1955 DKW Auto Union Schnellaster Tieflader 3=6

The Schnellaster, or Rapid Transporter, was launched by West Germany’s DKW Auto Union in 1949. The Tiefader model, or Low Loader truck model, highlighted the Schnellaster’s versatility, with its ultra-low 16” deck height.

This 1955 DKW Schnellaster Tiefader is from the inaugural model year for the two-stroke, three-cylinder, roller-crank, “3=6” engine. Accompanied by a copy of its original laufkarte, or build sheet, from the Audi Archives, it was assembled at Ingolstadt, Germany, on March 9, 1955, and shipped directly to Peter Satori Motors in Pasadena, California. After removal from service in 1960, the Tiefader was stored in an industrial warehouse until it was discovered in Sacramento in 2012 by the current owner, a noted marque restorer. The consignor, who is known for tackling challenging European curios of the 1950s, commenced its frame-off restoration in late 2013. Numerous NOS and original parts were sourced from around the world, and thousands of hours of impassioned effort went into the show-quality restoration. The consignor reports that this is not only the only known Schnellaster Tiefader in North America, but it is also the only known fully restored example in existence.

Fresh, distinctive, and rare, this Tiefader is presented in its originally specified Javabraun (Java Brown) livery, rich with countless fascinating details, and ready to show and enjoy.