125 years of cars worth reading in the current issue of Auto Motor und Sport
Normally, classic car enthusiasts don't buy "Auto Motor und Sport" at the magazine kiosk, but rather the classic car magazines that focus on their interests. This week, however, it is worth making an exception and buying AMS 4/2011, because the theme is "125 years of cars".
The makers of AMS have gone to great lengths to summarize the last 125 years of the automobile in words and pictures on around 220 pages and to highlight formative and interesting facts. And they have succeeded quite convincingly! Many hours were spent looking for pictures, researching archives and talking to experts.
The eras 1886-1910, 1911-1935, 1936-1960, 1961-1985 and 1986-2011 are covered chapter by chapter, interesting vehicles from the era are portrayed and figureheads are listed.
Many special topics round off the subject, e.g. an article on the history of the electric car. Did you know that back in 1899, an electric car was the first car in the world to exceed 100 km/h? The thoughts of the controversial Chris Bangle on the history of design (the Lamborghini Countach is a ground-breaking design for Bangle, by the way) are certainly worth reading. The look back at car production methods and processes is also nice. The conversion of earlier prices to today's purchasing power might make you wonder: it's hard to imagine that a liter of gasoline would have cost 7.60 euros in 1920, or that a car in 1910 would have cost the buyer an average of 220,000 euros less. The development of racing driver suits and accessories or the memories of everyday objects from days gone by will certainly make some readers smile.
Some of the quotes mentioned are also amusing. Want some examples?
- "The invention of Gottlieb Daimler will probably remain of no great significance for the development of transportation," was written in the Great Brockhaus in 1896.
- "I believe in the horse. The automobile is a passing phenomenon," said Wilhelm II, who lived from 1859 to 1941.
- "I am of the opinion that what we are being offered here is not worth a cent," said Henry Ford II when he was offered the Volkswagen for sale in 1948.
- "There will never again be so many cars in Germany that you would need a car magazine," said a French press officer in 1946 when Messrs Pietsch and Troeltsch asked for permission to publish "Das Auto".
- And Henry Ford again: "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."
Throughout the magazine, the past is always contrasted with the present, creating many interesting comparisons.
And fans of faster and sportier locomotion also get their money's worth, as the AMS editors have filtered out what they consider to be the five biggest car races (Nürburgring 1928, Mille Miglia 1957, Le Mans 1969, Indianapolis 1992 and Jerez 1997). And racing cars (Le Mans Bentleys, Formula 1 Mercedes, rally minis) from the past and present are compared with each other.
It is nice to see that the Autombil marketing people have also (partially) participated and created advertisements that take up the theme (125 years) and present it from their respective perspectives. For example, the Volvo idea of illustrating the fashion of the last 125 years instead of cars is entertaining.
So let's go to the newsstand, there is rarely so much information and such good entertainment for 3.50 euros.