A windshield heater for the classic car?

Daniel Koch
11/30/2019

Anyone who rides their classic not only when the sun is shining, but also now, in the cold and damp season, will be very familiar with misted-up windscreens.

On the Triumph TR6 that I currently ride, as on many other oldies, the ventilation/heating is inadequate as we understand it today. You are constantly cleaning and wiping the windows from the inside to get a clear view to the front, and the damp air can hardly be expelled from the interior. It usually takes several minutes or kilometers before warm air from the heater dries the damp windscreen.

Alpine (among other manufacturers) had already installed heated windscreens in the A110 in the early seventies and Morgan or Caterham use this technology in their "modern classics" in order to fulfill the (current) legal requirement for vehicles without windscreen ventilation.

If I could, I would install a heated windshield in all classic cars if it were technically feasible. In addition to the windshield, such a retrofit requires wiring, sufficient power and an additional switch. However, as there are no longer even unheated windshield replacements available for some classic cars, it will probably remain a wish.

In my opinion, such a retrofit would not detract from the historic value of the vehicle, as the thin heating wires are barely visible. But of course I also know of friends in the classic environment who reject such modern modifications. What do our readers think?

Share this article with your friends!

When Lancia was still like Apple

Bruno von Rotz
11/29/2019

Lancia Markenzeichen

"It had been known for some time that Lancia would be launching a new small model at the Turin Motor Show, which opens today, Wednesday, and thousands of orders were placed in Italy in advance, even before any details about this car were known. This advance praise is quite typical of the Lancia brand's own atmosphere, as it has managed to build up and maintain an international clientele that includes very discerning motorists thanks to its personal character and the slightly sporty nature of its road behavior, as well as its idiosyncratic and often very advanced design.

The Lancia driver knows that he has to spend a lot on the purchase of a car, cannot count on maximum quietness and must always ensure good maintenance. In return, he has a thoroughbred among touring cars ..."

Anyone reading these lines from the past will immediately think of parallels. Something similar could have been said of Apple, at least at certain times, or perhaps Tesla today.

Most people have long since forgotten that Lancia was once so idolized. Lancia itself, or rather its owners over the decades, also played its part in this. The Lancia brand lost this characteristic otherness in the 1970s at the latest. And over the following decades, Lancia faded to a shadow of its former greatness. Today, as is well known, you can only buy a Lancia in Italy; in other countries the brand has been withdrawn. That's how it can go. What a pity!

Let me solve the "mystery" of when the above comment was written . It was in 1953, when the Lancia Appia was presented. We have just published a report on the convertible version of this unusual car.

Lancia Appia Convertibile von 1959 (© Daniel Reinhard)

Share this article with your friends!

It's (almost) done - 2020 annual magazine in print

Bruno von Rotz
11/28/2019

Jahresmagazin 2020 - Titelseite und Graberartikel

We started back in March 2019, but we made the final changes to the content just a few hours ago. The 2020 Zwischengas annual magazine is now on its way to the printers and should be finished and ready for distribution in around a week.

It's not at all easy to condense the work of the zwischengas editorial team, with over 1000 new articles per year, down to just over 30 articles, as there would of course have been many more reports worthy of appearing in the annual magazine. Of course, we also took the opportunity to write and organize new exclusive articles. And even the vehicle portraits that had already appeared online were reworked, supplemented and refined in order to do justice to the print medium.

Alvis-Artikel im Jahresmagazin 2020 - Zeitungen

Of course, the new articles also involved a great deal of research and investigation, with the best and most interesting pictures being selected from hundreds, and old documents and historical photos being searched for in the archives.

Alvis-Artikel im Jahresmagazin 2020 - Fotos

But now the 260 pages are complete. In the next few days, the printing press will start turning and spit out thousands of pages. The magazines will then be packed up and sent off afterwards. Incidentally, the photo at the top is only a computer-generated graphic, as the finished magazine is still being produced in the print shop.

It should also be mentioned that around 230 of the 260 pages are real payload, i.e. articles, photos, facts and figures. Hardly any other German-language classic/youngtimer magazine offers more reading material in one issue. It also weighs over 700 g, others would probably have printed a book.

