A look into Opel's future 30 years ago

Bruno von Rotz
09/30/2015

Opel Aero GT von 1987 (Entwurf)

At the IAA 1987 , the talented designer Pavel Husek presented a successor to the Opel Aero GT for discussion. The original had been presented as a concept car in 1970 and was based on the front-engined GT with rear-wheel drive, which was successfully built in Rüsselsheim between 1969 and 1973.

Opel Aero GT von 1970

Husek came up with a mid-engine layout for the "successor" and integrated design borrowings from a Chevrolet Corvette Indy concept car with a mid-engine (V8). However, his Opel Aerto GT would probably have been equipped with a Kadett two-liter if Opel had ever built such a vehicle. It was not until much later that Opel launched the Speedster based on the Lotus Elite and even later the Opel GT of the modern era , which was based on Pontiac technology.

So a bold design became a waste of time ..., but at least we now have this beautiful drawing ...

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Car scandals of the past - Ford Pinto

Bruno von Rotz
09/29/2015

Ford Pinto

There is currently talk of "Diesel-Gate", but there have been scandalous incidents in the car industry before.

In 1970, Ford presented the Pinto model as an alternative to the Chevrolet Vega or AMC Gremlin, but mainly against the successful imported cars from Volkswagen (Beetle) and Japan. The Pinto was a hatchback coupé with a four-cylinder engine at the front and rear-wheel drive. Over three million units of the Pinto were sold between 1971 and 1980.

But there was a problem! The fuel tank was located between the rear bumper and the rear axle (as was not uncommon at the time). However, the tank nozzle was positioned in such a way that it broke off in the event of a rear-end collision and fuel leaked out immediately. The tank was also poorly protected towards the differential at the front. The result was 60 people killed and 120 seriously injured in the flames.

Ford had obviously been aware of the design flaws early on, but had not rectified the weak point for cost reasons, as it was assumed that lawsuits would be cheaper than corrective measures. When the whole mess became known, it triggered major discussions on the subject of corporate ethics.

It was not until 1978 that Ford launched a recall campaign to rectify the defects.

However, there were also subsequent investigations which showed that the Pinto was no more flammable than other cars of the time, just that it was more noticeable with over three million units produced ...

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Seventies and eighties classics on the rise

Bruno von Rotz
09/28/2015

Frage der Woche 42 Teaser

Until now, it has always been the case that new generations of classic car owners and collectors have primarily bought vehicles that they admired in their youth or that were already of interest at the time. The question is whether this "regularity" will continue in the future. Will future generations of classic car buyers also discover "newer" cars as classics?

In a" question of the week" on this topic, Zwischengas asked readers to guess and predict the future. But which era did the respondents identify as the one that would be particularly "en vogue" in ten years' time?

The seventies (29%) emerged as the narrow winner, closely followed by the sixties (28%), which, according to the answers, would obviously hold up very well.

The eighties came in third place with 21%.

Only 4% could imagine that cars from the nineties would be among the most sought-after classics in ten years' time.

Pre-war vehicles naturally had no chance at all in this survey, with only 4% saying they would.

Of course, it's difficult to ignore one's own preferences when imagining the future, which certainly explains the high proportion of responses from the sixties. Nevertheless, we were surprised to see that the seventies would be the most promising era in ten years' time, a vote for the Lotus Esprit, Ferrari 308, VW Golf GTI or Renault Alpine A310.

For the sake of completeness, here are the complete results.

Auswertungen zur Frage der Woche - Klassikerepochen in zehn Jahren

And of course we have already asked the next question , this week we want to know whether time measurements with hoses and light barriers really make classic car rallies more attractive.

All previous questions of the week and their answers can be found in the "Question of the week" topic channel .

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The sports car that knows how to treat a lady ...

Bruno von Rotz
09/27/2015

Werbung für den Dodge Challenger im Jahr 1970 (© FCA)

Chrysler used this slogan to headline its advertising in 1970:" Dodge Challenger... The sports car that knows how to treat a lady." (The sports car that knows how to treat a lady).

Why the lady had to pose in her underwear is beyond the viewer. But of course Chrysler gave an explanation as to why and when a question was "Dodge material".

They emphasized that the car could easily have been designed by a woman. This was expressed in the sporty design, which nevertheless offered sufficient space. The sporty steering wheel and the color assorted carpets were also mentioned as important. Good looks are combined with practicality, which is particularly important for the female sex. The door handles and the V6 and V8 engines, which run on normal petrol, were mentioned as examples of this. And, of course, the attractive prices were not concealed.

Chrysler admitted, however, that the Challenger was developed by a man, but that he must have spoken to his wife beforehand ...

And here is the complete advertisement:

Werbung für den Dodge Challenger im Jahr 1970 (© FCA)

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Classic pearls of the future - Dodge/Chrysler Viper

Bruno von Rotz
09/26/2015

Dodge Viper GTS Concept 1994 (© FCA)

The American car manufacturer Chrysler owned Lamborghini between 1987 and 1994. Perhaps this is why the decision to build a super sports car came about. However, it is also easy to imagine that the enterprising manager Lee Iacocca was dreaming independently of being able to offer a real muscle car once again. In any case, the engine of the Dodge Viper was created with the help of the Italians, even if the basic design of the ten-cylinder engine was more reminiscent of an American "truck". A displacement of 7990 cm3, 458 hp and 664 Nm were certainly an announcement when the Viper was officially presented for the first time at the Indianapolis 500 in 1991.

