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The Same Horch From The Series “Shield And Sword”: A Retro-test “At The Wheel”

2024

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Video: The Same Horch From The Series “Shield And Sword”: A Retro-test “At The Wheel”

Video: The Same Horch From The Series “Shield And Sword”: A Retro-test “At The Wheel”
Video: THANOS SWORD TEST! 2024, March
The Same Horch From The Series “Shield And Sword”: A Retro-test “At The Wheel”
The Same Horch From The Series “Shield And Sword”: A Retro-test “At The Wheel”
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Horch 830 BL: Imperial Spirit

I can’t even believe that this did happen, and Horch and I met live!

Many years ago, I saw such a car in the photo and almost simultaneously - in the Soviet series about scouts "Shield and Sword", where Horch 853 played a prominent supporting role. Since then, I considered this car if not the most beautiful in the world, then certainly one of the most. Yes, and now I think about the same. But at the wheel of the famous 853rd was the first time.

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Surprisingly, everything turned out not to be as complicated as I thought, with some trepidation, sitting down in a spacious, soft, lordly chair. Horch and I started off cautiously, in a whisper. A huge engine - there in front, behind a chic wooden dashboard - rumbles confidently, but not loudly. A feeling of obedience and, paradoxically, even some lightness of the car comes very quickly. But he is a giant! And in every sense, including the giant of German engineering and design.

Horch 853 is a combination of amazing technical solutions. Body frame - beech, sheathed in steel; wide steps are wooden and simply upholstered with rubber, but the long “wings” of the hood are aluminum!

So, more than five meters in length and under two and a half tons of mass, the wheelbase is almost three and a half meters! And the car accelerates easily and willingly. Even if you mistakenly include a third gear instead of the first gear. Which at first I, I repent, did. The thrust of the inline 5-liter engine is such that the slip is almost imperceptible. The gears shift easily and quite clearly. And Horch slows down pretty well. After all, he has not only hydraulic brakes, but also a vacuum booster. This is in the mid 1930s!

В этом автомобиле нет места суррогатам. Дерево - деревянное, металл - металлический, кожа - кожаная. Крыша крепится к рамке ветрового стекла тремя мощными замками
В этом автомобиле нет места суррогатам. Дерево - деревянное, металл - металлический, кожа - кожаная. Крыша крепится к рамке ветрового стекла тремя мощными замками

This car has no place for surrogates. Wood - wood, metal - metal, leather - leather. The roof is attached to the windshield frame with three powerful locks. This car has no place for surrogates. Wood - wood, metal - metal, leather - leather. The roof is attached to the windshield frame with three powerful locks.

Огромный спидометр - посередине, а справа, конечно же, часы
Огромный спидометр - посередине, а справа, конечно же, часы

A huge speedometer is in the middle, and on the right, of course, is a clock. A huge speedometer is in the middle, and on the right, of course, is a clock.

Четвертая передача - повышающая, на рычаге обозначена буквой S
Четвертая передача - повышающая, на рычаге обозначена буквой S

The fourth gear is up, on the lever is indicated by the letter S. The fourth gear is up, on the lever is indicated by the letter S.

Красивая и емкая пепельница - непременный атрибут классного автомобиля тех лет
Красивая и емкая пепельница - непременный атрибут классного автомобиля тех лет

A beautiful and capacious ashtray is an indispensable attribute of a cool car of those years. A beautiful and capacious ashtray is an indispensable attribute of a cool car of those years.

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The steering wheel was easier than I expected: maneuvering even at low speeds is easy. The main thing is that there should be enough space for a huge convertible with a giant turning radius! When attaching a long hood to a narrow street under which a monumental five-liter engine rumbles, comparable in size to a refrigerator placed on its side, do not forget that there are still many, many expensive, chic cars. And if the roof is raised, to this is added and obscene by modern standards visibility. Which, of course, prompts special caution. So I don’t want to raise the roof at all.

Despite these features, the car, albeit scanty by today's standards of power - only 100 hp, quietly begins to provoke a more daring cornering. But this is just what you should not do. Horch 853, although at the time of his youth he was officially called a sports convertible, strictly speaking, it was not. Rather, sports and representative.

Сто двадцать на прямой - может быть. Но стóит на Хорьхе войти в поворот быстрее обычного, как он начинает сильно крениться
Сто двадцать на прямой - может быть. Но стóит на Хорьхе войти в поворот быстрее обычного, как он начинает сильно крениться

One hundred twenty on a straight line - maybe. But once Horch enters the bend faster than usual, he begins to roll strongly. One hundred and twenty in a straight line - maybe. But once Horch enters the bend faster than usual, he begins to roll strongly.

