The year 2020 will certainly go down in history as a special year, of course because of the rampant virus and not because of special news about the automobile.
When Johannes Hübner, the enterprising organizer of the Classic Gala Schwetzingen, took a photo of the SS1 Four Light Saloon, which was later voted "Best of Show", with the hard-working jury, all wearing masks as appropriate to the situation, he said that in 10 or 20 years' time everyone would probably wonder why people were walking around with these face masks, perhaps because of a chemical accident or something. But perhaps this mask will be with us for a long time to come and then this Schwetzingen participant, who said that a Concours d'Elégance with a mask was like washing your hair with a crash helmet on, will be proved right for a long time to come.
Success story
The 16th Concours d'Elégance Classic-Gala Schwetzingen from September 4 to 6, 2020 was, against all odds, a success. 15,000 visitors came to the magnificent park of Schwetzingen Palace, always nicely divided into a morning and afternoon shift. And they not only adhered to the hygiene concept, they also got to see something.
Of course, a large castle park is an ideal setting for organizing a car event despite social distancing rules. And with a few adjustments, Johannes Hübner's team also ensured that there were no crowded situations. For example, the traditional award ceremony was cut short and the prizes (around 130 trophies) were presented to the participating vehicles instead.
100 years of Talbot
"Talbot" is a car brand that people still know, even though it has not been on the market for quite some time, since the Peugeot-Citroën Group pulled the plug in 1994 and gave up the brand name after cars such as the Talbot Samba or the Tagora.
However, it all began in 1898 with the Clément brand in Paris, whose vehicles the Lord of Shrewsbury and Talbot in England brought onto the market under his family brand from 1903. And in 1920, the Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq group of companies created the vehicles called Talbot, to which the anniversary in Schwetzingen referred.
Unfortunately, not all of the registered vehicles were present, for example the Talbot 105 from 1933 was missing, but there were still five beautiful examples on display, covering a broad spectrum from pre-war sports cars to an almost thoroughbred racing car and a 1950s Gran Turismo.
The category was ultimately won by the Talbot T15 from 1937.
90 years of Pininfarina
Carrozzeria Pinin Farina was founded in 1930 by Batista "Pinin" Farina. It is one of the few coachbuilding companies that has survived to this day and is certainly one of those whose products still make collectors' and enthusiasts' mouths water. And the number of vehicles that were either built or at least designed by Pininfarina is almost endless and also includes pure studies such as the Ferrari Modulo or the Corvette Rondine.
Unfortunately, none of these unique pieces were found in the castle garden, although a one-off Ferrari 330 GTB from 1965 was registered as an "Understatement GT", but then probably did not arrive (due to corona). Other one-offs were also missing.
The anniversary prize then went to an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 from 1930 with what was probably the first Pininfarina dress (still spelled separately at the time) ever to adorn an Alfa Romeo.
The Nash Healey Roadster from 1952, which also impressed with a magnificent Pininfarina body, won the class in its era, as did the Ferrari 275 GTB from 1964, which dominated the FIVA F1 class (1961-1964).
The fact that no owner of a Fiat 124 Spider or a Peugeot 205 GTI showed up at the Concours was a bit of a shame, however, as it is precisely these Pininfarina designs, which were produced in large numbers, that are still familiar to most people today.
However, there was a beautiful Ferrari 365 GT4/BB from 1973, two Dino 246 GTs, an Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider and an elegant Peugeot 404 Coupé from 1964.
Lively club life
However, the three-day event in Schwetzingen was not only interesting because of the beauty competition, but also because of the efforts of some classic car clubs to present their vehicles and interests to the public.
On the one hand, there were the Mercedes clubs, who wanted to give an insight into the range of Mercedes-Benz from 1950 to 1990. And they did this quite convincingly, so it didn't matter that the 300 SL from the 1950s was only to be found in the VIP visitor parking lot. Whether pontoon saloon, Baby-Benz or the classic 190 SL and 230/280 SL, they were all there and in large numbers.
