motor racing was well fueled by the domination of the Silver Arrows in the '30s. Stuck, who was a friend of Hitler’s chauffeur, met the Führer on a hunt in the mid-twenties and since then he was protected by the Nazi leader throughout his career.

As Hitler’s favorite racing driver, the SS persuaded Auto Union to keep Stuck in the team, though its place was offered at some moment to somebody else.

However, this wasn’t the only highlight of the auction that failed to sell. Evel Knievel's Ferrari Daytona Spyder and a rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S didn't reach their reserve prices, either, Luxist reported.

Nevertheless, some rare cars did sell, including a 1933 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Convertible Victoria ($1.4 million) along with a 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupe, a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster and a 1931 Bentley Birkin-Style Tourer, eache for $800,000.
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