Auto Union Type D was the final Gran Prix model built by the German company. The car, powered by 3 litres supercharged V12 engine, was introduced in 1938 and raced in 1938-39. The team started the 1938 season with Rudolf Hasse and Hermann Müller as drivers and Christian Kautz, moving from Mercedes, as junior driver. Ulrich Bigalke and Ewald Kluge were reserve drivers. The team’s lineup at the start of the season was not stellar, and later in the season Auto Union signed on Tazio Nuvolari and re-employed Hans Stuck.
Hasse, Müller and Kautz were entered for the 1934 ACF Grand Prix, with four cars available (two new type D streamliners and two old type C open cars), but Müller crashed his car the practice, and was not able to start. Hasse also crashed streamliner #20, but without injuries to himself. So Hasse and Kautz started the race in open cars (#20 and #16 respectively), but both drivers retired after crashes on the opening lap.
Minichamps produced this model as “Auto Union Typ D Stromlinie – Rudi Hasse French GP 1935”. This is definitely 1938 car from French GP, but Hasse drove #20, while #18 streamliner was driven by Hermann Müller. During practice Müller also drove open racecar #16 which he crashed. There is no photo evidence of Hasse driving streamliner #18 in practice. In the race both started Auto Unions (#16 by Kautz and #20 by Hasse) were open-wheels cars.
| Season | Series | Event |
| 1938 | GP | French GP |
| Driver | No. | Entrant |
| Hermann Paul Muller / Rudolf Hasse (?) | 18 | Auto Union AG |
| Scale | Manufacturer | Collection |
| 1:43 | Minichamps | |
| Cat. No. | Quality | Rarity |
| 410382018 | 
| 
|
| 200 pcs. Limited Edition |
formula143 