Немецкая хитрость - зеркало, совмещенное с дополнительной фарой
Немецкая хитрость - зеркало, совмещенное с дополнительной фарой

German trick - a mirror combined with an additional headlight. German trick - a mirror combined with an additional headlight.

As it was with Julian Semenov: “The reinforced motor“ferret”rumbled smoothly and powerfully. The speedometer’s arrow has approached the mark “120”.” I don’t know what kind of Horch the author of the novel “Seventeen Moments of Spring” meant (in the film, Stirlitz, as you know, was content with a much more massive and relatively inexpensive Mercedes W143), but I always wanted to think that it was such - 853rd. As for the “one hundred and twenty”, then on the line - maybe. But once Horch enters the turn a little faster than usual, he begins to heel heavily on an independent suspension, designed primarily for comfort. It looks from the driver's seat, and the outside is not very solid. Driving such a car is simply indecent.

By the way, this Horch has an important and very pleasant property: the owner of an expensive, luxurious two-door convertible, unlike the owner of a limousine, looked harmoniously not only on the soft back “sofa”, but also behind the wheel - without the risk of looking like a hired driver with yourself. Of course, Horch 853 was intended more for those who themselves will drive. But both in Germany and in the post-war USSR, where many of these cars got, the place of their owners was often still behind, the benefit of space there is enough for any passenger, and the door is so long that when landing and disembarking it allows you to maintain solidity - even fold back the backs of the front seats are optional.

Horch 853
Horch 853

Horch 853 Horch 853

MAIN CALIBER

The Horch 853 model was launched in 1935. The car was equipped with a 5-liter inline eight-cylinder engine producing 100 hp. and a 4-speed gearbox (optional with a fourth overdrive).

In 1937, the power was raised to 120 hp. and began to release a slightly modified version of 853A (in particular, overdrive became the base). In addition to standard convertibles, several roadsters of the Horch 855 model were made. Cars with custom-made single bodies were even more rare. The release of the 853 model continued until 1939, in all, about a thousand copies were made.

Mistakes of youth

Now, the Horch 853 is rightly considered a cult and legendary. But eight decades ago, his career began not at all smoothly.

The first exhibition model of the Horch 853 convertible (originally called the 850 Sport Cabriolet) with chassis number 853/001 was completed just a couple of days before the opening of the Berlin Motor Show on February 11, 1935. At the same time, the second car was still being tested and even damaged on the Nurburgring highway.

На каждое колесо - отдельный встроенный гидравлический домкрат
На каждое колесо - отдельный встроенный гидравлический домкрат

Each wheel has a separate built-in hydraulic jack. Each wheel has a separate built-in hydraulic jack.

Под алюминиевым капотом - огромная рядная «восьмерка»
Под алюминиевым капотом - огромная рядная «восьмерка»

Under the aluminum hood - a huge inline "eight." Under the aluminum hood - a huge inline "eight." Related Materials

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Horch 853 became the star of the car dealership. The wealthy customers enthusiastically accepted the huge, but elegant, majestic, but elegant, powerful and fast, comfortable convertible. And soon … disappointed. Vibrations appeared in the front suspension of the new cars, Horch's behavior in the turns was very uncertain, and the tires quickly wore out. The plant even had to suspend the assembly of flagship convertibles and, according to current terminology, recall already sold cars in order to finalize them at their own expense.

But all this did not affect the reputation of the model! Production was resumed already in 1936, and demand was again high. But for 14, 900 Reichsmarks in 1937 you could buy, say, three very decent Mercedes-Benz 170 V sedans, six Opel Cadets, or … one Horch 853 cabriolet.

ON PLENER AND ON FIRE

In addition to standard factory convertibles and roadsters, there were single models of cars with rare bodies of work of famous German ateliers.

Для основного пилота команды Auto Union Бернда Роземайера на шасси модели 853 построили купе с неофициальным именем Manuela - в единственном экземп­ляре. Несколько лет назад появилась реплика этого автомобиля
Для основного пилота команды Auto Union Бернда Роземайера на шасси модели 853 построили купе с неофициальным именем Manuela - в единственном экземп­ляре. Несколько лет назад появилась реплика этого автомобиля

For the main pilot of the Auto Union team, Bernd Rosemayer, a coupe with the unofficial name of Manuela was built on the 853 model chassis - in a single copy. A few years ago a replica of this car appeared. For the main pilot of the Auto Union team, Bernd Rosemayer, a coupe with the unofficial name of Manuela was built on the 853 model chassis - in a single copy. A few years ago a replica of this car appeared.

