In the 1930s, demand for high-performance cars in Germany dramatically rose as enthusiasts wanted sporting machines to use for everyday driving and weekend racing. BMW led the way with their sporty and robust 328, which proved to be a formidable competitor in club racing and one of the most successful German racing cars of the period. Wanderer, part of the Auto Union group consisting of Audi, DKW, and Horch, was one of BMW’s chief rivals, and they too wanted a piece of this increasingly popular market. To do so, they turned to Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche GmbH to develop a new sports car. Using Wanderer’s robust alloy block 2-liter overhead-valve inline-six as a basis, Dr. Porsche added a supercharger, boosting output to a healthy 85 horsepower. The rest of the new sporting model, dubbed W25 K (for Kompressor), was impressively designed with the latest sporting technology. The box-section chassis featured independent front suspension, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, and a four-speed manual gearbox. Wanderer contracted with Wendler Karrosserie to create the beautifully flowing coachwork, offered as a cabriolet or a svelte two-seat roadster. The latter was about 150 pounds lighter, making it the choice for the serious sporting driver. The W25 K nearly achieved its goal of going head-to-head with 328, as it was very similar in size and power. While the slightly heavier Wanderer couldn’t quite match the performance of its Bavarian counterpart, it was still a marvelous sports car, with the cachet of a brilliant supercharged engine from the pen of the great Ferdinand Porsche. Sadly, Auto Union’s factories fell under Eastern control after World War II, and while Audi and DKW survived, Horch and Wanderer were no more. Surviving examples are highly prized by preeminent collectors, including Peter Mullin, whose W25 K Roadster has the distinction of being the only German car in his world-class museum.

Chassis number 180242 is one of a handful of known survivors from the limited run of 258 Wanderer W25 Ks produced between 1936 and 1938, and this fabulous example spent many years in Paul & Barbara Karassik’s impressive collection of pre-war German automobiles.

For those not familiar with the Karassiks, they are best known for their harrowing adventures hunting down historically significant cars far behind the Iron Curtain and in the depths of Soviet-era Russia. Their most extraordinary finds came in the 1980s when they relentlessly tracked down the remains of two pre-war Auto Union Type D Grand Prix cars and essentially smuggled them out of Russia, bribing officials and customs agents all the way to the Finnish border. Audi later acquired and restored both for their museum, and the two machines are affectionately known to this day as the “Karassik Auto Unions.”

With the Karassiks’ broad knowledge of Auto Union motorcars, this ‘38 Wanderer W25 K was undoubtedly in good hands since joining their collection in the late 1980s. Little is known of the Wanderer’s history prior to their acquisition, though the car allegedly spent time in a California car dealer showroom shortly after World War II. The Karassiks purchased it in 1989, and restored the car in its current and striking black and cream livery during their tenure. It was shown on rare occasions, notably at prestigious events, including the Amelia Island Concours and the 1999 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, as part of a special class of Auto Union cars. Otherwise, the W25 K quietly remained part of their private stable and was rarely seen. Following Paul Karassik’s passing, the Wanderer came into current ownership and received an extensive restoration. Freshly completed, the W25 K Roadster presents in superb condition, ideal for resuming its concours career or for entry into a wide range of road tours and rallies. The paint is beautifully refinished to a high standard in the authentic black and cream livery. Exterior brightwork is exceptionally well-preserved since the initial restoration, and the car rides on proper painted wire wheels with appropriately sporty black wall tires. The cockpit is also freshly restored and fully detailed using period-style black leather upholstery.  Mechanically, this car benefits significantly from recent attention to the braking and fuel systems, restored electrics, and thorough fettling to ensure it runs and drives as well as it looks. It now performs superbly, and Dr. Porsche’s magnificent supercharged inline-six emits an intoxicating bark from the exhaust – akin to a scaled-down Alfa 8C.

The Wanderer W25 K is an appealing and significantly rarer alternative to the BMW 328, offering high style from one of Germany’s most revered coachbuilders and the intrigue of a supercharged engine tuned by one of motoring’s greatest engineers, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. This marvelous example is one of a scant few to appear on the open market and represents a rare opportunity to add one of these gorgeous and fascinating pre-war German sports cars to your stable.

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