A Danish German with Italian roots – the remarkable DKW MilleSpecial

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The historic car brand DKW is well known to many, but few realize how many different nationalities were involved in its story. Founded by a Dane in Germany, DKW grew into one of the pillars of Auto Union during the 1930s. Over time, production shifted several times: first within the then Soviet-occupied zone, and later back to fully German territory.
What is less known, however, is that DKW also had a remarkable Italian connection.

Recently, Frank Endert managed to acquire a rare DKW 1000 “MilleSpecial” by Fissore. This model was designed by an Italian coachbuilder. The MilleSpecial stands out from the standard DKW or Auto Union 1000 models through several distinctive styling elements, such as one-piece bumpers following the car’s rounded lines and chrome strips along the doors. The result is a more elegant, refined appearance compared to the conventional versions.
As far as is known, the MilleSpecial was produced only in very limited numbers. Exactly how many were built – and how many survive today – remains uncertain.

Hence this call: Who can help Frank find more information about this unique and rare DKW?

Text by Laurens Klein

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