Ready for the Swiss Classic World

Bruno von Rotz
09/30/2021

Zwischengas-Stand auf der Swiss Classic World Luzern (© Bruno von Rotz)

Our stand at the Swiss Classic World (October 1 to 3, 2021)is ready . Everything is ready and we are already looking forward to talking to our readers in two days' time (the fair is open from 12:00 on Friday). We were a little quicker than the "competition" this time, as we had been promised to set up the stand a little earlier.

Zwischengas-Stand auf der Swiss Classic World Luzern (© Bruno von Rotz)

In fact, it is now still relatively lonely in the large hall, but soon stand after stand will be lined up and the popular classic car fair in Lucerne will be ready for thousands of classic car and youngtimer enthusiasts.

Zwischengas-Stand auf der Swiss Classic World Luzern (© Bruno von Rotz)

Be sure to visit our stand, which is located in the middle of Hall 2 (number 204). You can't really miss it.

By the way, you can view the catalog we were allowed to publish for the fair online to prepare yourself.

P.S. If you're wondering which car is on our stand, it's a Porsche 356 with a plastic body that was rebuilt in Switzerland, known in the scene as the Dätwyler or Stadtmann Porsche and exhibited at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971. We have published a comprehensive report on this interesting car in our sister publication SwissClassics Revue .

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Just go for a drive

Bruno von Rotz
09/29/2021

Lotus Elan Sprint DHC (1972) (© Daniel Reinhard)

Do you know this? You haven't sat in your beloved classic car for a while. But now you have a moment to spare and drive the car out of the garage and onto the road. And off you go. Without purpose, simply for the sake of driving. You listen to the engine, perhaps hear any noticeable noises from the gearbox or chassis, check the instruments.

You perceive the classic car as a whole, as a marvel of technology, a vehicle in which over 2000 parts work together to move forward.

You cover mile after mile, enjoying the moment, for once not thinking about everyday worries or problems that still need to be solved. Just drive.

What a pleasure! And you'll be happy to give up a flight or a few pieces of meat if that's what it takes to be able to drive an old car in the future ...

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Alfa enthusiasts among themselves in the Wachau

Silke Tauchert (www.fotofee-st.de)
09/28/2021

Alfa Wachau Classic - Spider unterwegs (© Silke Tauert / www.fotofeee-st.de)

The 40 Alfisti and their beautiful automobiles met at the Domäne Wachau vineyard in a beautiful hillside location. The huge courtyard and the castle driveway were perfect for the start of the "Alfa Classic Wachau".

Alfa Wachau Classic - Rallye-Schild (© Silke Tauert / www.fotofeee-st.de)

After waving the start flag, it was worth taking a quick look at the road book. There was a short coffee break at the Drachsler car dealership, where the cars were re-positioned.

Alfa Wachau Classic - moderne Alfas (© Silke Tauert / www.fotofeee-st.de)

Then the engines were started again and the Wachau and the short route through Styria were "cruised".

Alfa Wachau Classic - unterwegs auf einsamen Landstrassen (© Silke Tauert / www.fotofeee-st.de)

The different driver fields "Speciale" and "Normale" were offered two different route lengths. We rode the fast, longer route and experienced a fast field of participants.

During the breaks, we met up with everyone again and enriched the course with neat parking arrangements and attracted many spectators.

On the Wachauring, the participants' grins widened again as the racing gene was put to the test. The return trip along the Danube back to Krems delighted everyone. During the evening program at the Heurigen in Krems, exciting petrol talks were held and new contacts were made.

Alfa Wachau Classic - Das Teilnehmerfeld (© Silke Tauert / www.fotofeee-st.de)

On Saturday, after a hearty breakfast, another stage followed, which led back to the start at Domäne Wachau. The fantastic route led through fruit-growing areas and vineyards towards the Waldviertel. The highlight of the day was the line-up of several cars in the inner courtyard of Pöggstall Castle at the restaurant "Das Roggendorf" along with arias, in front of which the classic cars filled the entire square.