In any case, we are already looking forward to your feedback. If you are one of the pre-order customers, you will certainly receive your magazine well before Christmas. The magazine will also be available at some sales outlets/kiosks from the second half of December 2019.

But if you haven't ordered yet and want to make sure you don't miss out on the magazine, you can still pre-order on zwischengas until December 2, 2019 . You will then receive the magazine with the first shipment.

You can find out more about the magazine on the introduction page.

You can also order one directly by clicking on the button.

Share this article with your friends!

This is a Volkswagen

Bruno von Rotz
11/27/2019

This coupé may not look like a VW Golf, but at least the technology comes from Wolfsburg. However, the Dukat plastic coupé was developed by a Mr. Dukat, hence the name. The 2+2-seater coupé with sleeping eyes (from the Porsche 982) was also to go into series production. There were even prices: CHF 15,000 for the kit, CHF 25,000 for the finished model.

The manufacturer was to be ex-racing driver Jürg Weinem in Horgen on Lake Zurich. This probably never happened, although the advance praise in AR issue 26/1983 was considerable. There were numerous interested parties in Switzerland and also strong demand from Germany, it was reported at the time. A Targa version was also being considered. But it probably remained a prototype.

Incidentally, the car resurfaced in 2015, as was reported in the German Octane, and was sold to a German buyer via eBay.

Share this article with your friends!

Do people still learn to drive properly today?

Bruno von Rotz
11/26/2019

Handschaltung Toyota Celica Supra 2.8i

Recently, there was a big discussion about whether it is right that learner drivers can now take their driving test with an automatic transmission and still be allowed to drive manual cars afterwards.

However, driving lessons in a modern car with a manual gearbox (and clutch) do not mean that the newcomers can handle the gearbox and clutch properly. In fact, modern cars help significantly more with driving than their predecessors. On hills, the car is automatically held until you press the accelerator. When downshifting, intermediate throttle is applied in a controlled manner without the driver having to do anything. When starting off, the car ensures that the engine does not stall. When downshifting, so much throttle is applied that there is hardly any jolt when the clutch is engaged. And so on.

In order to be able to drive an older car after passing a driving test, additional practice drives are often necessary in order to develop the necessary sensitivity that older technology requires. It is important to remember this when letting young drivers take the wheel of an older car for the first time.

Share this article with your friends!

It's better not to mix new and classic cars at trade fairs (question of the week)

Bruno von Rotz
11/25/2019

Frage der Woche 143 - Alt und Neu mischen?

2019 was the year in which car shows on a larger scale also gave classic cars a lot of space, and were even happy to embellish their exhibition areas with old cars. At the same time, there are more and more new cars at classic car shows.

Does this trend make sense, we wanted to know from Zwischengas readers in a " question of the week" . Is it right to have classic car exhibitions at new car fairs and to present new cars at classic car fairs?

The readers were not entirely unanimous, but there is at least a certain amount of skepticism about the mix.

45.7 percent of the 289 respondents thought that modern motor shows should be for new cars and classic car shows for classic cars.

33.6 percent can approve of a certain mix as long as it is conducive to the understanding and enjoyment of the trade fair visitor. However, you should not go overboard.

17.6 percent agree with the blurring of boundaries, as the modern automobile cannot do without tradition and classic car buyers are also interested in current cars.

3.1 percent did not understand any of the answers.

Here is the analysis of the answers in graphic form.

Frage der Woche 143 - Alt und Neu mischen? - Antworten

The next "Question of the Week" is already waiting for answers. This time we want to know whether it is permissible to retrofit (modern) comfort accessories in classic cars to make driving more pleasant.

Furthermore, you can read all previous evaluations of the "Questions of the Week" in the dedicated topic channel.

Share this article with your friends!

Would you have thought of these anniversaries?

Bruno von Rotz
11/24/2019

Mercedes-Benz W126 an der Motorworld Classics Berlin 2019

A visit to a classic car show is often a reminder of how time flies. After all, anniversaries are often presented, even those that you wouldn't have thought of yourself at first.