There was also a series of 600-series versions from the sixties and seventies, which would have been a good brand presentation on their own.
The old Ford friends hardly slowed things down. They displayed examples from Ford's more than one hundred years of production, from the Buckeltaunus to the Capri and the Escort XR3. There were some real gems among them and a few more Model T and Model A cars were also on display in the Concours field.
But NSU, Jaguar and Adler fans also got their money's worth, as clubs from these brands also took to the stage to show off their vehicles.
Americans below the Hirschbrunnen fountain
For many visitors, the US Classic Car Concours held as part of the Classic Gala is a highlight.
In 2020, there were once again some impressive cars here that you don't see every day and which beautifully represented the breadth and diversity of American car manufacturing. The category winners alone - Chrysler New Yorker, Cadillac 341 Phaeton, Ford Model A, Ford Mustang Boss - show that it wasn't just Corvette after Corvette or Mustang after Mustang lined up here.
From cars in jet-age design, to the aerodynamic look of the pre-war era, to the finned excesses of the late fifties, there was everything to see.
The smallest next to the biggest
Right opposite or almost together with the Americans, the smallest cars found their place in Schwetzingen, although they were actually (like the US cars) spread across the entire castle park, because even among the other Concours participants there were always the smallest cars such as the Brütsch Zwerg, the Fiat 500 Topolino or a Simca 6.
The BMW Isetta could be compared with the Italian original, the Iso Isetta.
The Fuldamobil S7 could be seen almost side by side with the 1954 Silberfloh, and of course a Trabant was also present in the castle park.
Epic width
In any case, it is the sheer width that leaves visitors to Schwetzingen breathless. Forgotten cars from the economic miracle era stand between former bread-and-butter mass-produced vehicles and specially bodied one-offs.
On average, the award-winning cars were 70 years old, so obviously the pre-war cars and veterans of the pioneering years were not missing.
It is the colorful mix and the friendly owners, who patiently explain again and again why their car is something special, that make up the typical Schwetzingen atmosphere.
Not just gasoline
In keeping with current world events, non-petrol-powered vehicles were also on display in Schwetzingen, including historic ones.
For example, a Detroic Electric roared through the park almost as silently as a Stanley Steamer, both of which were pre-war vehicles.
Diesel engines were of course also represented, the only thing missing (a little) was the wood carburetor.
Younger vehicles too
The Classic Gala also deserves credit for not turning a blind eye to newer vehicles.
A TVR Tuscan from 2000, for example, attracted a lot of interest, not least because of its special paintwork, which looked different depending on the angle of the light. But there was also an Artega and other comparatively modern vehicles on display, including the Microlino, the modern electric Isetta from Switzerland.
Tarte flambée and ice cream
Participants and visitors didn't have to go hungry either, as there were plenty of drinks and coffee stands. The only thing that reminded us of the pandemic, which still fills many columns in daily newspapers every day, was the obligation to wear a mask and the need to sign in.
In any case, even when the faces of those present were partially covered, you could see satisfied eyes and you could at least guess the corners of their mouths were upturned. Johannes Hübner is to be thanked for pulling off the Concours despite all the risks, even though a not inconsiderable number of the registered vehicles unfortunately did not make it to Schwetzingen.
What was there was more than enough to justify a journey of hundreds of kilometers. Let's hope that "real" normality will be back at the 17th Classic Gala Schwetzingen in 2021.
