Horch 850 is a luxury passenger car produced by the German marque Horch (part of Auto Union AG) from 1935 to 1940. It succeeded the earlier Horch 8 series as well as the twelve-cylinder 600/670 as Horch's top model. It was positioned as a high-end vehicle aimed at wealthy clientele, government officials, and diplomats. The model featured a powerful 5.0-liter inline-eight petrol engine and was offered in various body styles, including Pullman limousines, convertibles, and sportier variants. Approximately 2,200 units of all variants were built at the Horch plant in Zwickau before production ended due to World War II.

History Horch introduced the 850 in 1935 as a larger, more expensive complement to the V8-powered 830 series. The car was developed under Auto Union, which had merged Horch with Audi, DKW, and Wanderer in 1932. Early models produced 100 PS (74 kW), while from 1937 onward, engine output was increased to 120 PS (88 kW) through camshaft modifications and a higher compression ratio. In 1937, the lineup expanded with the 851 (luxury Pullman versions with added features such as a retractable partition and double shock absorbers) and the shorter-wheelbase 853 Sport convertible. The 951 and 951A (introduced in 1937–1938) featured a longer body, De Dion rear axle, and standard overdrive. Sport models like the 853A and rare 855 roadster were produced in limited numbers until 1939, when wartime restrictions curtailed civilian production.

Design All Horch 850 series models shared a common powertrain based on a 4,944 cc (302 cu in) straight-eight engine with ten main bearings and an overhead camshaft (OHC), driven by a vertical shaft from the crankshaft. The engine had a bore of and a stroke of . Early versions ran at 5.8:1 compression; later ones used 6.1:1. Power was transmitted via a four-speed manual gearbox with a central shift lever and an optional, 0.714 ratio overdrive ("Autobahn-Ferngang"). The overdrive became standard fitment on the 853A in 1938. The electrical system operated at 12 volts.

The chassis consisted of a ladder frame with box-section side rails and X-shaped reinforcements. Suspension used an independent front setup with transverse leaf springs and a rigid rear axle with semi-elliptic springs (De Dion axle on some later sport and 951 models). Brakes were hydraulic drums with vacuum servo assistance. Fuel capacity was 95 liters, with average consumption around 22–23 L/100 km.

Production Total production reached approximately 2,200 units:

Pullman limousines and convertibles (850/851/951 series): ~1,186 units Sport convertibles and roadsters (853/853 A/855): ~1,023 units (including ~10–15% with custom coachwork)

Body codes included PL4 (4-door Pullman limousine), PC4 (Pullman convertible), Cb2/Cb4 (convertibles), T6 (6-seat touring car), and R2 (roadster). Horch limited themselves to producing mainly limousine (saloon) and convertible bodywork of a somewhat staid design as in-house bodies. More rakish and sportier body designs were entrusted to various independent coachbuilders, primarily Gläser but also Erdmann & Rossi and others. Notable examples include the 1937 Bernd Rosemeyer "Manuela" coupé by Erdmann & Rossi.

Surviving examples are highly prized by collectors and frequently appear at Concours d'Elegance events. The model symbolized Auto Union's engineering skill before the war and influenced later Audi branding (Horch's four-ring logo was later adopted by the modern Audi company). A small number of Horch 850s are preserved in museums, including the EFA-Museum für Deutsche Automobilgeschichte in Germany.

Gallery (factory bodies)

Special coachwork The Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet is a cabriolet bodied by in 1937. It was not the first special-bodied, sporting Horch, being preceded by the Reinbolt & Christe-bodied Horch 710 Spezial Roadster amongst others. It was fitted with the straight-eight engine and the 4-speed manual transmission.

The history of the car remains a mystery. During the war, the Allied bombers destroyed the Voll & Ruhrbeck plant, and along with it the Horch 853 documentation. The car was captured by the French government and fell into the hands of French army Marshal Jean de Lattre de Tassigny. In the post-war period, the car was moved to Switzerland, after which it changed owners multiple times and was restored.

Gallery (Special bodies)

Technical data and comparation Model 850, 851, 951, and 951A 850 851 951 951A Year of introduction 1935–1937 1937–1938 1937 1938–1940 Platform PL4, PC4, SA PL4, PC4 T6, PL4, PC4, Cb4 Engine In line eight cylinder four stroke gasoline engine Valve timing Overhead camshaft (OHC) Bore × Stroke 87 mm × 104 mm Displacement 4944 cc Max power Consumption 22 l/100 km 23 l/100 km Top speed Curb weight Total weight On board voltage 12 Volt Length Width Height Wheelbase Front/Rear Track 1470 mm/1500 mm 1510 mm/1516 mm Turning Circle

Model 850 Sport, 853, 853A and 855

850 Sport 853 853A 855 Year of introduction 1935–1936 1935–1939 1938–1939 Platform Cb2 R2 Engine In line eight cylinder four stroke gasoline engine Valve timing Overhead camshaft (OHC) Bore × Stroke 87 mm × 104 mm Displacement 4944 cc Max power from 1937: Consumption 22 l/100 km Top speed Curb weight Total weight On board voltage 12 Volt Length 5230–5350 mm Width 1830 mm 1810 mm Height 1580 mm 1560 mm Wheelbase Front/Rear Track 1510 mm/1576 mm Turning Circle 14.5 m 13.5–14.5 m

Bodywork codes T6 = Touring car PL4 = Limousine PC4 = Limousine Convertible Cb2 = Convertible Cb4 = Convertible R2 = Roadster SA = Special version

References

Sources Oswald, Werner: Alle Horch Automobile 1900–1945. 1st Edition, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1979, Oswald, Werner: Deutsche Autos 1920–1945. Alle deutschen Personenwagen der damaligen Zeit. 10th Edition. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1996,