Porsche 956, Abarth Bialbero 1000, Inaltera-Ford, Porsche 910, Chevrolet Corvette, Sauber C6, Cheetah G 604, etc. - the paddock of the sixth mountain stage of Altbüron was reminiscent of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which also gave rise to the motto "... a touch of Le Mans".
Of course, the mountain course, which is just over one kilometer long, cannot compete with the circuit in the Sarthe; the longest straight in Altbüron is perhaps two hundred meters long, while the Hunaudières in Le Mans was an impressive six kilometers straight until 1990.
In the spirit of a broad-based classic car event, the starting field in Altbüron included not only thoroughbred Le Mans racing cars, but also over 200 classic and vintage cars of all ages, as well as motorcycles. Overall, the quality of the event that Peter Dätwyler and his organization team put together in the Lucerne hinterland impressed both spectators and participants.
Thirteen original Le Mans vehicles
When Edi Wyss drove his 1960 Abarth Bialbero 1000 up the hill in Altbüron, it not only provided a splash of red color in the green summer meadow, but also brought back nostalgic memories of the Le Mans races of the early 1960s. In contrast to those days, when the Abarth never reached the finish line after 24 hours, the car now managed the hill climbs without any problems.
The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette, which took part in the famous endurance test in 1968, also completed the four runs in Altbüron without incident, in stark contrast to its participation in Le Mans in 1968, when the race ended after 157 laps following an accident.
The 1976 Inaltera Ford-Cosworth was a sports car that was built by Jean Rondeau in three examples exclusively for Le Mans. The Inaltera on display has four starts in the 24 Hours alone to its name, including one with the two Swiss drivers André Chevalley and François Trisconi. Now, for once, the sports prototype was driven in unfamiliar surroundings on the mountain.
Sauber-Mercedes was victorious at Le Mans in 1989 with the C9. The presence of Sauber vehicles in Altbüron was correspondingly strong. A C6 and a C11 were on display in the paddock, and early Sauber sports cars could be seen on the track.
The fact that the Sauber C5 from 1976 was missing due to an unfinished restoration, as were the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ from 1962 and the Cunningham Chevrolet Corvette from 1960, was easy to get over.
A Swiss man named Graemiger
He speaks perfect Swiss German and is one of the most influential sports car designers. Nevertheless, very few people know him. However, Chuck (Charles) Graemiger was at Le Mans several times with his Cheetah prototypes, for example in 1975 with the G 501, 1976 with the G 601, 1985 with the G 604 with Aston Martin Tickford V8 engine and 1991 with the G 606 with Cosworth-DFR.
And all of these sports cars drove up the mountain near Altbüron on August 18, 2013. Graemiger, who was born in Manila and raced himself in the early 1960s, broke new ground with the G 604 in particular. The car was the first long-distance vehicle to feature a carbon fiber monocoque back in 1984. Incidentally, the Swiss ski racer Philippe Roux drove the Cheetah G 601 at Le Mans in 1979, but the car retired with engine damage.
A German named Helga Heinrich-Steudel
Helga Heinrich-Steudel , now 74, tackled the mountain stage in Altbüron in a red Estonia Monoposto. The racing amazon has been involved in motorsport all her life, first racing motorcycles in the former GDR and later switching to sports cars. She raced in the Melkus RS 1000 and won the Glasbach mountain race in 1974 in a Wartburg Spider.
She retired from active racing in 1983, but she didn't want to stand on the sidelines completely and has been taking part in historic events again for several years, where she drives the Estonia Mk25, a Formule Libra racing car from 1990, among others. Estonia built over 1000 racing cars between 1950 and 1990, but is still almost unknown in the West.
A sports car called Martini
Willi Martini built just three plastic sports cars in the winter of 1962/1963 based on the BMW 700. Only one of the three vehicles survived, after a truly rich and eventful life. The fact that it could now be seen in Switzerland in white paintwork, but largely unrestored, can be seen as a stroke of luck.
The Martini BMW 700s were primarily designed for motorsport, which is hardly surprising as they were assembled directly at the Nürburgring. The design came from Ford designer Uwe Bahnsen, who also designed the Ford 17 M. In circuit and hill climb races, and later also in slalom events, the sports car achieved remarkable top places during a racing career that ran almost uninterrupted from 1963 to 2008.
