The 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sports Cabriolet was very popular among Germany's rich and famous, offering luxury at a very competitive price. Its coachwork was done by Voll & Ruhrbeck Company of Berlin, one of Germany's most avant-garde coachbuilders, famous for some of the world's finest roadsters.

The Horch Series 850 cars featured a 100 horsepower 5-liter straight-eight engine. The short wheelbase version was dubbed the 853. The 853 sold very well against its competition: Mercedes' premier offering, the 540K.

In an effort to stay competitive, The Horch Model 853A became available in 1937 and featured a 120 horsepower straight-eight engine.

When World War II began, production of the Horch automobiles ceased. The factories had suffered heavy bomb damage, and later, Soviet forces captured the area, which would become part of East Germany.

The 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet pictured above was named "Best of Show" at the 59th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, held in August,

2009. Its restoration took the car from matte to metallic, and incorporated one of the richest complements of chrome given to any classic-era custom body. Its long bonnet with two tiers of tight louvers imparts an imposing presence. Its curb weight exceeds 2½ tons.

If you wanted to buy this magnificent car, you would need only $5 million.

• Wheelbase, inches: 135.8
• Weight, lbs: 5,798.2
• Length, inches: 208.7
• Width, inches: 72
• Height, inches: 62.2
• Production: 1
• Base price: Competitive

• Displacement: 4944 cc / 301.70 in³
• Fuel system: Updraft Solex 35 JFF Carburetor
• Engine: Type T850 Straight 8
• Compression ratio: 6.1:1
• Horsepower @ rpm: 120 hp @ 3600 rpm
• Suspension: Hydraulic Shock Absorbers & Leaf Springs
• Transmission: 4 Speed Sliding Gear w/Overdrive

• Top Speed, mph: 81 mph