1937 Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet
1937 Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet
"The most genuine Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet in the world"
• Production years: 1935 - 1937
• Production total: Approximately 680
• Survivors: Approximately 30
• Engine: 8-cylinder inline, 4,944 ccm, 100hp at 3,400rpm
• Chassis number: 853 493
• Engine number: 851 071
After gaining experience at Karl Benz's factory, August Horch, one of the founding fathers of the German automobile industry, started his own company. He settled in the city of Zwickau, which became synonymous with luxury sports car manufacturing. The top Horch models of the 1930s, such as the Type 853, were based on advanced straight 8-cylinder engines and reached their pinnacle between 1937 and 1940.
This particular 1937 Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet, chassis number 853 493, is one of approximately 30 surviving examples today. It was delivered new on 19th April 1937 to Konsul Aksel Holm of Ålesund, Norway. In 1943, during WWII, the car was confiscated by the German Wehrmacht and handed over to Lieutenant General Ernst-August Roth, commander of the Luftwaffe in Norway. After the liberation in 1945, Norwegian troops confiscated the car and handed it to Crown Prince Olav of Norway. The Prince used the car during the grand victory parade on the streets of Trondheim on June 10, 1945.
Post-War Ownership History:
• 1945 – 1950: Used as a state car for representation purposes in Trondheim.
• 1950 – 1960: Owned privately in Trondheim.
• Circa 1960: Sold to Ola Borge, a renowned collector with a private museum on the
island of Osteroy near Bergen, Norway. He kept the car in pristine condition until his
passing.
• 2011: Sold to Lutz Severin, a well-known German collector specializing in Horch
automobiles.
• 2015: Sold to the VOLANTE Collection, Germany.
The car remains in remarkably original condition, having been minimally altered since the 1940s. It retains all its original technical components with matching numbers, including its straight 8-cylinder engine. With an odometer reading of less than 20,000 km, this Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet is considered the most original example of its type in existence. Its well-documented history, extraordinary state of preservation, and road-going condition make it an outstanding opportunity for a true connoisseur of classic automobiles.