Not many classic car meetings can look back on a forty-year history, especially not such a successful one. For the 40th time, the Baden-Baden classic car meeting drew enthusiasts and owners of old cars to the spa town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.
And as befits a 40th anniversary, the weather on July 8 to 10, 2016 was kind to the event, giving it bright sunshine and summery temperatures.
Flower children
Although the many flower bouquets suffered from the heat - many of the cars were decorated with a variety of flowers - the beer bars were very busy.
The meeting takes place in an enclosed area between Kaiserallee and the casino, with the cars lined up along the road and in the parkland under trees.
However, this location caused a stir here and there, as the flora caused the paintwork of the highly polished vehicles to dull all too quickly and the sticky layer was not quite so easy to remove.
Width instead of depth
In 1976, Jean-Marc Culas started with 35 vehicles; by 2016, there were over 350 cars and a few tractors. The range covered almost all brands and eras in automotive history, and there were also a wide variety of technical concepts at the start.
In 2016, the Stanley steam cars, which chugged through the crowd with clearly visible clouds of smoke but a barely perceptible background noise, attracted particular attention.
Among the many vehicles were the everyday cars of the past - NSU Prinz, Opel Kadett, VW Beetle or Ford Taunus - as well as the exotic cars that people could not afford even back then, whether they were called Bugatti, Maserati or Horch.
Volkswagen as guest of honor
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary, a brand was honored that was probably familiar to every visitor: Volkswagen. And the Classic department from Wolfsburg did not let itself be outdone and brought some rarities to Baden-Baden from its own and friends' stocks.
Two attractive special bodies on VW Beetle chassis, built by the Rometsch company, caused quite a stir. The "Beeskow" models, designed by the constructor and designer of the same name, enjoyed great popularity even in Hollywood. Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck are said to have driven Rometsch. The coupé shown here is considered to be particularly rare, and it also impressed with its very modern lines, the elegance of which is still evident today.
In addition to many, many Beetles, a VW SP2, the unique 411 Cabriolet from Karmann and a Puma GT Cabriolet from Brazil were also on display.
40 years of the VW Golf GTI
Somewhat outside of the actual classic car event, however, the VW people had drummed up a very special show dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the production of the VW Golf GTI. As is well known, the fast Golf was unveiled at the IAA in 1975, but the fast compact was not available to buy until 1976.
Around 40 models could be seen at a glance, with all generations represented. Here you could follow the history of the bodywork and the lettering.
The special show was spiced up with a few special examples, such as the first-generation Kamei racing Golf.
VW ambassador Hans-Joachim Stuck had also been scheduled to attend, but he had been knocked off his bike the day before by an unfriendly driver. Thankfully without serious consequences, but a visit to the meeting had to be postponed for a friction-free recovery.
Currywurst with a VW part number
Instead, the GTI friends were able to treat themselves to a Volkswagen specialty, the only currywurst with a VW part number (199 398 500 A).
According to insiders, it is considered one of the best curry sausages ever and has apparently been the subject of frequent discussions at Group management level. In any case, it is now selling better than the new cars, at least in terms of unit sales. Sales in Baden-Baden are likely to have contributed to another annual high.
Entertainment all along the line
In addition to the beautiful cars, Baden-Baden also offered musical entertainment, whether big band or other musical accompaniment, a good atmosphere was always guaranteed.
In addition, several fashion shows, as well as participants dressed in contemporary attire, delighted the eye of the beholder.
Better gossiping than driving
The Oldtimer-Meeting Baden-Baden is not a driving event, but rather dedicated to conversation between drivers and enthusiasts. The visitors showed a keen interest in the more or less rare classic cars.
Elaborately restored everyday cars such as a Simca 9 provided just as much opportunity for lengthy shop talk as fine rarities from Bugatti or Mercedes-Benz.
Many an observer saw long-forgotten brands, whether they were called Berliet, Philos, Simson or Roamer, for the first time.
And the Wartburg 311/312 HT 300 Cabriolet with a three-cylinder engine and 45 hp from 1967, which was only built 709 times, attracted at least as many admiring glances as the carefully restored Erdmann & Rossi bodies in another special show.
Lots of French cars too
It is probably due to the geographical proximity to Alsace that a large delegation of French everyday cars and rarities also found their way to Baden-Baden.
There was a Citroën 2 CV to admire, as well as a Renault 4 CV (Crèmeschnittchen) and a Panhard Dyna. And in between there was a rare Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat convertible. Vive la France!
Every year again
Apparently the recipe for the meeting is a hit, with many participants returning to Baden-Baden every year. The informal atmosphere, the attractive surroundings and the friendly people were also convincing in 2016 and, finally, there were also 120 trophies to be won in the automotive beauty contest, enough to make almost everyone happy.
