Kurt Becker KG

Lore & Background

Little is known about the history of Kurt Becker KG, other than that it was founded by the German entrepreneur Kurt Becker from Berlin, presumably shortly after World War II. As far as known, the company only produced one series of miniature cars around 1947. That series consisted of die-cast miniatures of the pre-war Auto Union racing car, specifically the Type A 'long-tail' version raced on the AVUS in Berlin in 1934 by German driver August Momberger. The choice of model was unusual, as Auto Union racing cars had their heyday in the 1930s as flagships of Nazi Germany and never returned to race tracks after the war.

The series was known as the B1300 series and was available in six color combinations: off-white/kaki with red seat (matte), green with red seat (matte), dark red with off-white/kaki seat, light red with blue seat, dark blue with red seat (matte), and light blue with red seat (matte). Four of the six variations were finished in matte paint, which is very rare and unique for miniature cars. The reason is believed to be that the miniatures were painted with leftovers of German military paint, which was practically the only paint available in early post-war Germany.

Reader's Guide

The significance of Kurt Becker KG lies in its singular, historically specific production run. The company's only known output—the B1300 series of Auto Union Type A 'long-tail' miniatures—captures a moment of post-war scarcity and resourcefulness. The use of matte paint on four of the six color variations is believed to stem from the availability of leftover German military paint, a detail that ties the models directly to the material conditions of early post-war Berlin. The choice to model a pre-war racing car that never raced after the war, and to do so in 1:43 scale, reflects an unusual niche interest at a time when the Auto Union brand was associated with the Nazi era. The discovery of a box of unused old stock models in Frankfurt around 1990 suggests that some examples survived in original packaging, adding to the rarity and collectibility of these miniatures. The legacy of Kurt Becker KG is thus defined by a single, small series that offers a tangible link to both pre-war racing history and the improvised manufacturing realities of post-war Germany.

Did You Know?

• Kurt Becker KG produced only one series of miniature cars, around 1947.
• The miniatures were of the Auto Union Type A 'long-tail' racing car in 1:43 scale.
• Four of the six color variations were finished in matte paint, believed to be leftover German military paint.
• A box of unused old stock models by Kurt Becker KG was discovered in Frankfurt around 1990.