Horch · 1935–1940

Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet

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.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Audi Prologue

All Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

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 87 mm (3.43 in) and a stroke of 104 mm (4.09 in). 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 ave

Special coachwork

The Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet is a cabriolet bodied by Voll & Ruhrbeck 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 120 PS (88 kW) 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 === Model 850 Sport, 853, 853A and 855. Bodywork codes T6 = Touring car PL4 = Limousine PC4 = Limousine Convertible Cb2 = Convertible Cb4 = Convertible R2 = Roadster SA = Special version

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Horch 850/851/853/853A/855/951/951A
Manufacturer: Horch
Production: 1935–1940 , 2,200 produced
Predecessor: Horch 8
Class: Full-size luxury car (F)
Body style: 4-door cabriolet, 2-door cabriolet, 4-door saloon
Transmission: 4-speed manual /optional overdrive
Assembly: Zwickau, Germany
Layout: FR layout
Engine: 4,944 cc Typ 850 I8
Wheelbase: 853/853A/855: 3300 mm, 850/850S/853/853A: 3450 mm, 850/851/951/951A: 3750 mm

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41550684CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horch_850CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1370585324 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1937_Horch_853_(26176121674).jpgCC0 · Photo: Steve Ginn from Western Washington, United States · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.