Christie's delays auction of "Hitler's racer"

PARIS, Feb 14 (Reuters) The auction of a pre World War Two German racing car expected to become the most expensive car ever sold has been postponed pending an investigation into its track record, auctioneers Christie's said today.

The extremely rare 1939 Auto Union D type, a legendary racer built under a development programme backed by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, had been expected to fetch up to 12 million euros (15.66 million dollars) at auction.

But Christie's said the sale had been postponed ''pending further exploration into the car's race history''.

According to Christie's sale catalogue, the car, sometimes dubbed ''Hitler's racer'', won the French Grand Prix at Reims in a 1939 Grand Prix season shortened by the outbreak of World War Two.

Along with other Auto Union racers it was stored in a mineshaft during the war and taken to the Soviet Union after the defeat of Germany.

The auction of other classic cars is still due to go ahead at the Retromobile show in Paris on Friday and Saturday, where the Auto Union car will be on display.

Reuters KD DB1822