For once, the Dolder Classics on June 9, 2013 was spared rainfall and the temperatures were also pleasant. This provided good conditions for a successful meeting and, according to organizer Christoph Lehmann, around 400 vehicles attended.
Looking instead of driving
In contrast to the many classic car driving events and rallies, the motto at the Dolder Classics is "look instead of drive". The active classic car drivers come, exhibit their vehicles and above all enjoy looking at the other vehicles, talking to the owners and taking it easy. Once again, it was clear that this concept works and is popular.
And there was plenty to look at again on June 9.
Almost forgotten everyday vehicles from the past
Of course, visitors to the Dolder event also love top-class exotics such as a Ferrari 275 GTB or an Aston Martin DB 4, but it is precisely the forgotten everyday cars of yesteryear that often spark conversations and an "ah, I remember that one well".
Whether it is an Opel Commodore Coupé, a Ford Taunus from the fifties or a Fiat 1400 B, it is precisely these vehicles that are among the real rarities today, as most of them have been killed by rust, neglect or accidents. It is to the owners' credit that they cherish and care for these treasures and show them at events such as the Dolder Classics.
Almost unknown limousines
Saloons are often overshadowed by the coupés and cabriolets built alongside them in the classic car segment. Everyone knows an MG A, but who knows an MG ZA Magnette saloon? Some people know something about a Wolseley Hornet, but few know what a Wolseley 14/60 saloon looked like. But it was precisely these two rarities that came together at the Dolder ice rink and many a classic car fan was able to expand their knowledge.
A Graham Paige from 1934
Looking at a blue pre-war car, most people were perplexed.
You really don't see a Graham Paige Custom Eight Supercharger every day and the car is impressive not only because of its size and the elegant and self-built 1930s shape, but also because of the self-developed supercharger and independent solutions in the chassis design. With 135 hp and a price tag of over 1000 USD in 1934, the Graham Paige was a car for people with big wallets and exquisite taste, which was also reflected in the beautifully wood-lined interior.
Gullwing door exotics
Two gullwing door exotics astounded with completely different qualities. One was the Isdera Imperator, which embodies a typical seventies design with Mercedes engine power (and star), but still looks very attractive today.
And there was the Fiberfab Banshee, which only arrived at the drained Dolder ice rink in the afternoon and is a typical product of the plastics industry of the sixties. Fiberfab built a wide variety of GRP bodies in the United States, which could be combined with mass-produced chassis, but also with individually produced chassis.
The Banshee body, which was later also sold under the name "Caribee", could be mounted on the chassis of the MG A, Austin-Healey or Triumph TR3, for example. The engines used were the matching engines of the chassis used, but there were also conversions to Ford 289 or Corvette eight-cylinder engines.
The vehicle shown at the Dolder Classics is obviously an early Banshee, which was fitted with a Corvette V8 at the time or later and has now reappeared after many years. Very interesting!
Wankel exotics
The Wankel engine celebrated its first great success in the NSU Ro80, but it was Mazda that remained loyal to it for many years. The second Mazda with a Wankel engine, the R 100, is rarely seen in our part of the world, which makes it all the more pleasing when one of these small family cars with a rotary piston engine turns up at a meeting.
But the Ro 80, which still impresses today with its extremely modern and aerodynamic shape at the time, was also present on the course.
A touch of Concours d'Elegance
One corner of the Dolder Classics is reserved for special cars. This corner exudes a touch of haute couture every time. When a Delahaye 135M with Saoutchik convertible bodywork drives in, spectators are simply left open-mouthed.
It's not every day that you see so much almost pompous elegance. The pre-war Mercedes Benz Cabriolet looked almost classic and simply out of place, even though it was also a potential Concours contender.
The Triumph Italia also looked very elegant, a vehicle that was only built in a few hundred units based on the Triumph TR3 and impresses with its simple and elegant bodywork by Vignale.
Attraction: auction vehicles
The day before the Dolder Classics, the Oldtimergalerie Toffen auctioned off 72 vehicles at the same location. With some of them fetching high prices of over half a million CHF, these cars naturally attracted many spectators and also sparked some discussion. A comprehensive auction report has already been published on Zwischengas.
And if you were still looking for a classic for this summer, you might have found it at the Touring Garage, which displayed a Porsche 912, an Austin-Healey Sprite and a Dino 246 GTS, or at the Maserati-Center Krähenmann, where you could see an elegant Maserati Quattroporte from the 1960s designed by Pietro Frua.
The next edition of the Dolder Classics is scheduled for August 11, 2013.
