After a break of several years - we already know why - a meeting of plastic cars finally took place again in Rickenbach on June 11, 2023. Markus Tanner and his organizing team were once again able to convince the Coop-Center "breite" to make the spacious parking lot available and a well-functioning word-of-mouth propaganda and some PR ensured that the reserved space quickly filled up with many colourful plastic classics from the early morning.
Food and drink were also catered for, with a specialist restaurant offering a wide range of catering to ensure that no one had to go hungry or thirsty. Admission was free and registration was not required. Over 100 cars came.
Three countries dominated
It is no coincidence that the cars arriving were mainly from Great Britain, France and the USA.
Even back then, it was these three nations that had the most suppliers of plastic cars. For Great Britain, these included Lotus, TVR, Gilbern, Ginetta and Marcos, while for France it was Alpine, Matra-Simca and MVS.
In the United States, there was one predominant brand that relied on plastic, namely Chevrolet with the Corvette. However, the latest version has also switched to light alloys for the most part, just like Alpine with the modern A110.
The variety in Rickenbach was impressive, with two MVS Venturi cars in attendance.
A Ginetta G4 and a Jensen C-V8 as well as a Chevron B8 were also on the course, to name just a few examples.
Also striking was the Reliant Robin Supervan II with three wheels, which easily managed to drive onto the course without falling over. You just have to want it.
Exotics and buggies
Two Puma sports cars from Brazil represented the once popular plastic cars with VW technology, two Trabants the Leukoplast bombers from the former GDR. And rarely do you see one of the few Artega GTs built in Germany with a Passat R36 engine.
And then, of course, a whole series of buggies with bodies from Belgium, Switzerland and Great Britain arrived, as well as Porsche 356 replicas with plastic bodies and Cobra derivatives.
Lots to see and talk about
There was certainly no shortage of things to talk about among the visitors. As soon as a hood was opened, people immediately gathered around it and started talking shop. Some car owners probably also received valuable tips.
Perhaps more plastic cars would have come, but the competition was fierce on this weekend with hill climbs and classic car meetings. It didn't hurt "Fantastic Plastic" and Markus Tanner said that the "re-start" had been a success and that there was nothing to prevent the meeting from continuing in the coming years.
The pictures probably characterize this event more than many words.
