Image of 1933 Horch 850/853, Note: These illustrations use artistic license and may differ from actual historical models.

Engine Specifications
Engine:	Straight 8
Displacement:	4.9L
Horsepower:	Estimated 100-120 HP
Torque:	Not available
Compression Ratio:	Not available
Ignition System:	Battery Ignition
Cooling System:	Water-cooled
Performance Specifications
0-60 Time:	Not available
1/4 Mile Time:	Not available
Top Speed:	90 mph
Transmission and Drive
Drive Type:	Rear Wheel Drive
Transmission Type:	Manual
Fuel and Efficiency
Fuel System Type:	Carburetor
MPG:	Not available
Dimensions and Brakes
Brakes:	Drum Brakes
Wheelbase:	135 inches
Weight:	Estimated 2,200 kg

Horch 850 and 853: A Grand Tourer from the Wrong Year

A Horch 853 is the sort of prewar automobile that can turn a quiet street into a parade route: long, low, and impossibly elegant, with a deep eight-cylinder note rolling out ahead of it. One important date correction, though: a factory-built 1933 Horch 850 or 853 does not fit the model’s chronology. The Horch 850 arrived in 1935, and the sportier 853 followed in 1937. A car described as a 1933 example may have an incorrect listing date, or the year may refer to another Horch model.

Horch was a prestigious German marque founded by August Horch. After leaving his original company, Horch established a new firm in Zwickau in 1909. He could not use his own surname for the new company, so he adopted “Audi,” the Latin translation of the German word horch, meaning “listen.” In 1932, Audi, Horch, DKW, and Wanderer joined to form Auto Union. Horch became the group’s flagship luxury brand, and the 850 and 853 represented its most imposing road cars.

The 850 was conceived for buyers who wanted serious comfort and presence, while the 853 added a more sporting character without abandoning luxury. Their moment in history was one of intense competition among European prestige makers, including Mercedes-Benz and Maybach. A notable detail is that beneath the coachwork, the cars combined a large straight-eight engine with modern-for-the-era front suspension, giving these imposing machines more road-going sophistication than their formal appearance might suggest.

Long Bonnet, Hand-Finished Cabin

The 850 and 853 wore the classic proportions of a grand prewar automobile: a long bonnet, upright radiator, sweeping front wings, running boards, and a passenger compartment set well back on the chassis. Brightwork, large headlamps, and a carefully shaped tail gave the cars a sense of occasion. The 853’s lines were especially striking in open form, where the extended bonnet and flowing rear body made it look fast even at rest.

These were luxury cars, and their cabins were finished accordingly. Depending on body and specification, occupants could find supple leather or high-quality cloth upholstery, polished wood trim, substantial carpeting, and carefully detailed metal fittings. Limousines emphasized quiet comfort and space; open cars put more emphasis on the view, fresh air, and the pleasure of travelling in full style.

Horch did not offer one single universal palette for every body. Paint and trim choices could vary with the body builder and customer order. Black and other deep, formal shades suited limousine use, while dark blue, green, burgundy, and contrasting two-tone schemes could complement a cabriolet’s sweeping lines. On surviving cars, restoration history can affect how faithfully a present-day color reflects the original specification.

The 850 range included formal sedans and Pullman-style limousines, as well as open bodies and coachbuilt variations. The 853 is best known in sporting cabriolet form, with elegant open coachwork that has become one of the family’s most recognizable looks. Coachbuilders such as Gläser and other specialists contributed to the era’s distinctive custom-bodied cars, so exact body styles and details can differ from one chassis to another.

Engineering That Matched the Prestige

At the heart of the 850 and 853 was a roughly 4.9-litre, overhead-valve inline-eight. The 850 was generally rated at about 100 metric horsepower, while the 853’s engine was tuned to around 120 metric horsepower. Power went through a manual four-speed gearbox to the rear wheels. These figures may vary slightly across model versions and sources, but the basic distinction is clear: the 853 offered a meaningful increase in performance.

For its time, the chassis was more than a simple platform for grand coachwork. The cars used independent front suspension, helping the front wheels respond more separately to uneven surfaces, while the rear retained a conventional live axle. Hydraulic brakes and a four-speed transmission gave the driver useful control over a large, heavy automobile. The result was a blend of traditional luxury-car construction and engineering intended for sustained road travel.

The 850 and 853 did not invent the luxury touring car, but they showed how a prestige marque could combine formal comfort, advanced chassis features, and strong straight-eight performance. Their place within Auto Union also helped preserve Horch as the group’s top-tier name at a time when the company was building its identity around several distinct brands.

