1939 Horch 855 Special Roadster
An almost implausibly long, abundantly louvered hood (running nearly to the base of a low, vee’d windshield) defined the 855 Special Roadster’s visual character above all else.
From the windshield, the body dropped sharply away, doors dipping and sweeping around into a short rear deck, the whole flanked by tapering pontoon fenders that stretched past the tail.
Coachwork of this caliber was supplied by Germany’s finest builders (Erdmann & Rossi, Gläser, and Horch’s own shops), with seven examples individually commissioned to order.
The chassis beneath was a distinct step beyond the 853. The wheelbase was shortened to 130 inches (3,300 mm), and the suspension featured independent front suspension, a de Dion rear axle, and hydraulic shock absorbers.
Power came from the same overhead-cam inline eight used in the 853A, producing 120 PS (approximately 118 hp SAE), here installed in the most developed chassis Horch produced before the war.
Priced at 22,000 Reichsmarks, the 855 was aimed squarely at the top of the German market, competing directly with the Mercedes-Benz 500K and 540K for buyers who wanted the ultimate expression of prewar German coachbuilding. Seven examples were produced between 1936 and 1939, of which three are known to survive.
Source