The rattling two-cylinder boxer sound - the engine came from the BMW motorcycle parts warehouse - has been retained by the flat flounder to this day. And it has it in common with the BMW 700 Sport Coupé from 1961, which was also at the start in Altbüron.
Value millionaires from Ferrari and Lister
In addition to many sports cars in the prototype class, two gems from the late 1950s were also on display in Altbüron: a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa from 1957 and a Lister Jaguar "Knobbly" from 1959. Both cars are nowadays sold at a high price and the owners deserve credit for presenting the gems in the right condition.
Many originals on the mountain
The special thing about Altbüron was and is the high proportion of authentic racing cars. For example, there were Lotus Elans on display, which were already competing in hill climb and circuit races in the sixties among Swiss motorsport greats.
It was only the second time that the Lotus 35 from 1965, freshly restored by Bruno Schaffner, which raced on the Solitude circuit around 50 years ago, could be seen in action. Cooper, Lotus, Maserati, March, Alpine, Kondor-BMW- the list could go on and on.
A successful event
In perfect weather conditions, the sixth hill climb(in 2011 the event was held under the motto "Siffert") took place practically without incident, apart from the harmless spin of a car or the crash of a motorcycle. Even if one or two vehicles were unable to tackle the hill, the visitors, who were somewhat fewer in number than at the 2011 event, were offered a unique selection from almost 100 years of motorsport.
Over 300 photos of almost all participating vehicles can be found in the two photo galleries
Registered vehicles
The following list shows the approximately 220 registered vehicles (excluding motorcycles). Not all of them actually took part in the event, which is partially noted.
| Make | Type | Year | Category/Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet | Corvette Cunningham | 1960 | Le Mans entries of sister cars, not on site |
| Abarth | 1000 BA-Le Mans | 1961 | Le Mans original vehicle |
| Alfa Romeo | Giulietta Sprint Zagato | 1963 | Le Mans original car, not on site |
| Porsche | 910 | 1967 | Le Mans entries from sister vehicles |
| Chevrolet | Corvette | 1968 | Le Mans original car |
| Cheetah | G 501, Ford 2000 | 1975 | Le Mans original car |
| Sauber BMW | C 5 | 1976 | Le Mans original car, not on site |
| Cheetah | G 601, Ford 2000 | 1976 | Le Mans original vehicle |
| Inaltera | Cosworth V8 | 1976 | Le Mans original car |
| Sauber Cosworth | C 6 | 1982 | Le Mans original car, exhibition only |
| Porsche | 956 | 1982 | Le Mans entries from sister vehicles |
| Porsche | 956 | 1983 | Le Mans original car |
| Cheetah | G 604, Aston Martin | 1984 | Le Mans original car |
| Gebhardt Cosworth | C2 JC 843 | 1985 | Le Mans original car |
| Sauber Mercedes | C 9 | 1988 | Le Mans entries of sister cars, not on site |
| Sauber Mercedes | C 11 | 1990 | Le Mans original car, exhibition only |
| Cheetah | G 606, Cosworth | 1991 | Le Mans original car |
| Lola Toyota | Rebellion B10/60 | 2012 | Le Mans vehicle 2012, exhibition only |
