Time for a winter classic?
01/17/2021
The photo was not taken in the Alps, no, it was taken yesterday on January 16, 2021 in the lowlands near Zurich at about 500 m above sea level. And it shows a classic car, a BMW Z3 to be precise. But that's not the point here.
In many areas, it has once again snowed heavily over the last few days - 20, 30, 40 cm and more. In a modern car this is not a particular challenge, thanks to all-wheel drive and electronic aids you can get through almost anywhere and can even brake reasonably well. At least after you have dug out the car ...
Winter used to be more demanding for drivers, because even starting off required practice and special methods (e.g. starting off in second gear). Braking required a fine feel, while steering required support from the accelerator or the handbrake, depending on the situation. Even at low speeds, you could learn a lot about driving dynamics.
When the roads are completely covered in snow, many a former Ford Escort owner wishes they had their rear-wheel drive car back. An Opel Ascona would also be cool, or a Talbot Sunbeam. The main thing is that the rear wheels are driven and the gears can be changed by hand. A quick search on an Internet portal quickly leads to interesting hits, even if you restrict yourself to young classic cars, such as a BMW 316 E30, a Mazda MX-5 (with hardtop), a Ford Capri 2000 S, a Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.0, a Ford Sierra, a Mazda RX7, a Matra Murena or a Fiat Bambino. And that's just a small selection from the list of results, all of which have four-figure price tags and would certainly make for a lot of fun in the snow.
But then again, the little jewel would probably be too much of a shame to chase it over salt-wet roads in search of the last uncleared paths. And with some cars, the winter tires and any necessary preparation work could quickly become more expensive than the asking price. But I'll do it eventually ...
