Full commitment

Bruno von Rotz
05/31/2018

BMW im Dreck

Sometimes maximum effort is required for atmospheric photos and the appropriate presentation of vehicles, and even the escort vehicle sometimes reaches its limits. When we recently photographed a Swiss Buggy Froggy for a report, a large gravel pit proved to be a suitable setting. Because it had rained shortly beforehand, the gravel stuck to the tires of the modern escort vehicle almost like concrete.

Swiss Buggy Froggy 1972 (© Daniel Reinhard)

But the pictures were more than just impressive.

By the way, anyone interested in buggies will find a considerable selection at the " Fantastic Plastic" plastic car meeting next Saturday, June 2, 2018.

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Dolce Vita in Andelfingen (Raduno-Classico 2018)

Pierino Keller
05/30/2018

Raduno-Classico 2018 (© Pierino Keller)

The "Raduno-Classico" event, which takes place every two years, attracted fans of Italian vehicles on two and four wheels to Zurich Weinland on Sunday, May 27, 2018, with midsummer weather.

Fiat Topolino am Raduno-Classico 2018 (© Pierino Keller)

Unfortunately, the venue had to be moved from the village center to an industrial area due to construction work, which was detrimental to the appearance, but did not detract from the atmosphere.

Fiat Kombis am Raduno-Classico 2018 (© Pierino Keller)

Over 1000 cars, motorcycles and scooters from the "Bel Paese" were represented - a truly colorful mix of colors and shapes.

Lancia am Raduno-Classico 2018 (© Pierino Keller)

Although it was advertised as a classic event, newer vehicles were also allowed in - deliberately to encourage young talent - and yes, the "new" ones were a real enrichment!

Vespa-Roller am Raduno-Classico 2018 (© Pierino Keller)

Good organization (as the organizer confirmed, deliberately spiced with a dash of Italian chaos) and catering at fair prices made this Sunday a mini vacation on the "Adriatic".

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Plus five inches for the wheels

Anonymous Author
05/29/2018

VW Golf I und VII im Vergleich (© Zwischengas/Volkswagen)

It's hard to imagine nowadays, but around 40 years ago, 13-inch wheels were standard equipment for many car buyers. Even a VW Golf GTI had 13-inch wheels, and the simpler Golf L had them anyway. They were fitted with 155 SR 13 tires.

In modern times, 18-inch wheels are almost standard equipment or at least a popular option when ordering a new car. And if it's an SUV, it can also be 19-, 20- or even 22-inch wheels. And of course they are not 15.5 cm wide, but 20.5 or even 24.5 cm.

It is easy to understand why these large wheels are significantly heavier than the 13-inch steel rims of the VW Golf from back then, despite the use of light alloy. However, it would no longer be possible to bolt 13-inch wheels onto a VW Golf today, because the brake disks have also grown considerably due to the significantly improved driving performance and there would no longer be room for them in the small wheels.

The fact that much wider tires are mounted on larger rims today is only partly due to the driving dynamics. It is primarily visual arguments that make buyers tend to opt for large wheels.

And there are also good reasons why car manufacturers have always carried out fuel consumption measurements with the smallest possible tires in the past; in fact, there can easily be 0.5 or more liters of fuel consumption per 100 km between the narrowest and the widest wheels. In future, all combinations will have to be measured and declared.

Incidentally, the two cars in the picture are shown plus/minus the same scale, and it's not just the wheels that are bigger on the current Golf ...

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Should I do without periodic technical inspections (TÜV/MFK) or not? (Question of the week)

Bruno von Rotz
05/28/2018

Frage der Woche 109 - auf technische Prüfung verzichten

Most countries require cars to undergo periodic technical serviceability inspections. While this was relatively frequent in the past, inspection intervals for new vehicles began to be extended and classic cars also benefit in many places from extended intervals between MOT or MFK appointments. However, some countries, now the UK in particular, have abolished these inspections for historic vehicles under certain conditions and transferred the responsibility to the owners, so to speak. Is this the route that could be taken in this country too? In a question of the week , we asked Zwischengas readers if official periodic inspections should be abolished.

56 percent favour abolishing or at least privatizing periodic inspections, just under three-sevenths of them (24 percent in absolute terms) would transfer responsibility to the vehicle owner alone, while four-sevenths (32 percent in absolute terms) would also make maintenance companies and specialists responsible.