At Motorworld Classics Berlin, which is still open until Sunday, November 24, 2019, you will come across a Mazda 929 celebrating its 30th birthday, for example. The exhibitors also provide a lot of background information, but it is not immediately clear which model will actually be 30 years old in 2019.

Mazda 929 an der Motorworld Classics Berlin 2019

According to the information on the stand, the 929 actually came onto the market in November 1973, followed by the second generation in September 1978. In 1982, a completely redesigned Mazda 929 was introduced, which in turn received a successor in April 1987. In 1993, the Mazda 929 was replaced by the Xedos 9. And what about 1989? Well, the engines of the HC series were apparently revised. That must have been it. But the history of the Mazda 929 is certainly interesting, and the "roll-up" poster is definitely worth a read.

Peugeot 505 an der Motorworld Classics Berlin 2019

Right next door is a Peugeot 505, which is now 40 years old. It was actually launched in May 1979 at the Cannes Film Festival. 1.3 million were produced by 1992, making it the last Peugeot with rear-wheel drive.

The Mercedes-Benz W126 series (pictured above) is also celebrating its birthday in 2019; the S-Class, which was popular for its elegant Bruno Sacco design, among other things, was presented at the IAA 40 years ago. In contrast to a Peugeot 505 or a Mazda 929, the W126 S-Class and its coupé derivatives are still relatively common.

All three can be seen at Motorworld Classics Berlin and if you look closely at the individual stands, you will find even more anniversary models.

Share this article with your friends!

Almost like back then - boats and cars

Bruno von Rotz
11/23/2019

Mercedes-Benz 190 SL zwischen Booten an der Boot & Fun 2019 in Berlin

This year's Motorworld Classics Berlin is taking place together with Boot & Fun. Of course, some people are wondering whether this really fits together?

Boote am Genfer Autosalon 1969

If you look back a little in the history books (or the car magazines, e.g. zwischengas), you will find that boats were also shown at the Geneva Motor Show until the end of the sixties. At that time, nobody obviously had a problem with this and it was probably the lack of space that forced the exhibitions to be separated.

Riva Boot an der Boot & Fun Berlin 2019

In Berlin, however, they are together again and it is nice that the "transition hall" 23 houses the classic car part of Boot & Fun, so to speak.

Historisches Holz-Motorboot an der Boot & Fun 2019 in Berlin

Beautiful wooden boats can be admired there.

Jaguar und Segelboot an der Boot & Fun Berlin 2019

There are even a few older cars in this hall and one boat might even appeal to die-hard car fans, after all it has a tricorn on the bow.

Maserati Boot an der Boot & Fun 2019 in Berlin

Motorworld Classics Berlin is open together with Boot & Fun (joint admission ticket!) until Sunday, November 24, 2019.

Share this article with your friends!

Le Mans 66 - a second view of the movie

Daniel Reinhard
11/22/2019

Finally a racing movie again and a really good story to boot. A movie with a running time of around 150 minutes and lots of action. But does it really deliver what the title promises?

Perhaps, as a racing photographer for many years, I am simply not qualified to judge it, as I am far too biased towards reality. The whole story seems massively overstretched to me, but that doesn't do the movie any harm, quite the opposite. It also makes it really entertaining, the time flies by. The acting performance of the two main actors (Christian Bale and Matt Damon) is absolutely first class, especially Christian Bale as Ken Miles with his cheeky openness is a great audience favorite. All the scenes with the historic start-finish straight and the extremely realistic pit building, which no longer exists, are extremely impressive.

But why does the hours of good build-up have to be ruined in a short space of time at the end? Instead of reasonably good racing scenes with unusual camera angles, we end up with a production in the style of a Michel Valliant comic. What fits in a comic is far from being film-ready. It's one thing to be constantly shifting up with only four gears available, but it's quite another to be able to fly over the embankment with the car completely unscathed.