| Abarth | Fiat 850 TC | 1962 | Touring car |
| Abarth | Fiat 1000 TCR | 1966 | touring car |
| Abarth | Fiat 2000 Sport | 1968 | sports car |
| Abarth | Fiat 1000 TCR | 1970 | Touring car |
| Abarth | 3000 V8 Proto | 1970 | Sports car |
| Abarth | Fiat 2000 Proto | 1971 | prototype |
| Abarth-Osella | 2000 Proto SE021 | 1972 | prototype |
| Abarth | SE027 Proto | 1973 | prototype |
| Alexis | Mk 15, Formula Ford | 1968 | Monoposto |
| ALF | Type 12, 14.5 ltr. | 1917 | Racing car |
| Alfa Romeo | Giulietta Ti | 1961 | Touring car |
| Alfa Romeo | Giulia TI | 1964 | touring car |
| Alfa Romeo | GTA, 1600 | 1965 | touring car |
| Alfa Romeo | Giulia Sprint Speziale | 1964 | Gran Turismo |
| Alfa Romeo | GTA, 1600 | 1965 | Touring car |
| Alfa Romeo | GT Veloce, 1600 | 1966 | Touring car |
| Alfa Romeo | GTA Junior | 1968 | touring car |
| Alfa Romeo | GTAm | 1970 | touring car |
| Alfa Romeo | Giulia Super | 1970 | touring car |
| Alfa Romeo | Junior Zagato, 1300 | 1971 | Gran Turismo |
| Alfa Romeo | Giulia | 1976 | Gran Turismo |
| Alpine | A110, 1600 S | 1969 | Gran Turismo |
| Alpine | A 362 Formula Renault | 1971 | Monoposto |
| Alpine | A110, Renault 1800 | 1971 | Gran Turismo |
| Alpine | A110, Renault 1600 S | 1972 | Gran Turismo |
| Alpine | A110, Renault 1600 S | 1972 | Gran Turismo |
| Alpine | A110, Renault 1600S Gr. 4 | 1972 | Gran Turismo |
| Alpine | A110, Renault 1600 SC | 1973 | Gran Turismo |
| Alpine | A310, Renault V6 | 1980 | Gran Turismo |
| Alvis | Greenfell Special | 1932 | sports car |
| Alvis | 12/70 | 1939 | Racing car |
| Arcobaleno | Yamaha, 1000 | 2000 | Monoposto |
| AschiGS | Citroen self-built | 1972 | Monoposto |
| Audi | Ur-Quattro 10V | 1981 | Gran Turismo |
| Austin | Seven Special | 1930 | Monoposto |
| Austin | Healey 3000 Mk 1 | 1959 | Gran Turismo |
| Austin | Healey Sprite | 1960 | Gran Turismo |
| Balsa | Porsche, Formula 1 | 1962 | Monoposto |
| BMW | 700 Sport | 1961 | Touring car |
| BMW | 2002 TIi | 1968 | touring car |
| BMW | 2002 TIi | 1971 | touring car |
| BMW | 2002 TIi | 1972 | touring car |
| BMW | 2002 | 1974 | touring car |
| BMW | M3 E30 DTM | 1990 | touring car |
| Borghi | Coupé Diablerets | 1969 | sports car |
| Brabham | BT10, Formula 2 | 1964 | Monoposto |
| Brabham | BT 16, Formula 2 | 1965 | Monoposto |
| Brabham | BT 38, Formula 2 | 1972 | Monoposto |
| Brixner NSU | Spyder Type 1 | 1967 | sports car |
| Bugatti | T59/50B | 1936 | racing car |
| Buick | C8 Racing Car | 1939 | racing car |
| Burkart | Formula V, 1300 | 1968 | Monoposto |
| Cadillac | V8 Racer | 1926 | race car |
| Chevrolet | Corvette | 1956 | Gran Turismo |
| Chevrolet | Corvette | 1966 | Gran Turismo |
| Chevrolet | Corvette Sting Ray Roadster | 1966 | Gran Turismo |
| Chevrolet | Camaro Z28 | 1971 | Touring Car |
| Cooper | Climax V8, Formula 1 | 1965 | Monoposto |
| Cooper | T 83 Formula 3 | 1966 | Monoposto |
| Corami | Fiat 128 | 1971 | Sports car |
| Crossle | 9 S, Ford | 1964 | sports car |
| Crossle | 9 S, Ford | 1966 | sports car |
| Crosslé | 42 S | 1978 | sports car |
| Dallara | Mercedes Formula 3 | 2007 | Monoposto |
| Dangel | Barquette, 1600 | 1971 | sports car |
| Datsun | Cherry 100A GT | 1974 | Touring car |
