23d Auto Union Racing Car / Large Closed Racing Car (1936-1950)

And here a view into my Auto Uniondrawer.Back row fromtop: 1.First prewar issue without slits for the driverand without racing number 2.Second prewar issue with slits,but no driver.With racing number Front row fromtop: 3.Early postwar issue with driverand smooth crank case,no racing numbers 4.Postwar issue with grooved crank case,slits,but no driver 5.French issue without racing numbers Regards Walter

Thanks for all these nice details ! Do also examples occur with clamped base plates - like the Mecedesand Speed of the Wind ? Is he mould for the Britishand the French one the same ? ( exceptfor the openor closed axles holes).And,is the name ' Auto Union' always present on the base plates ? ( exceptof course for the French issue).Kind regards,Jan

Hi Jan,Here my answer to your questions: 1.Yes,all the prewar Auto Unionhave clamped (clipped - in) base plates.Riveting came post - war only.2.Yes,exactly the same.With slits for the driver,even though there never was a driver in the French issue.3.No.The prewar issues have no model name AUTO UNIONon the baseplate.Only postwar,even though the official name was now ' large closed racing car '.And the French baseplate does have AUTO UNIONengraved too.Hope this answers your questions.Best regards fromThailand Walter

Dear Jan.I am sorry but I don ' t understand what you mean by ' clamped base plates '.But,I can answer the other questions.1 ) Mould: I don ' t know if it the english mould for the french version but it was, at least, modified because: a - the font skirt is rounded on my english version and angular on my french version.b - on the bonnet of the french version you can see a ' gazoline trap ' In fact, it is an injection trace.c - my french version has ' auto - union' engraved at the rearand look the same as the british version

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I forgot an another difference The prominent part of the base plate is smooth for the french version Friendly yours Richard

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Good game Walter.Please,look at my message to Janand you will know the other differences;Friendly yours Richard

A thank you for both of you ! I will have to compare some data,as I guess there are some puzzling things left...Kind regards,Ja

Hi Richard,to your b ): My French version is rounded at the front, same as the British issue (see pic).So I think your version suffered a little when molded.Regards fromThailand Walter

Richard,the ' prominent part ' is the crank caseand on my French issue it is grooved too,like on the British issue.Perhaps another manufacturing flaw when smooth ?Or did the press worn out ? Only the very early post - war British issues have smooth crank cases,then grooved again,like on the prewar issues.Cheers Walter

Richard,As far as your ' gasoline cap ' is concerned,the British issues have them too,some more,some less.This is indeed an injection trace,as you guessed.Walter

Hi Richard,No other differences,I ' m afraid.The body is exactly the same,the filler cap is on the British issues too,the pointed front end in your model is a manufacturing flaw,both versions have grooves on the crank case.For further detailsand pictures for proof please see my replies to your above statements.Hope you can agree.Unless there were two versions,as suggested by Jacques.An early version (mine)and a later version (yours).But I have my doubts.Why should they have modified it ? But then again,who really knows ? Best regards fromThailand Walter

Hi Walter.According to my documents,it seems that the rounded front was manufactured in 1949and the angular from1952.As you,I don ' t know why Meccano modified it ! I confirm that my french one has no grooves on the crank case.Friendly yours Richard