Built on the orders of Hitler, the world's most pricey car

In its day it won two grands prix and reached speeds that would not be surpassed for decades. Now a racer conceived as a symbol of Nazi domination is about to set a new record, as the world's most expensive car.



The 15ft 1939 Auto Union D-type is expected to fetch about £6 million when it goes under the hammer at Christie's in Paris, surpassing the record £5.5 million paid for a 1931 Bugatti Royale at the Royal Albert Hall 20 years ago.

The car's genesis dates back to the 1930s when Adolf Hitler provided the funds for two companies, Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz, to start producing racing cars that came to be known as Silver Arrows. The revolutionary cars were designed by the Austrian automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche.

The two companies fulfilled the führer's dream of German domination of grand prix racing. Their Silver Arrows won most grands prix races from 1934 onwards and set records that lasted for decades, reaching speeds of more than 186mph in 1937, and more than 250mph during land speed record runs.