Road Manners and Eight-Cylinder Character

Period performance figures are not always directly comparable, and factory-style 0-to-60-mph timings are not consistently available. As a practical guide, an 850 could reach roughly 120 km/h, or 75 mph, while an 853 was capable of about 130 to 135 km/h, or 81 to 84 mph, depending on body, gearing, and condition. A reasonable modern estimate for 0 to 60 mph is around 25 to 30 seconds for an 850 and approximately 20 to 25 seconds for an 853. Those are estimates, not guaranteed factory figures.

Neither car was a lightweight sports machine. On rough roads, the long wheelbase and substantial chassis helped smooth out smaller bumps, but broken surfaces still demanded respect, especially on old tires and unrestored suspension. On a winding road, the driver had to plan ahead: these cars reward measured steering and smooth inputs rather than quick direction changes. Their size and weight are part of the experience, not something to be hidden.

The straight-eight is central to the appeal. Rather than a sharp, high-revving bark, it produces a smooth, restrained mechanical rumble that gathers strength as the car accelerates. The driver works a manual gearbox and manages a large vehicle with period steering and braking characteristics. In a well-maintained example, the experience is less about speed than about effortless progress, mechanical presence, and the sensation of travelling in a carefully made machine.

Living with a Horch Today

Today, an 850 or 853 is primarily a collector car, a concours entrant, or a participant in historic touring events. Its size, value, age, and rarity make everyday use impractical for most owners. A carefully prepared car can cover distance on suitable roads, but it is not a modern grand tourer with contemporary safety systems, air conditioning, or readily available parts.

Maintenance calls for specialist knowledge. The engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, electrical equipment, and coachwork all require attention from people familiar with prewar German luxury cars. Some routine mechanical work is straightforward in principle, but parts can be scarce or need to be made to specification. Body repairs and restoration are particularly demanding because the coachwork may be unique to a particular builder or order.

Reliability depends heavily on the quality of restoration and ongoing care. A properly sorted example can be rewarding on tours, but neglect can quickly become expensive. Owners typically budget for careful inspections, correct lubrication and cooling-system maintenance, tire replacement, and preservation of the body and interior. This is not an easy car for an average owner to repair in a home garage without specialist support.

Notable Details and Common Criticisms

The Horch 850 and 853 belonged to the upper reaches of the prewar luxury market, where buyers could request distinctive bodywork and trim. That variety is part of their charm, but it also means two cars with the same model designation may look noticeably different. The 853 sport cabriolet is especially admired today for its combination of open-air drama and imposing proportions.

There is no widely recognized production or speed record that defines the 850 or 853. Their significance lies instead in their craftsmanship, engineering, and status as flagship Auto Union road cars. They are also products of a complicated period in German history. As with other prestigious cars of the era, examples could be owned or used by wealthy industrialists, officials, and diplomats, but any specific ownership claim should be checked against the documentation for that individual car.

Common criticisms are practical ones: the cars are large, heavy, costly to restore, and less nimble than their sporting appearance might suggest. They also lack modern crash protection and can be challenging to drive in dense traffic. Those limitations matter, but they are balanced by exceptional presence and a quality of workmanship that is difficult to reproduce today.

Rarity, Values, and the Collector Market

Exact production totals vary among references and can be complicated by model variations and body styles. A reasonable working estimate is roughly 2,000 to 2,500 Horch 850-family cars, with several hundred 853 and 853A examples. That puts the combined family in the low thousands rather than making it a one-off rarity, but surviving, well-documented cars are far scarcer than those broad totals suggest.

As a broad collector-market estimate in U.S. dollars, a Horch 850 in sound, presentable condition might fall around $250,000 to $700,000. A highly original or expertly restored example can exceed that range. The more sporting 853 and particularly desirable open coachbuilt versions may sell from roughly $500,000 to well over $1 million. Exceptional cars with rare coachwork, strong provenance, and top-level restoration can command still more. These are guide ranges, not appraisals; condition, originality, documentation, and auction timing make a substantial difference.

Long-term values for the best examples have generally benefited from the Horch name’s prestige and the scarcity of surviving prewar luxury cars. The market can be uneven, however, because restoration costs are high and the pool of buyers is specialized. Cars with verifiable history and respected restoration work tend to be more resilient than projects or vehicles with uncertain body and chassis histories.

Why the Horch 850 and 853 Endure

The Horch 850 and 853 combine commanding prewar design, a refined straight-eight engine, and engineering that was ambitious for a luxury car of their era. The 850 delivered formal comfort, while the 853 brought extra power and a particularly memorable sporting-cabriolet profile. Their rarity and restoration demands make them collector machines rather than everyday transport, but their presence remains unmistakable.

And for anyone searching for a “1933 Horch 850/853,” the date is worth checking: these models arrived later, in 1935 and 1937. Get the chronology right, then stand beside a well-preserved 853 and it becomes clear why Horch still represents one of the grandest chapters in European automotive history.