The Porsche/Auto Union Type 52 Sport Limousine is one of those fascinating “what‑if” chapters in pre‑war automotive engineering. Conceived in the early 1930s by Ferdinand Porsche, the idea was simple but wildly ambitious: take the mid‑engine layout and mechanical DNA of Auto Union’s Grand Prix cars and translate it into a high‑speed road-going machine. The Sport Limousine variant was the more practical interpretation—still sleek, still performance‑focused, but designed to offer enclosed comfort and long‑distance capability rather than pure competition intent.
Under the skin, the Type 52 was meant to run a supercharged 4.4-litre V16 producing around 200 hp, a staggering figure for its time. The chassis and suspension followed the same philosophy as the Silver Arrows racers, meaning the car would have delivered handling and straight‑line performance far beyond typical 1930s road cars. Yet despite sketches, engineering studies, and even approval for a prototype, the project stalled and was ultimately shelved in 1935.
Today, the Type 52 stands as an intriguing glimpse into Porsche’s early thinking—an early attempt at a mid‑engine grand tourer decades before the layout became mainstream. It’s a reminder that some of the most interesting cars in history never made it past the drawing board.
Avenue18, operating under the AutoCult umbrella, is usually associated with its 1:43 lineup, so seeing this subject tackled in 1:18 scale is a pleasant surprise. The model was released in 2025 and even made the DiecastSociety.com Model of the Year list. It didn’t place high — third from the bottom with 10 votes — but that still means a group of collectors appreciated the effort and the unusual subject matter.
This is a resin, sealed-body piece, which puts collectors at a familiar crossroads. The real car’s interior layout and mechanical details are wild, and a sealed model can only capture so much of that. On the other hand, the chances of a fully opening, high-detail version of such a niche vehicle ever being produced are slim. Resin may be the only way this car appears in 1:18 at all.
Avenue18 does a respectable job with the overall shape and body lines. The stance looks right, the wheels are better than average, and the paintwork is solid. The photos shown here were edited to greyscale — the model’s true colour was difficult to capture accurately, and this approach offered the closest representation.
Looking through the glass, you can see some of the character of the original car. The engine bay is nicely represented for a sealed model, and the dashboard and surrounding components are handled reasonably well. It’s not a full-detail piece, but it does enough to convey the spirit of the real machine.
Pricing lands north of $300 CAD, which puts it in the premium resin category. Whether that feels justified depends on how much value you place on rarity and subject matter over functional features. This release won’t appeal to everyone, but it wasn’t designed to. It’s aimed at collectors who enjoy unusual subjects and appreciate seeing cars that rarely get replicated in 1:18 scale. For that audience, it delivers a clean, well-executed representation of something you won’t find anywhere else. Enjoy the pics!
