"99 and not a bit quiet" was the motto of this year's Oldiedays of the MSC Rottenburg, which invited guests to its anniversary on the penultimate Sunday in September. A toast was raised to another 99 years - also with the beloved combustion engines.
It was impressive how many different vehicles were on display on Sunday. In total, there were around 500, which was not least thanks to the club visits, for example from the Fiat X-1/9 friends or the tractor friends with their Lanz Bulldogs. We would like to take a closer look at some of the exotic vehicles.
Triumph GT6 with attached Spitfire bodywork
The chassis of both models is more or less identical, except that there is now a 6-cylinder coupé under the four-cylinder convertible.
The GT6 comes from Ireland, the Spitfire body was purchased in Germany. Six of this combination should be registered in Germany, which is probably feasible with reasonable effort due to the similar chassis.
After the engine had spent 15 years in the garage without plugs, some work was naturally necessary, and the exhaust also needed to be adapted. The carburetors were still not really running perfectly and the missing air filter was also a problem that needed to be solved with a customized air filter box. Only after switching to Champion spark plugs with a different heat value did the engine run smoothly and this will certainly not have been the last fine-tuning.
Porsche 928 S4 Clubsport
For the owner of the 928 S4, the necessary work on the car was much clearer, as the previous owner had already had it done. Shortly after purchasing his 928 S4, Porsche launched the Clubsport in 1988, which seemed so appealing that a complete conversion to this variant was carried out. Rims, interior fittings, ceramic-coated exhaust system, the list is long.
In the meantime, the car equipped with a 5-speed sports manual gearbox has been fitted with 4-hole injectors instead of the original Bosch 2-hole version, which the owner swears by. Combustion, consumption and performance are said to benefit significantly.
With only 160,000 km on the clock, no further work is currently planned apart from replacing the warp-prone plastic rear bumper.
- Car dealership
- Classic Car Dealership
- Auctions (Classic & Online)
Fiat Topolino 500 C
There are also easy ways to get a good classic car. The Fiat 500 C presented in Rottenburg was bought for the owner by his nephew, who has good friends in Italy. That was 30 years ago. Apart from the usual maintenance work, there have been no significant repairs to date. The car is almost exactly as it was when it arrived from Italy.
Porsche Cayenne Paris-Dakar
Far removed from classic car status, a Cayenne also joined the visitors, whose owners want to explore the route this year before taking the risk of participating in the legendary rally.
For the head of the ADAC motorsport group in Tübingen, a visit to the MSC Rottenburg Oldiedays was practically a must. However, his rally-experienced wife will be at the wheel in the desert. It remains to be seen how well Frank will do in his new role as navigator. Not that the convinced non-smoker will have to resort to the strong Rothmans tobacco products.
1960 Plymouth Fury
The Plymouth Fury, which is virtually unheard of on German roads, was one of the highlights of the event.
After 7 years of searching around the globe, the car was finally discovered at Lake Constance and purchased immediately. Two years later, the car has now been restored and is safe to drive again, but there is still some work to be done. The search for the filigree Fury lettering alone took 2 years. Spare parts are virtually unobtainable.
Extras such as the extremely rare Astro Wheel steering wheel make connoisseurs' hearts beat faster. The swivel seats, which are designed to make getting into the car more comfortable, were very popular.
The 5.4-liter V8 engine enables "driving like in a motorboat only without water", which the owner and his son clearly enjoy.
The whole story of the car and its acquisition would certainly be worth a separate story.
Cobra 6.0 Evolution
A somewhat different Cobra proved to be an eye-catcher on closer inspection, if only because of its color. It looks wider and taller than usual, and it is. One of the purchases "seen on the Internet and bought immediately" that paid off. Interesting is the drive with a Mercedes V8 engine, which delivers almost 400 hp and is said to consume less than 15 liters of fuel when driven moderately.
Equipped with three windshield wipers from the Jaguar E-Type, the vehicle is an exceptional phenomenon and amazed some visitors.
Goggomobil
The small car from Dingolfing, manufactured by Glas, reminded many people of their early youth. Given to him by his uncle, some bodywork had to be done before the small air-cooled two-cylinder engine was allowed to put its 13.6 hp back on the road. It has now been doing this for 30 years. You just keep up with the traffic, as far as possible. Overtaking maneuvers are not its strong point. But he has already conquered the Gotthard.
Alfa Romeo Zagato
A lot of work has gone into this colorful specimen. Purchased by the board of the Alfa Classic Club, it only needed a few minor repairs. Well, as it turns out, it was a frame-off restoration in which every screw was taken in hand. Window well seals were made by hand, the front and rear wheel arches were driven by hand, wheel arches and parts of the side panel were rebuilt.
At the same time, the racing green, which took some getting used to, was replaced with a color that better suited the car. Customization to suit the owner, as it should be.
Ultimately, in terms of value, there is a well-equipped current Giulia. But what counts is the realization of a childhood dream and that cannot be outweighed by money.
Lanz Bulldog
It was heart-warming to see the enthusiasm and routine with which young people handle old technology. Start the Lanz? No problem! Preheat the engine, attach the crank handle, touch it properly and turn it, then when the engine is running, stow the crank handle together with the blowtorch and drive off. The tractor was a real crowd favorite. The enthusiastic little brother will have to wait a few more years before he can have a go himself.
Ford Consul L
Here, too, memories of youth play a major role. Anyone who was allowed to drive one of these cars from time to time immediately after getting their driver's license will never forget it. And if you then come across an attractive example at the Veterama ...
Only a few sheet metal parts and the tank have had to be replaced since the car has been on the road for 30 years. The four-cylinder in-line engine delivers its 100 hp well and causes no worries. Let's hope it stays that way.
Conclusion
It is extremely pleasing to see that rare automotive treasures are increasingly on display in southern Germany, not only at major trade fairs but also at smaller events. There is a great deal of interest and approval from the public - hydrogen drive or not, electric cars or not.
Talking to like-minded people and making new contacts makes up for the long journeys. With this in mind, perhaps we'll see you on September 29 in Aich near Stuttgart.
