The 1937 Horch 853 ‘Manuela’ was a custom-built luxury coupe created for German racing legend Bernd Rosemeyer. Designed by Johannes Beeskow and built by Erdmann & Rossi, it featured a shortened Horch 853A chassis, a 4.5L inline-eight engine (120 hp), a 5-speed manual gearbox, and hydraulic drum brakes.
The car’s sleek design and luxury interior—black leather, handmade carpets, and a sliding fabric roof—won it first prize and the public’s choice award at the 1937 Concours d’Élégance in Brno.
Rosemeyer tragically died in 1938 during a land speed record attempt. The original ‘Manuela’ (nicknamed by Rosemeyer) was lost during WWII, but a detailed replica now resides at the Audi museum mobile, keeping its legacy alive.