На основе опытного образца с шасси номер 002, разбитого в 1935 м на испытаниях, построили пожарный автомобиль, который многие годы служил на территории завода и сохранился до наших дней
На основе опытного образца с шасси номер 002, разбитого в 1935 м на испытаниях, построили пожарный автомобиль, который многие годы служил на территории завода и сохранился до наших дней

Based on the prototype with the chassis number 002, broken in 1935 m during the tests, a fire truck was built, which for many years served on the territory of the plant and survived to this day. Based on the prototype with the chassis number 002, broken in 1935 m during the tests, a fire truck was built, which for many years served on the territory of the plant and survived to this day.

Очень редкий заказной родстер работы ателье Erdmann & Rossi 1939 года. Таких машин, по сохранившимся данным, сделали всего пять, одну - для Геринга
Очень редкий заказной родстер работы ателье Erdmann & Rossi 1939 года. Таких машин, по сохранившимся данным, сделали всего пять, одну - для Геринга

A very rare custom roadster from the 1939 Erdmann & Rossi studio. According to the surviving data, only five such machines were made, one for Goering. A very rare custom roadster from the 1939 Erdmann & Rossi studio. According to the surviving data, only five such machines were made, one for Goering.

Absolute monarchy

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The flagship of Horch, and of the all-powerful Auto Union concern in those years, which also included Audi, DKW and Wanderer, became a cult car in the homeland back in the 1930s. In 1937, when the 5-liter engine was boosted to 120 hp, the company pompously noted the release of the 25 thousandth Horch car with an eight-cylinder engine. According to this indicator, the plant occupied first place in Europe at that time. In the center of imperial magnificent celebrations on this occasion (such events in the Reich were especially loved and organized with relish) was the model 853 cabriolet.

Owners of cars became not only rich, but also famous. Such a Horch was, for example, the pilot of the factory team Auto Union Italian Achille Varzi. And for the leader of the racing team and the favorite of the German public, Bernd Rosemayer made a special car with a coupe body in a single copy. In the late 1930s, the honorary director of the plant, August Horch himself, the founder of the company, who once survived a period of difficult relations with her, went to the Horch 853 cabriolet, but by then he was a member of the supervisory board of Auto Union.

В передней стойке - флажок указателей поворотов
В передней стойке - флажок указателей поворотов

In the front pillar - a turn signal indicator. In the front pillar - a turn signal indicator.

Horch 853 предоставлял полноценный комфорт и для задних пассажиров
Horch 853 предоставлял полноценный комфорт и для задних пассажиров

Horch 853 provided complete comfort for rear passengers. Horch 853 provided complete comfort for rear passengers.

Probably, not a single trophy car from those that entered the USSR has overgrown with as many myths as the Horch 853. Why didn’t they tell and write about it! Almost every second car necessarily belonged to someone from the top of the Third Reich (Goering was especially “lucky”), in extreme cases, to a certain illustrious Soviet marshal. After the war, Soviet marshals and generals in Horch really traveled, but not for long - they soon moved to domestic cars. Film shots have been preserved: Academician Alexei Schusev, a famous architect, comes to one of the post-war Moscow construction projects on the back "sofa" of Horch 853.

По современным меркам багажник невелик, и при необходимости дополнительный багаж крепили на кронштейнах
По современным меркам багажник невелик, и при необходимости дополнительный багаж крепили на кронштейнах

By modern standards, the trunk is small, and if necessary, additional luggage was mounted on brackets. By modern standards, the trunk is small, and if necessary, additional luggage was mounted on brackets.

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As for the top of the Third Reich, the official, ceremonial cars of fascist Germany were Mercedes. However, high military leaders also traveled to Khorkhi sometimes, and among them, judging by the surviving photos, Goering. He, a passionate lover of luxury, owned several exclusive cars, including the Horch 853, but with a special, custom-made bodywork from the Erdmann & Rossi studio. Only five such machines were made, the first - specifically for the Reichsmarschall.

But, in the end, all these stories, believable or completely mythical, are just foam! Horch 853, a masterpiece of the 1930s, is beautiful without them. And if in the automotive world there was the title of absolute monarch, it would probably be worth assigning to this car.

At least he is one of the main contenders.

POP, WHICH AUGUST

Август Хорьх
Август Хорьх

August Horch August Horch

August Horch (1868–1951) - engineer by training, worked at foundries and shipbuilding enterprises, then at Karl Benz. In 1900, he founded his own automobile company in Zwickau. In 1909, due to disagreements with the main shareholders, he was forced to leave it. Soon there, in Zwickau, a new company appeared - Audi, another offspring of August Horch (audi is the Latin equivalent of the German verb hören, in Russian - “listen, listen”; German horch! - wow!).

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