Many things used to be easier - four-speed gearbox on the Delage

Bruno von Rotz
05/31/2016

Schaltung des Delage von 1920

A glance at the Delage CO 4 1/2 Litre Salamanca Gallé from 1920 on the occasion of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Estewas surprising . A four-speed gearbox with an open shift gate with exactly two levels could be recognized.

Delage CO 4 1/2 Litre Salamanca Gallé von 1920

Two levels for five gears (four forward, one reverse)? How could that work? Was there a hidden level for the reverse gear or even a separate switch for reversing the direction of rotation of the engine, so that you could then drive backwards with all four forward gears as in the Messerschmitt? Not at all.

Delage-Schaltung von oben gesehen

A closer look or a conversation with the owner revealed the secret. The shift guide for first gear was significantly longer and accommodated two gears, namely first gear and, actuated by a release device on top of the gearshift, reverse gear at the front end of the shift plane (marked by an additional "R" in front of the "1").

With this solution, which was certainly mechanically more complex, the Delage engineers killed two birds with one stone: accidental engagement of reverse gear was practically impossible. And, with only two levels, the use of a lateral spring was unnecessary and shifting precision was increased.

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We are looking for the early history of this Volkswagen

Bruno von Rotz
05/30/2016

VW Beutler Coupé 1958/1960 (© Daniel Reinhard)

The current issue of the classic car magazine Swiss Classics Revue contains an extensively illustrated story about a VW Beutler Coupé from 1958. Despite extensive research, the early history of this car could not be fully ascertained. Although the order was placed in 1958 (by a garage in Vevey) and the coupé bears the body number "1156/58", the car today sits on a VW chassis with the number "3.395.274", which according to official information was not produced until 1960. It could therefore be that the Beetle platform was changed at some point.

VW Beutler Coupé 1958/1960 im Jahr 1994 vor der Restaurierung

The complete story is known from 1993. At that time, the car, painted yellow at the time, was purchased for restoration and then returned to its original condition with a light brown metallic color scheme and dark roof over many years.

If you know more about the early history of this elegant coupé, please contact us by email or using the contact form.

If you would like to read the entire history of the pretty coupé, please refer to the current issue of Swiss Classics Revue .

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Talent and chance!

Bruno von Rotz
05/29/2016

BMC Mini Cooper S 1965

I recently sat at the same table as Bernhard Brägger, the busy organizer of previous Klausen races and this year's Gotthard Rally, but also known for his books and articles, and he talked about his trip in a Ford T model through half of Europe, which he had undertaken around a year ago. One of the destinations he drove to in winter was Finland.

Brägger used the names of well-known rally drivers to strike up a conversation with the locals, who often seemed a little reserved at first. This worked very well and he was soon being told the most incredible stories. For example, the sensational drive of Timo Mäkinen, who blew the hood off his Mini Cooper in the Ouninpohja special stage of the 1000 Lakes Rally in 1967. Mäkinen didn't stop, but drove on at practically undiminished speed, reaching the finish of the special stage with the third-best time, driving the car with his head half out of the window (the small windows didn't allow for more). What a talent!

He had seen this himself, the Finnish rally fan reported the scene to Brägger. And he told me.

Mini mit offener Motorhaube am 1000 Seen Rallye 1967

Coincidence! A few days earlier, I had been at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, where a red rally Mini faced the eyes of the strict jury.

1000 Seen Rallye 1967 - Timo Mäkinen im Mini

According to the owner, this Mini was exactly the same car that Mäkinen had driven in the 1000 Lakes Rally, and even the traces of the smashed hood were still visible.

Spuren am Mini Cooper S von 1965 vom 1000 Seen Rallye 1967

If you don't believe the story, check out the YouTube video showing the daring drive.

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The beginning of internal security

Bruno von Rotz
05/28/2016

Hardly any car before had been given as much emphasis on interior safety as the Mercedes-Benz 220 S, which was launched in 1959.

In order to guarantee the survival of the occupants in the event of an accident, which could never be completely avoided despite the "foolproof" nature of the car, the interior of the car was designed to be as safe as possible.

Various tests were carried out to verify the result.

One was the "impact head test", in which a wooden ball weighing 5 kg was hit against the dashboard to simulate the impact of a head.