Dodge Viper Prototype 1991 (© FCA)

Visually, the new sports car, which was eventually called the Viper RT/10, was somewhat reminiscent of the AC Cobra, albeit a significantly larger version of it. At 4.5 meters long and 1.935 meters wide, the car was wide, and 1575 kg was a considerable weight for a two-seater at the time. Two people and some luggage could be transported, if necessary at over 260 km/h.

Dodge Viper RT/10 Concept 1989 (© FCA)

In the spring of 1992, customers could also buy the open version with roll bar and side exhaust; in Europe, the car was called the Chrysler Viper.

As early as 1993, the Americans added an attractive coupé called the GTS (pictured above), initially as a concept car, and a short time later the closed version with a "double bubble" roof could also be purchased, which was certainly not coincidentally reminiscent of the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé.

Dodge Viper RT/10 1992 (© FCA)

By 1998, a total of 8468 Dodge/Chrysler Vipers had been sold, 1802 of which were coupés. There were also many successes in racing, including in endurance racing, e.g. at the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring, but also at Le Mans.

Hardly any other car of the nineties was more brute and raw than the Dodge Viper, owners had to do without ESP and traction control, ABS was only available on the successor. The demanding driving characteristics certainly led to a certain reduction in stock, but otherwise the car with its GRP/aluminum body and sturdy frame was certainly built for a long life, especially as most owners only covered short distances. Today, the cars are still comparatively cheap to buy, but in 20 or 30 years' time, classic car fans will certainly be dreaming of an original Dodge or Chrysler Viper ...

More classic pearls can be found in our "Classic pearls" theme channel.

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All my friends drive Porsches ...

Bruno von Rotz
09/25/2015

Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet 1964 Janis Joplin (© Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's)

The song line has probably stuck in many people's minds: "Oh Lord, (why) don't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz, my friends all drive Porsche ..." (Dear Lord, why don't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz, my friends all drive Porsche ...).

Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet 1964 Janis Joplin (© Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's)

When she recorded this song in 1970, the singer Janis Joplin had already owned her own Porsche for around two years, a 1964 Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet to be precise. However, she did not leave the pearl-white painted car unchanged, but asked Dave Richard to paint it. He gave the convertible a multi-colored surface that was supposed to represent the history of the universe.

Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet 1964 mit Janis Joplin (©Janis Joplin/Yoram Kahana/Shooting Star International)

Janis Joplin used the car a lot in the San Francicso and Los Angeles area between 1968 and 1970, when she died unexpectedly (of a heroin overdose).

The car was also used by the family after her son, was completely and correctly restored in the 1990s and has been on display in a museum ever since.

Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet 1964 Janis Joplin (© Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's)

Now the family is offering the car for sale at the RM/Sotheby's auction in New York on December 10, 2015 . At least USD 400,000 is expected. This would be a handsome price for a 356 SC Cabriolet, but a comparatively small sum for one of the most important Porsche sports cars of all time, as an RM spokesperson emphasized.

Well, on December 10, 2015, we will know for sure.

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Of the few who are granted two lives ...

Daniel Reinhard
09/24/2015

Ferrari 250 GT SWB (© Daniel Reinhard)

They really do exist, the lucky guys with two lives. Ex-F1 driver David Coulthard, his then fiancée Heidi Wichlinski and personal fitness trainer Andrew Matthews survived the crash of a Learjet at Lyon airport in France on May 2, 2000 with only minor injuries. The pilot and co-pilot of the plane were killed. David Coulthard on the crash: "I really thought we were all going to die. I had a few bruised ribs, Heidi and Andrew only had grazes and bruises. It's a miracle! We could hardly believe we were still alive." Coulthard is one of the lucky ones with two lives.

David Coulthard (© Daniel Reinhard)

Rolf Schneeberger had a similar experience on September 14, 1965, almost exactly 50 years ago, when he lost control of "his" Venom military fighter jet in Interlaken. The Swissair and fighter jet pilot, who was only 24 years old, took off from Interlaken at full throttle for the first time to fly a ground attack using the Salto technique. The "Salto" program, an attack procedure that enabled the aircraft to fly under enemy radar stations, had to be flown at full load under conditions close to those of war, i.e. the jet, a Venom, took off with two 400 kg bombs, four cannons, rockets and 2250 kg of kerosene on board.

Venom Kampfflugzeug

For topographical reasons, a left turn towards Rugenlücke had to be flown immediately after take-off in Interlaken. Due to the high take-off weight, after the already very long take-off roll, the aircraft had to fly a little straight ahead to build up speed before the turn could be initiated. This required more bank angle, namely around 60 degrees instead of the usual 20 to 30 degrees. As a result, the flow on the wing partially broke off and the aircraft was no longer controllable.