| Datsun | Fairlady Z | 1975 | touring car |
| De Tomaso | Pantera Gr. 3 | 1973 | Gran Turismo |
| De Tomaso | Pantera GTS | 1973 | Gran Turismo |
| Dulon | Mp21 Formula Ford 1600 | 1978 | Monoposto |
| EBS | Chevron B23 | 1971 | sports car |
| Enzmann | 506 Coupé | 1959 | Gran Turismo |
| Estonia | 21 Evo 10, Lada | 1986 | Monoposto |
| Estonia | Mk25, Lada/VW | 1990 | Monoposto |
| Faster | Formula Ford 1600 | 1990 | Monoposto |
| Faster | Formula Ford 1800 | 1996 | Monoposto |
| Ferrari | 308 GTB-Resina | 1976 | Gran Turismo |
| Ferrari | 360 Challenge | 2002 | Gran Turismo |
| Ferrari | 430 Challenge | 2009 | Gran Turismo |
| Fiat | Dino Coupé | 1971 | Touring Car |
| Fiat | 128 Coupé SL | 1974 | touring car |
| Fiat | Abarth 131 Rally | 1976 | Rally touring car |
| Ford | B, Hot Rod, Flathead V8 | 1932 | Hot Rod |
| Ford | Anglia | 1959 | Touring car |
| Ford | Galaxie 500 XL | 1964 | Touring car |
| Ford | GT 40 Replica | 1966 | Gran Turismo |
| Ford | Escort TC, 1600 | 1968 | Touring car |
| Ford | Escort TC, 1600 | 1970 | touring car |
| Ford | Capri 2600 RS | 1972 | touring car |
| Ford | Escort Mexico, 1600 | 1972 | touring car |
| Ford | Escort RS 2000 Mk I | 1974 | touring car |
| Ford | Escort RS 2000 Mk II | 1980 | touring car |
| Ford | Escort RS 2000 Mk II | 1980 | touring car |
| Ford | Fiesta | 1980 | Touring car |
| Ford | Escort RS 2000 Mk II | 1981 | Touring car |
| Formcar | Formula V, 1200 | 1965 | Monoposto |
| Galli | TP1, NSU | 1973 | Sports car |
| Gebhardt-Audi | C2 | 1987 | Sports car, not on site |
| Ginetta | G12, Lotus Twin Cam 1600 | 1968 | sports car |
| Ginetta | G4 | 1978 | Gran Turismo |
| Grac | MT 14S, Porsche 2000 | 1972 | sports car |
| Grac | MT 14, Renault 1600 | 1973 | Monoposto |
| Griffon | Ford, Proto 1000 | 1971 | sports car |
| Griffon | Proto 1300 | 1972 | sports car |
| Healey | Silverstone E99 | 1950 | sports car |
| Innocenti | Cooper 1300 | 1973 | Touring car |
| Jaguar | XK 120 | 1951 | sports car |
| Jaguar | E V12 Group 44 Replica | 1973 | Gran Turismo |
| Jensen | Healey 1120 | 1974 | Gran Turismo |
| JWF | Milano 9T | 1962 | Gran Turismo |
| Condor | BMW, Formula 3 500 | 1952 | Monoposto |
| Lancia | Fulvia, 1300 S | 1972 | Gran Turismo |
| Lancia | Stratos HF Grp. IV | 1974 | Rally car |
| Lancia | Stratos | 1974 | Gran Turismo |
| Lancia | Rally 037 | 1982 | Gran Turismo |
| Liam | Citroen | 1951 | Monoposto |
| Lister-Jaguar | Knobbly | 1958 | Sports car |
| Lola | T592, Sport 2000 | 1980 | sports car |
| Lotus | 18, Maserati, Formula 1 | 1960 | Monoposto |
| Lotus | Elan R26 Racing | 1964 | Gran Turismo |
| Lotus | Elan 1600 | 1964 | Gran Turismo |
| Lotus | Type 35, Formula 2 | 1965 | Monoposto |
| Lotus | Elan S2, BRM | 1966 | Gran Turismo |
| Lotus | Elan S2 | 1966 | Gran Turismo |
| Lotus | 61M, Formula Ford 1600 | 1969 | Monoposto |
| Lotus | 61, Formula Ford 1600 | 1969 | Monoposto |
| Lotus | Europe S2 | 1969 | Gran Turismo |
| Lotus | Esprit S2 | 1978 | Gran Turismo |
| Lotus | 2-eleven | Gran Turismo | |
| Manta-Mirage | Chevi V8 | 1969 | sports car |
| March | Formula B | 1974 | Monoposto |
| Martini | BMW | 1962 | sports car |
| Maserati | 8CM | 1933 | Monoposto |
