The Audi Type M was a large car first presented at the Berlin Motor Show in 1923 and produced by Audi between 1924 and 1927.[1]
The vehicle had a six-cylinder in-line engine with 4,655 cc of displacement. The engine incorporated several innovative features including overhead valves. It developed a maximum of 70 PS at 3,000 rpm. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through a four-speed transmission. The engine had an eight-bearing crankshaft, forced lubrication with oil cooler and a thermostat-controlled water cooling. The car had two leaf-sprung solid axles and four wheel hydraulic brakes. It was the first Audi with four-wheel brakes.[2]
The Type M's first presentation, at the 1923 Motor Show, was accompanied by a press release which boasted that "Audi is one of those German automakers that believes doing the job properly is more important than price" („Die Audi-Werke zählen zu jenen deutschen Automobilfabriken, welche die Preisfrage hinter die konstruktive Aufgabe zurückstellen“).[3] This approach may have helped to win the car more admirers, but paying customers were harder to find. The Type M came with a manufacturer's recommended retail price of 22,300 Marks for a large six-light "Pullman-Limousine" bodied vehicle. The car was expensive and reportedly brought Audi very close to bankruptcy. 228 were produced, plus two prototypes.