At the latest, however, the prolonged eye contact when driving side by side at well over 200 km/h really takes you completely out of touch with reality. Or maybe that's what Vettel and Leclerc tried to do last Sunday? A race to catch up, in which all the opponents look like "learner drivers", may be funny in "A Great Beetle", but unfortunately this is completely out of place here. If you could at least make up a lot of time and ground consistently over several laps, that would be okay. But catching up and overtaking within a single lap is somehow not possible. Seen in this light, a Lewis Hamilton would have overtaken Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen in Interlagos with 1500 rpm more on the last 800 meters and, to be on the safe side, would have made up for his already impending five-second penalty.

The finish would also have made a much better impression if it had been toned down and rendered more realistically. As always, a huge amount of effort was put into the driving scenes. But if they had been made just a little more real, the movie would have been much better. In my opinion, such a great racing car shot from cheeky perspectives and with the right sound to go with it wouldn't need such exaggerated gags ...

But everything is different in Hollywood, as Niki Lauda laughingly told me at the film premiere of "Rush" that he deleted the scene in the script where his actor (Daniel Brühl) was supposed to insert the ignition key into the ignition lock of the Formula 1 car and start the engine. Unfortunately, this is exactly how many of the racing scenes from "Le Mans 66" came across to me.
As a conclusion to a good racing film, Steve McQueen's "Le Mans" clearly remains untouched for me, far ahead of all other films made to date.

Visible in the picture: Ian Slater (Ford of Europe), Phil Henny (Shelby America), Alan Mann (Alan Mann Racing), Harry Calton (Ford Chief Press Officer 1966), John Whitmore (Driver Ford GT 40 Car No. 8), Lee Holman (Holman Moody) and Brian Lewis (Ford Advanced Vehicles / Alan Mann Racing).

The picture above shows the three 1966 Ford GT40s crossing the finish line in 2006.

Share this article with your friends!

Classic pearl of the future - Mini Cooper Clubman (R55)

Bruno von Rotz
11/21/2019

Mini Cooper Clubman 2007

No doubt some readers will yawn now. But there are arguments as to why the Mini Cooper Clubman and its brothers in the second BMW Mini series( 2007 to 2014) are particularly popular.

Morris Mini Traveller der Sechzigerjahre

First of all, the Mini Clubman of the R55 series brings back classic Mini variants that already existed in the sixties, namely the Traveller. Even in the original Mini, space was tight, so the rear was extended. The two rear doors that opened to the side were a characteristic feature.

Heckansicht Mini Cooper Clubman 2007

The new Mini Clubman, which obviously did not want to be called the Traveller, inherited these two rear doors and also the basic design as a "Shooting Brake".

Of course, just like the normal version, the R55 Clubman was significantly larger and heavier than the original version. However, at 3.96 meters long and 1.68 meters wide, the Millennium Clubman can be described as compact and the 1220 kg kerb weight is also acceptable.

Mini Cooper Clubman 2007 mit zusätzlicher Seitentüre

As a special feature, the Mini Clubman R55 had an additional door on the right which opened to the rear when the front door was open. This additional door was intended to facilitate access to the rear. The British criticized the fact that even in the right-hand drive version, the door was on the right and thus facing the traffic and behind the driver's seat, not ideal for letting the schoolchild out. This additional door made the Clubman a five-door model.

Interieur des Mini Cooper Clubman 2007

In the successor version, the F54, this unique selling point was dispensed with and a "conventional" six-door model was built. However, the charm of the shooting brake look was lost.

The Clubman R55 was available as a Cooper with 120 hp or as a Cooper S, as well as a diesel and, for the performance-hungry, a John Cooper Works version.

Front des Mini Cooper Clubman 2007

Thanks to the slightly longer wheelbase of eight centimetres and the 24 cm longer overall length, the Clubman offered significantly more space than the normal Mini variants, but without becoming a space miracle. But in principle, the Clubman, like its predecessor the Traveller, was a car for individualists and has remained so to this day, which is why used examples, the oldest of which are currently already 12 years old, are still in demand today.

How the Mini Clubman will develop as a classic, however, will not be known for sure for another 10 or 20 years.

Mini Cooper Clubman 2007

Share this article with your friends!

Zwischengas has been publishing a daily blog post here since 2010

For more entries, please use the navigation by year and month.