Many prizes
Around 130 trophies were distributed; for the sake of simplicity, only the first prizes awarded are listed here:
| Class/Category | Brand | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIVA Class A: up to model year 1904 | Oldsmobile | Curved dash | 1903 |
| FIVA class B: built 1905-1918 | Rolls Royce | Silver Ghost | 1910 |
| FIVA Class C: Year of construction 1919-1930 | Alfa Romeo | 6C 1750 Pininfarina | 1930 |
| FIVA class D 1 : Year of construction 1931-1937 | SS1 | Salon Coupe | 1935 |
| FIVA class D 2 : Year of construction 1937 - 1945 | Talbot | F150C Cabr, Usine | 1938 |
| FIVA class E 1 : Year of construction 1946-1954 | Nash Healey | Convertible | 1952 |
| FIVA Class E 2 : Built 1955 - 1960 | Mercedes | 220 S Coupé | 1957 |
| FIVA class F 1: Year of construction 1961-1964 | Ferrari | 275 GTB PF | 1964 |
| FIVA class F 2: built 1965 - 1970 | Lamborghini | Espada S1 | 1969 |
| FIVA class G: built 1971-1990 | Ferrari | 365 BB | 1975 |
| FIVA class H: 80 onwards | Ferrari | Testarossa | 1990 |
| Class U - Best Original | Peugeot | Bebe | 1902 |
| Class I: Talbot badge of honor | Talbot | T15 | 1937 |
| Class O: best self-restoration - built 1980 | Volvo | P 1800 S | 1964 |
| Grand Prix of the Classic Gala Audience 2020 | VW | Rometsch | 1951 |
| Classic Gala Prix Ingenieux 2020 | NSU | Wankelspider | 1964 |
| Mercedes 600-Trophae | Mercedes | 600 | |
| Classic Gala Anniversary Prize 2020 | Alfa | 6C 1750 Pininfarina | 1930 |
| Classic Gala Prix Design 2020 | Cord | 812 | 1937 |
| Classic Gala Supersport pre 1970 | Alfa | 6C 2500 SS | 1939 |
| Classic Gala Supersport post 1971 | Porsche | 959 | 1988 |
| Baden-Württemberg State Prize | Mercedes | Indianapolis | 1923 |
| Best of Show CLASSIC-GALA 2020 | SS1 | Sedan Coupé | 1935 |
| Classic-Gala Grand Prix 2020 | Ferrari | 275 GTB | 1964 |
| Star of Classic-Gala Schwetzingen | Maybach | SW 38 Convertible | 1938 |
| Classic Gala Prize of the Jury 2020 | Citroen | 5 CVTrefle | 1925 |
| Classic Gala Prix d'Elegance 2020 | Citroen | SM | 1971 |
| Classic Gala Prix Couture 2020 | Ford CAN | Model T Runabout | 1925 |
| Classic-Gala Prix deLuxe until 1939 | Mercedes | 540 K | 1937 |
| Classic-Gala Best of 50ties | Gutbrod | Wendler convertible. | 1951 |
| Classic-Gala Best of 60ties | Jensen | CV 8 | 1964 |
| Classic-Gala Best of 70ties | Volvo | P 1800 ES | 1972 |
| Classic-Gala Best British Car | Bristol | 412 | 1978 |
| Classic-Gala Best Sportscar 2020 | Renault | Alpine 110 | 1975 |
| Classic-Gala Vainqueur Francais | Facel Vega | FV3 | 1957 |
| Classic Gala Convertible of the Year | Jaguar | E-Type S2 Convertible | 1969 |
| Classic Gala Grand Prix Voiturette 2020 | Brütsch | Dwarf | 1955 |
| Classic Gala Transport Cup 2020 | Tempo | Flatbed | 1949 |
| Classic-Gala economic miracle car | Mercedes | 300 S Coupe | 1955 |
| Classic-Gala Garage Gold | Renault | Alpine 310 | 1977 |
| USCCC - Best of Show | Chrysler | New Yorker | 1953 |
| USCCC - Best of 20ies | Cadillac | 341 Phaeton | 1928 |
| USCCC - Best pre war - 1945 | Ford | A | 1930 |
| USCCC - Best post war - 1960 | Chrysler | New Yorker | 1953 |
| USCCC - Best of 70ies | Ford | Mustang Boss | 1970 |
| Classic Gala Prix Conaisseur | BMW | 3.0 CSL | 1975 |
| Classic Gala Collectors Choice | Aston Martin | V8 Coupe | 1977 |
| Classic Gala Prix Superieur | Mercedes | 190 SL | 1958 |