However, 36 percent would not want to do without the official periodic inspection under any circumstances because they fear that road safety would suffer as a result.

As many as seven percent were unable to come up with any of the proposed "solutions".

The classic car community is therefore split and divided. The "UK case" should now provide an interesting example of the impact of the abolition of MOT checks for cars over 40 years old.

Here is the graphical analysis of the surveys in which 310 readers took part:

Ergebnisse der Frage der Woche 109 - auf technische Prüfung verzichten

We have already suggested a new question of the week. This time we want to know whether you should actually refrain from driving your old car in rain and heavy precipitation .

And, of course, you can still look up the results of all previous questions of the week in the dedicated topic channel.

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Ferdinand Hediger honored for his life's work

Bruno von Rotz
05/27/2018

Ferdinand Hediger erhält den Swiss Classic Award 2018

Yesterday evening, on May 26, 2018, the Swiss Classic Awards were presented for the first time at the Swiss Classic World in Lucerne . Initiated by SCW organizer Bernd Link and organized under the patronage of Automobil Revue, for once the focus was on personalities and people instead of cars.

The "Life Time Award 2018", presented by a four-member jury (Urs P. Ramseier, Mattia Tonella, Bernhard Täschler, Martin Sigrist), went to a visibly moved Ferdinand Hediger, who has rendered outstanding services to Swiss coachwork and the coachbuilding guild. In addition to countless books, Hediger also wrote many articles for Automobil Revue, Automobil und Motorrad Chronik, Autombile Quaterly and Swiss Classics Revue. As a walking encyclopaedia and tireless researcher, the automotive historian is particularly fond of cars from the pre-war and early post-war period. Hans André Bichse and Georges Cots were also shortlisted, both of whom have done a great deal for classic cars in Switzerland and would certainly have deserved a prize.

In addition to this jury prize, three "smaller" awards decided by public votes were presented. The "Swiss Classic Rookie Award 2018" went to the Youngtimer-Conection, while the RAID Young Raiders Challenge and bugbus.net were also nominated.

The "Swiss Classic Door Opener Award 2018" was presented to the "Oldtimer Sunday Morning Treffen" (OSMT), while the Museum Night Bern and the SMVC Lady Drivers still have to wait for a prize.

The "Swiss Classic Innovations Award 2018" went to "zwischengas.com", which naturally makes the writer of these lines particularly happy and for which he would also like to thank the fans who voted.

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A very special Porsche 930 Turbo on our stand in Lucerne

Bruno von Rotz
05/26/2018

Zwischengas/SwissClassics Revue Stand an der Swiss Classic World Luzern 2018

It's all set, you could say. Yesterday we and many others set up our stand at the Swiss Classic World in Lucerne , and today we are expecting interested visitors and classic car enthusiasts. We have the only near-production Porsche 930 Turbo on show that has ever competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and, in addition to a class victory, achieved 15th place overall - in road-legal condition, of course, because today the 930, delivered as one of the very first 930s in the first quarter of 1975, drives like its colleagues in normal road traffic. The story is extraordinary and we have told it in detail in the current Swiss Classics Revue . And we are now showing the car to the interested public.

Ruote da sogno auf der Swiss Classic World Luzern 2018

Of course, the Porsche 930 Turbo will not be alone at the trade fair in Lucerne; just a few meters away there is another example at Ruote da sogno and in general there is no shortage of Porsche 911 models at this year's Swiss Classic World , which is certainly worth a visit.

Franks Originale auf der Swiss Classic World Luzern 2018

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A Ford Sierra for almost 130,000 euros?

Bruno von Rotz
05/25/2018

Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth von 1987 (© Silverstone Auctions)

The highest bidder (including surcharge/commission) at the recent Silverstone Auctions auction paid a whopping £112,500, the equivalent of EUR 128,486 or CHF 149,254, for a 1987 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth.

Heck des Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth von 1987 (© Silverstone Auctions)

As a rare version of the Sierra RS Cosworth produced in 5545 units, the RS500 was, as the name suggests, produced just 500 times, converted by Aston Martin Tickford to increase its chances in touring car racing.
The power was slightly higher (224 BHP), the bodywork was modified and the brakes upgraded.