Then impact tests were carried out with a sledge that was driven against a wall. This was known as the "ejector seat". Finally, a rollover at 80 km/h was used to check whether the passenger cell would prove to be as stable as expected.

In 1960, it was considered a good result if the seats and belts - yes, they already existed at the test stage - were not torn from their anchorages.

The three pictures show excerpts from the rollover test, which was described in the caption of the 11/1960 issue of ADAC Motorweltas follows:

"Our picture strip shows interesting rollover tests with the new Mercedes-Benz 220 models, which were carried out on the Daimier-Benz proving ground. Here are some phases of the rollover test. A test dummy sat in the driver's seat. The vehicle was driven onto the rollover ramp at a speed of 80 km. In the first picture, the car flies through the air and tilts sideways. In the middle picture, the car overturns on impact with the ground. The unlocked radiator grille lifts off on the right-hand side; the roof and all the windows are still undamaged at this stage. - In the picture below, the car has turned 180 degrees around its longitudinal axis and then falls onto the right-hand side of the car. The vehicle then turns onto its wheels again and comes to a standstill lying on its left side. The roof, rear and passenger compartment remained almost undamaged during this attempt."

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What a speedy runabout!

Bruno von Rotz
05/27/2016

Flitzer aus Deutschland

We want to keep it a little secret (for now) and not immediately reveal the name of the elegant sports car shown in the picture. All we can say is that it was built at the beginning of the sixties.

The answer will be revealed next week when we publish the article "Vorsprung durch Plastik".

If you already know the name of the car and which engine it was powered by, then you can rightly call yourself a connoisseur.

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My father is much stronger than yours! But mine is faster!

Daniel Reinhard
05/26/2016

Renault-Alpine mit Trax

These or similar slogans are used by little boys at elementary school to boast and glorify their fathers. What would the Renault-Alpine A110and the Maserati Merak SS have to say about this ?

The two pictures were taken independently of each other, but are committed to the same pictorial idea.

The photo with the Alpine was taken in Switzerland, but the photo with the Maserati was taken around five hours away by plane, in Dubai.

Maserati Merak SS vor Trax

"Unequal brothers" or "David versus Goliath" could be the subtitle.

The only small difference is the focal length of the lens: thanks to the short focal length (wide angle), the Maserati appears superior in size and width to the Caterpillar, while the Berlinette looks small and has no chance against the yellow monster thanks to the long focal length (telephoto lens).

Viewed in motion, however, both would drive around the ears of the commercial vehicles, at least as long as the ground is firm ...

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Classic car drivers are happy to do without

Bruno von Rotz
05/25/2016

Frage der Woche 59 - Ausstattung eines Oldtimers

Modern cars offer more and more amenities and make driving easier. As a result, one might assume that the demands on old cars are also increasing. However, the vehicles of yesteryear were often much more simply equipped than those of today, and some comfort features did not even exist yet. So we asked ourselves whether today's classic car buyers are still prepared to make compromises.

We drew up a list of accessories and put them to our readers to choose from in our last " Question of the Week " . And we were surprised, because power steering, automatic transmission, air conditioning, airbags or ABS (anti-lock braking system) only received a few votes, with seatbelts being the only important feature for a quarter of classic and classic car buyers. And three percent would also like to have a radio (or similar).

However, 64% of classic/young-timer buyers are happy to do without all these things and are happy to buy a car without all these comfort and safety features. And only a small proportion of three percent would like to have several of the proposed attributes in their car.

So it looks like classic car buyers are tough and certainly not effeminate despite the inflation of comfort in modern automobile construction.

For the sake of completeness, here is the full evaluation of the question "Which equipment detail is essential for you when buying a classic (or modern) car?":

Umfrage 59 - welche Mindestausstattung braucht der Oldtimer/Youngtimer

We have already asked the next question of the week, this time asking whether more books on classic/youngtimer topics are actually needed .

The results of the previous questions of the week can all be found in a dedicated topic channel.

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The car of tomorrow (back then)

Bruno von Rotz
05/24/2016

Mercedes-Benz 220 SE

Throughout the history of the automobile, the view was repeatedly expressed that the car had actually been invented and that there was hardly anything new to come. This was already the case in the 1920s, but also at the end of the 1950s.