Rolf Schneeberger in the Swiss daily newspaper "Blick": "When I tried to straighten the plane with the aileron, the controls did not react. The plane could no longer be steered in the longitudinal axis."
He steered the plane towards the forest above the Rugen brewery and when the trees were already very close, he activated the ejection seat and saved his life. Schneeberger: "I just pulled the handle above me, then I lost consciousness for a short time."

The now 74-year-old landed just seconds later below Rugenbräu AG without a single scratch. He was very lucky that the cockpit of the plane was facing away from the slope, so that he had just the minimum height for the parachute and was not thrown against the slope. He climbed unassisted to Rugenbräu AG and asked the stunned employees there about his plane. Walter Schmocker, now 83 years old, can still remember exactly how Schneeberger came up to him with his helmet under his arm and asked about his machine. The Venom crashed in the forest just a few meters away from the brewery. When Schneeberger reported back to the base, he could only see the stunned faces of his colleagues and superiors, as they had not noticed the parachute opening.

After a brief check-up with the flight physician and psychologist at the Aeromedical Institute in Dübendorf, the young pilot was back in the cockpit just one day later.

But what is this story, which seems to revolve almost exclusively around airplanes, doing on "zwischengas"? Rolf Schneeberger's heart not only has room for airplanes, but also for cars. He has a beautiful collection of hot-blooded Italians in his garage and is a frequent and extremely popular guest at historic events. With his showpiece, a Ferrari 250 SWB (ex Tour de France and winner of the 1000Km of Paris 1960 in Monthlery with Olivier Gendebien at the wheel), he also took part in the Saalbach Classic this year.

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This is also a classic car ...

Bruno von Rotz
09/23/2015

Microsoft Excel auf Apple MacIntosh

Well, of course I don't mean the drawing, but the software, i.e. MS Excel.

This universal tool has actually been around for 30 years, which is hard to believe. During this time, it has certainly served many classic car owners and service providers well, be it when planning an event, calculating the cost of a restoration, or for any kind of cost breakdown. And there are even people who use it to create entire works of art (our drawing is expressly not one of them!)

In contrast to a historic car, however, old software is not really interesting; hardly anyone collects old Excel versions. And Lotus 1-2-3 or even Visicalc, the former pioneer of spreadsheets, invented by Dan Bricklin and launched on the market in 1979, would probably be much more interesting historically. However, it is to Microsoft's credit that they have continued to refine the concept of self-calculating cells and kept it alive over the years.

And we have become just as accustomed to the omnipresent spreadsheet as we are to the automobile, so we are actually surprised that the idea is not much older.

Happy Birthday MS Excel!

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Sheer size

Daniel Reinhard
09/22/2015

We have just reported on the Cadillac event, the CLC Grand European Tour 2015in central Switzerland. We would like to share a picture (by Max Pichler) with our readers, which clearly shows the difference in size of the cars.
Although the picture shows a Lincoln (premiere) and not a Cadillac, this does not make a significant difference in terms of dimensions.

At 297 cm, the overall length of the Fiat is roughly the same as the passenger compartment of the Lincoln. The Lincoln also has a generously sized engine compartment and an XXL-sized trunk, which makes it 577 cm wide. Accordingly, it can be said that the Lincoln is almost exactly twice as long as the Fiat.

The vehicle width is similar, with the Fiat taking up 132 cm of the road and the Lincoln a whopping 203.5 cm.

Of course, the Fiat was a small car at the time and the Lincoln was certainly one of the largest of its kind. Americans loved this type of car and they had and still have the space for it.

In Europe, however, large cars are becoming increasingly difficult. Lane widths and parking spaces have not changed in width and size for years and manufacturers should actually adapt their cars to the conditions and not the other way around.

Of course, every buyer can decide for himself which size of car he chooses, but it is clear that more and more larger cars are being bought, partly because vehicles are becoming ever wider and longer due to safety regulations and comfort requirements. Even today, some parking spaces are too small, some garage entrances are tight and some streets are too narrow to cross. With a Cadillac from the sixties, these modern-day problems can also be experienced in a classic car ...

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The successor to the Toyota 2000 GT ...

Bruno von Rotz
09/21/2015

In 1965 , Toyota presented the 2000 GT sports car, which had been developed with the help of Yamaha, to an enthusiastic Japanese audience in Tokyo. The car was not a great financial success, but it has since become a sought-after classic.

Toyota 4500 GT 1989 an der IAA in Frankfurt

24 years after the presentation of the 2000 GT, Toyota once again set out to present a sports car at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show , this time called the 4500 GT. The 2+2 concept car weighed 1450 kg and was designed to reach a speed of 300 km/h. The V8 engine developed 295 hp. The V8 five-valve engine developed 295 hp and was connected to a rear-mounted six-speed gearbox (transaxle).

At the time, the Cd value was given as 0.29. The car was full of innovative technology, but the styling was much less successful than the 2000 GT, which was probably inspired by the Jaguar E-Type.

The 4500 GT never went into production and, if it had been built, would it have enjoyed a similarly steep classic career as its predecessor?

Further interesting concept cars from the 1980s can be found in our report on the IAA 1981 to 1989.

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