Motor des Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth von 1987 (© Silverstone Auctions)

However, the fact that the example with no. 451 (of 500) became so expensive in the auction is also due to the fact that it had a very low mileage and looked practically as good as new. Just 12021 miles had been accumulated under three owners, the service booklet was meticulously kept and, of course, the car could count on a complete set of documents.

Tacho des Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth von 1987 (© Silverstone Auctions)

The interior of the white two-door car also looked like new. Incidentally, "Diamond White" was one of the rarer paint finishes and was mainly chosen by those who wanted to use the car in racing, which underlines the rarity of this color in the inventory.

Interieur des Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth von 1987 (© Silverstone Auctions)

WF0EXXGBBEGG38797, which has since become a classic car, fetched a high price, as it is not every day that Ford models are auctioned for this kind of money. The fact that the car was offered in Great Britain, although it had been in the USA for several years, is certainly no coincidence, as the British are particularly enthusiastic about such homogation specials.

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When there were hardly any inhibitions ...

Bruno von Rotz
05/24/2018

Marcel Marceau, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL und weibliche Wesen

51 years ago, Automobil Revue published an article showing the clown/actor/pantomine Marcel Marceau in various poses, each with an automobile. One of these pictures particularly caught our eye. The text read:
"Playboy style - On the valance of the elegantly luxurious sports car (here a Mercedes): careless world superiority is on display. Females (alternately in extravagant or super-sporty outfits) are always present, even if they are only of secondary importance to the car."

Let's leave it with this historical commentary and enjoy the photo ...

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The forgotten 16-cylinder

Bruno von Rotz
05/23/2018

Coventry Climax 16-Zylinder 1963/1965

There are not too many 16-cylinder engines in the history of the automobile, but there is one that is regularly forgotten when they are mentioned. Yet Coventry Climax was an engine manufacturer with an outstanding reputation and a wealth of experience. Many Grand Prix victories and successes, including in road sports cars, showed that Peter Windsor Smith and Walter Hassan knew what they were doing.

In the sixties, high revs were seen as the only way to achieve more power, and the only way was with more cylinders. So Coventry Climax began working on a 16-cylinder 1.5-liter Grand Prix engine. The angle between the two rows of cylinders was 180 degrees and the power was taken from the middle of the engine.

Testlauf Coventry Climax 16-Zylinder 1965

The engine, officially presented in 1965, allowed high engine speeds with its small cylinders, but the output of just over 200 hp was only slightly higher than that of the eight-cylinder engine already available. There were also considerable vibration problems and the engine would not run for more than three hours without an overhaul.

Although Coventry partner Lotus had designed the Type 33 specifically for the 16-cylinder, known as the FWMV, the engine was never used.

Even worse, however, was the fact that the failure of the 16-cylinder meant that Coventry Climax had no engine for the new three-liter formula, as none of the available power units could be bored out to three liters, which ultimately meant the racing engine manufacturer's withdrawal from Grand Prix racing.

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Classic pearls of the future - Audi R8 6-speed

Bruno von Rotz
05/22/2018

The Audi R8 has made its way to the Olympus of sports cars. At the latest after "Tony Stark" (in the movie Iron Man) ennobled it, it was known all over the world.

It was unveiled in September 2006 and the proximity to the Le Mans sports car was obvious. Built primarily from aluminum, the eight-cylinder coupé weighed just over 1600 kg, with an additional 60 kg when fitted with a ten-cylinder engine. The prices back then? The entry-level model cost EUR 113,500, the Spyder (later) and V10 engine were of course more expensive.

6-Gang-Handschaltgetriebe im Audi R8

Initially, the R8 was available with a 6-speed manual gearbox with an open splitter gearbox and optional sequential R-Tronic (automated 6-speed gearbox), later a seven-speed DSG was added. For the successor model from 2015, the option of shifting manually and with a foot-operated clutch was no longer offered.

The automated gearshift variants were already popular in the first generation, meaning that only a small proportion of the 26,037 R8s built are likely to have had this attractive paddle shift. However, if you look at the performance of manually shifted Ferrari sports cars, then a similar trend is likely to start at Audi, if not already underway, making the open-shift versions more valuable than their automated counterparts.

The R8 was a good car anyway, but you should have a full coffers, because repairs are not cheap, but are certainly compensated for by the driving pleasure, especially if you are allowed to stir in the open gearbox.

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