Back then, a certain Willi Wieczorek wrote a one-page article in ADAC Motorwelt entitled "The car of tomorrow". And referred to the Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb. Among other things, it said:

"One day the dream car will come" this is the standard sentence of every critic when once again faced with a new model that failed to meet expectations. Dream cars are supposed to anticipate the conscious and unconscious wishes of the public and test their industrial feasibility.
Daimler-Benz has now presented such a dream car to the public in the new models of the 2.2-liter sedan with the six-cylinder 220, 220 S and 220 SE. This new design from Untertürkheim really is - as press officer Artur J. Keser put it in his apt bon mot - "the car of tomorrow - unfortunately still on our roads of yesterday".

In his article, Wieczorek was full of praise for the new saloon and apparently could hardly imagine any improvements. He wrote:

"We could go on to describe many more details about this new, above-average comfort Mercedes car, but we don't want to pre-empt the detailed test report, which everyone is awaiting with great interest, that ADAC Motorwelt will already be publishing in the next issue. We had the opportunity to drive the new 220 models on the closed-off Solitude racetrack. The first driving impression was overwhelming. In terms of handling, roadholding and steering precision, the car displayed characteristics which, even after this short test, have to be described as the best available today. In terms of form and performance, this new Daimler-Benz 220 is a "classic European", an automobile of special standing."

And of course we now know all the developments that have taken place since then. But the automobile was not quite ready back then.

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What would have happened if ...

Bruno von Rotz
05/23/2016

Prototyp Mini 9X 1969

British Leyland would not have rejected this car in 1969 and included it in the production program as the successor to the Mini?

The Mini 9X, as this prototype was called, was developed by none other than Alec Issigonis, who had also designed the original Mini.

Heckansicht des Mini 9X Prototyps von 1969

The 9X prototype had considerably more space for four people and luggage than its "predecessor". A new engine and gearbox had been developed to save 40% weight. There were new independent suspensions at the front and rear and a large trunk lid at the rear, as was later found on the Golf.

Der originale Mini mit dem Mini 9X Prototyp, der ihn hätte beerben können

Yes, the new Mini 9X was better in all respects and also five percent cheaper to produce. But the Leyland management didn't want it and let the project die, perhaps because they didn't like the car or because they had more pressing problems than replacing the group's best-selling car.

In any case, the competition seized the opportunity and produced cars exactly like the Mini 9X.

Today, it is hard to imagine that the iconic original Mini would have been replaced by this rather boring-looking car. Visitors to the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este were all the more surprised when BMW

presented this Mini (from the British Heritage Trust) as part of the brand's 100-year history last weekend.

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Can this car be revived?

Bruno von Rotz
05/22/2016

BMW 2002 turbo am Concorso d'Eleganza 2016

Villa d'Este organizer BMW had set itself a difficult task. For the Concorso d'Eleganza, the BMW 2002 turbo was resurrected as an "homage".

BMW 2002 turbo hommage 2016

Unlike the earlier homages, however, an existing base was chosen for the 2002, which would not make series production impossible.

BMW 2002 turbo hommage 2016

Accordingly, the 2-series 2002 turbo hommage was the inspiration and was in the spotlight for the first time at the press premiere on Friday evening and on the Concorso catwalk yesterday, Saturday.

Whether the fans of the 2002 will accept the hommage as its "successor" is an open question. It has to be said, however, that the result certainly looks "smart" and the 2-series could well be seen as a modern 2002.

However, the focus yesterday at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este was, of course, on the old cars. Finally, the Coppa d'Oro audience award was presented.

Porsche 550 Michael May am Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2016

This was not awarded to the impressive and original Porsche 550 Spyder with Michael May wing, built in the mid-fifties, around 10 years before the Formula 1 designers came up with a similar idea. And so fast at the time that the competition had it banned.

Lancia Astura Serie II Castagna 1933 am Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2016

However, the public chose the Lancia Astura Series II from 1933, equipped with a V8 engine of 2973 cm3, as the most beautiful.

Coppa d'Oro 2016

The public made a good choice, because the Lancia with the elegant, teardrop-shaped Castagna bodywork was already shown at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 1935, just five weeks after the start of the 24-hour race in Pescara.

We will of course be publishing a full report on this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este shortly. Today, Sunday, the class prizes and the "Best of Show" prize will be awarded. During the day, the cars can be viewed by the public at Villa Erba.

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