DKW 1000S Spider Fissore

The DKW 1000S Spider by Carrozzeria Fissore was a limited-production, coachbuilt open two-seater based on the Auto Union 1000 Sp mechanical platform. Designed and assembled in Italy during the early 1960s, the vehicle combined German drivetrain engineering with bespoke Italian bodywork, typical of the collaborative automotive practices of the period. The chassis was derived from the DKW 1000 S, employing a front-wheel-drive layout with a longitudinally mounted, water-cooled three-cylinder two-stroke engine. Displacement was 981 cubic centimetres. In the S configuration, the engine produced approximately 60 SAE horsepower, transmitted through a four-speed manual gearbox. Suspension featured independent front wheels with transverse leaf springs and a rigid rear axle located by trailing arms and coil springs. Drum brakes were fitted on all four wheels. The Spider was bodied by Fissore of Savigliano, a coachbuilder known for its small-scale production of aluminium and steel-bodied variants of mass-produced models. The design of the 1000 S Spider bore stylistic resemblance to contemporary American sports cars, particularly in the treatment of the rear fenders, low beltline, and horizontal grille elements. The cabin accommodated two passengers, with a minimalist dashboard and low windscreen. The soft top was manually operated and concealed beneath a rear tonneau when retracted. Production numbers for the DKW 1000S Spider by Fissore were limited. Italian sources indicate that fewer than 140 units—combined Spider and Coupé variants—were produced by Fissore for European clients. Additionally, a separate production run was licensed to Vemag in Brazil, where approximately 2,500 units were built between 1964 and 1967. The Brazilian cars featured similar styling but employed different trim and assembly standards. Chassis numbering followed the Auto Union system, though specific identification for Fissore-bodied units is not extensively documented. Surviving examples are scarce, primarily retained in private collections or museum holdings, with the majority of extant cars located in Italy and Brazil. The DKW 1000 S Spider Fissore represents a niche collaboration in post-war automotive manufacturing. It illustrates the application of refined, low-volume Italian styling to a mechanically conservative German base, reflecting broader trends in European coachbuilding and export-oriented design during the 1950s and 1960s.