| Maserati | Type 26 | 1928 | Racing car |
| Maserati | 250 F | 1956 | Monoposto |
| Matra-Bonnet | Djet | 1966 | Gran Turismo |
| Merlyn | Mk 20, Formula Ford 1600 | 1971 | Monoposto |
| Merlyn | Mk 25 | Monoposto | |
| Mercedes | 300 SL Roadster | 1957 | Gran Turismo |
| MG | K1 | 1933 | Monoposto |
| MG | A SP1 | 1959 | Gran Turismo |
| MG | B, 1800 | 1963 | Gran Turismo |
| MG | B GT V8 Sebring | 1975 | Gran Turismo |
| MG | SV-S | 2005 | Touring Car |
| Morgan | Three Wheeler | 1930 | Monoposto |
| Morgan | Three Wheeler | 1933 | Monoposto |
| Morgan | Le Mans 62 V8 | 2002 | Gran Turismo |
| Morgan | S1 Cup, Jaguar V6 | 2006 | Gran Turismo |
| Morris | Cooper S | touring car | |
| Morris | Cooper S | 1965 | touring car |
| Morris | Cooper S | 1968 | touring car |
| Morris | Cooper S, 1300 | 1969 | touring car |
| Mygale | BMW FB02 | 2002 | Monoposto |
| NSU | 1200 TT | 1967 | touring car |
| NSU | TT Spiess | 1971 | touring car |
| NSU | 1200 TT | 1971 | touring car |
| NSU | 1260 TT | 1972 | touring car |
| Opel | GT 2000, Steinmetz | 1972 | Gran Turismo |
| Opel | Kadett GT/E | 1978 | Touring car |
| Opel | Kadett GT/E | 1978 | touring car |
| Porsche | 356 Coupé | 1954 | Gran Turismo |
| Porsche | 356B | 1963 | Gran Turismo |
| Porsche | 911 2,0 Ltr | 1965 | Gran Turismo |
| Porsche | 906 Replica | 1966 | Sports car |
| Porsche | 917 Replica | 1970 | sports car |
| Porsche | RSR, 3,0 Ltr | 1973 | Gran Turismo |
| Porsche | 924 Turbo | 1980 | Gran Turismo |
| Renault | R8 Gordini | 1969 | Touring car |
| Renault | R5 Alpine | 1981 | Touring car |
| Reynard | Formula Ford 1600 | 1982 | Monoposto |
| Reynard | Alfa Romeo, Formula 3 | 1986 | Monoposto |
| Reynard | 91D, Judd, Formula 3000 | 1991 | Monoposto |
| Riley | 9/Big 4-16 HP | 1928 | Monoposto |
| Saab | Sonnet II | 1966 | Gran Turismo |
| Clean | C1, Ford-Hart 1000 | 1970 | Sports car |
| Clean | C2, BDA 1600 | 1971 | sports car |
| Clean | C2, Cosworth | 1972 | sports car |
| Clean | C3, Cosworth 1800 | 1973 | Sports car |
| Schai | Special DKW | 1964 | sports car |
| Shelby | Cobra 427 S/C | 1966 | Gran Turismo |
| Singer | Le Mans, 1500 | 1936 | Monoposto |
| Swica | VW 2000 | 1987 | Monoposto |
| Talbot-Simca | Rally 3 | 1976 | Touring car |
| Talbot-Lotus | Sunbeam | 1980 | touring car |
| Talbot-Lotus | Sunbeam | 1980 | Rally car |
| Tatuus | Formula Renault 2000 | 2007 | Monoposto |
| Tiga | Ford Cosworth 1600 | 1980 | sports car |
| Tiga | SF 84 Formula Ford | 1984 | Monoposto |
| Toyota | Celica GT | 1973 | Touring Car |
| Triumph | Spitfire Mk4 | 1971 | Gran Turismo |
| Triumph | TR 6 | 1972 | Gran Turismo |
| Triumph | Dolomite Sprint | 1977 | Touring Car |
| Triumph | Dolomite Sprint | 1979 | touring car |
| Van Diemen | Formula Ford, 1600 | 1984 | Monoposto |
| Volvo | 123 GT | 1969 | Touring car |
| VW Beetle | Porsche Special | 1968 | touring car |
| VW GOLF | Golf GTI | 1980 | touring car |
| VW GOLF | Golf 1, 1600 | 1981 | touring car |
| Xanthos | 23/California, 1600 | 1964 | Sports car |






















































































































































































