We read this 40 years ago in the car magazine
I didn't come up with the idea for this blog post entirely on my own. The current issue of Auto Motor und Sport magazine gave me the idea. As in every issue, the last inside page referred to an earlier issue of AMS, number 18 from 1971. But the one-page summary wasn't enough for me, so I picked out the magazine and read it again thoroughly. And there is so much to discover in an old car magazine.
Rising prices
One topic was of great concern to the AMS staff: rising prices. The Opel GT, for example, went up from DM 10,499 to 10,685, the cheapest Kadett from DM 6,133 to 6,325. But Ford and Volkswagen had also announced price increases and NSU was now charging DM 6,940 instead of 6,890 for the TT. Price increases were also the subject of the lead commentary "... if one day the budget is no longer sufficient" or "if the price of petrol approaches the round mark ...".
Comparative test of sports cars, subtitle "Air and whimsy"
Despite this, the magazine took pleasure in sporty convertibles and compared four of this type in a 14-page test. Alfa Romeo Spider 1300, Fiat 124 Sport Spider, Matra 530 LX and VW-Porsche 914/4 had to prove their sporting and everyday talents.
The test was won by the Alfa Spider, which excelled with the best workmanship, among other things. Bringing up the rear was the Matra 530 LX, which surprised with the best ride comfort in saloon quality, but shared this defeat with the VW-Porsche 914, which also failed to score more points. Conventional construction therefore won out over the mid-engine approach.
The two classics Alfa Spider and Fiat 124 Sport Spider were still appreciated by buyers decades later, while the mid-engined sports cars largely disappeared from our roads. It should also be mentioned that the Alfa cost DM 12,450 and the Fiat 11,750 and had a much more sophisticated engine than the Matra with the Ford and the VW-Porsche with the VW-411 heart.
A ride in the Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing
A few pages further on, Klaus Westrup was given the opportunity to drive the Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing, for which American enthusiasts were obviously already licking their fingers at the time and were prepared to pay prices of DM 30,000 (!) for a good example. And youngtimers were already an interesting topic 40 years ago, as the 300 SL was only around 15 years old at the time.
The advertising market
This brings us to the advertising market, where several of these 300 SLs were offered, interestingly two in Switzerland, example 1 for DM 18,000 (overhaul work required) and example 2 for DM 43,000 (factory refurbished). Five Iso Grifo were for sale and for racing fans there was Europe's most successful 911 S from Kremer, with victories in the 1000 km Monza, Spa and on the Nürburgring (with new GT record times everywhere). A Porsche 910 (ex-Martini-Racing) was also on offer and ....
Classic cars at the British Grand Prix
A short photo report showed a number of vintage racing cars that appeared in the supporting program of the British GP . Three of the five vehicles pictured(Maserati 250 F, Gordini, Maserati T61) could be seen in at least a similar form at the AVD Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nürburgring just last weekend(we reported on this in detail), thus completing the picture.
Almost 100 pages long ...
... the AMS number 18 from 1971 was worth a pleasurable reunion 40 years later. And, oh yes, I almost forgot. The magazine cost DM 1.80, or 15 Austrian schillings or CHF 2.20.
