First time as an observer at a Concours d'Elegance
08/22/2019
The Zurich Classic Car Award on August 21, 2019 at Bürkliplatz in Zurich was my first real classic car event. As a multimedia intern at Zwischengas, I was naturally excited and also a little nervous. Little did I know beforehand that this nervousness would turn out to be completely unfounded.
As soon as I arrived, I felt like I had stepped back in time. There were no contemporary cars of the kind that characterize the streetscape of the sophisticated city of Zurich every day and were also to be seen in abundance during my streetcar ride to Bürkliplatz.
Instead, there were masses of cars from an age unknown to me (after all, I'm only 19 years old!), classic cars in abundance. Just walking among the classic cars turned out to be very exciting for me as a newcomer to the scene, as I had previously only known classic cars from articles and pictures from my work at Zwischengas. Seeing these models in real life for once was a completely new experience and surpassed anything I had ever seen or read about online.
Their respective histories are at least as exciting as the classic cars themselves. The more you learn about a classic car's history, the more interesting it becomes. For example, when I found out from an exhibitor how many hands his 1927 Citroën B14 Cabrio had passed through and that it had been in the family for 28 years, I realized for the first time that classic cars are more than just cars. They are cars with a history that has yet to be written by a contemporary vehicle. It is precisely these individual stories that give classic cars their character and charm. Without these stories, classic cars would not be nearly as interesting. What's more, the splendor of those days would be completely lost. The good old days, as they say.
I am particularly fond of one particular classic car. The Rolls Royce Phantom I Boattail Roadster from 1928. I have never seen a car that exudes such a great presence as this Boattail. This is mainly due to the fact that this car is a fusion of a "normal" car and a boat. According to the owner, it is also a one-off. This fact makes the Boattail Roadster even more interesting and desirable than it already is. Numerous hours invested in the restoration make this car a real eye-catcher. The Rolls Royce radiator mascot displayed on a pedestal next door, which was made entirely of pure silver, was not even noticed at first glance due to the enormous presence of the car.
Another car that will remain in my memory is the BMW Isetta 300 from 1957 (picture above). This small car is visually very striking. Not because it is particularly beautiful or luxurious, but because of its compact design. It still amazes me how all the necessary components fit into such a compact space and that the car is generally roadworthy. (Very) small, but powerful!
Now - after my visit - I can say that I am overwhelmed. Not only by the classic cars, but also by their stories and the people behind them. Every classic car has its own special story. It is precisely these individual stories that make the old cars so special and set them apart from the crowd.
P.S. A comprehensive report and review of the Concours from our editorial team will of course follow ...