The destination was once again the castle view of the Domäne Wachau in Dürnstein.

Alfa Wachau Classic - schöne Landschaften (© Silke Tauert / www.fotofeee-st.de)

All in all, we had the opportunity to get to know many lonely side roads and small village thoroughfares, to see very friendly spectators and many waving classic car fans and to move the metal treasures in a sporty manner and to celebrate 70 years of 1900 sprinting through beautiful landscapes.
My conclusion after three great days between 40 like-minded classic car drivers: A brand-related rally with a long-standing field of participants is like a meeting of Alfa friends, including an exchange of gasoline conversations in the most beautiful landscape on wonderful secret roads including culinary delicacies. The sky just had to be blue & the sun had to shine. The Alfa Classic Wachau 2021 was a meeting with a lot of cordiality.

Alfa Wachau Classic - unterwegs auf einsamen Landstrassen (© Silke Tauert / www.fotofeee-st.de)

Description of the route (from the road book)

The Alfa Classic Wachau is a touristic regularity rally in five stages with punctuality tests and regularity classifications on the Wachauring Melk. The total distance is approx. 400 km, which leads from the Kellerschlössel Weingut Dömane Wachau in Dürnstein as a prologue through the magnificent scenery of the Wachau, with a short breakfast break at the Drachsler car dealership in Schallemmersdorf. The first stage continues through the foothills of the Alps via Yppstal to Mariazell for a lunch break in Gusswerk. Then it was on to the driving technique test on the Wachauring. The ride home to the hotel leads along the Danube to Krems/Stein.

The second day takes us via Seiberer past orchards and vineyards into the Waldviertel, on to lunch at the restaurant "Das Roggendorf" at Pöggstall Castle and back to the Domäne Wachau winery in Dürnstein).

P.S. We would like to thank Silke Tauchert(Website) for this article.

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Electric cars also have a (limited) chance of becoming sought-after classic cars (question of the week)

Bruno von Rotz
09/27/2021

Frage der Woche 191: Elektroautos als Oldtimer?

Over the next 20 years, electric cars will displace those with combustion engines in the new car business, this can be predicted with a fair degree of certainty. The oldest modern electric cars, e.g. the Tesla Roadster, were produced in manageable numbers 14 years ago. This naturally makes you wonder whether these cars will mature into classics and appear at classic car meetings.

Instead of trying to guess for ourselves, we simply asked our readers and had them answer "Will modern electric cars become classics?" via " Question of the week" .

We were actually somewhat surprised by the almost 280 responses, as only a third of them (34.3 percent) do not believe that modern electric cars will ever become vintage cars and classics.

Half, however, at least give the rarer examples a good chance of becoming classics if these cars can be kept roadworthy in the future.

And 14.6 percent see no reason at all why modern electric cars should not also become classics and classic cars that can be driven to a meeting in 20 or 30 years' time.

For the sake of completeness, it should also be mentioned that 1.5 percent could not do anything with any of the answers given.

To sum up: electric cars also have a good chance of becoming classics. Here is a graphic summary of the results:

Frage der Woche 191: Elektroautos als Oldtimer? Ergebnisse

Of course, we have already posed the next "question of the week" . We want to know whether a classic car should have a historic look or whether the technology underneath should be the same as the original.

And of course you can still read about all previous "Questions of the Week" and their results in the corresponding topic channel.

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The thing with the antenna

Bruno von Rotz
09/26/2021

Abschliessbare Antenne (© Bruno von Rotz)

Modern drivers have probably never even bothered with their car aerial, it is simply vaporized in the windscreen and works. Decades ago, however, you usually bought your car without an aerial and then had to fit one for the first time.

And if you forgot to carefully retract the multi-part rod antenna - usually with muscle power - then it was possible that someone would "accidentally" knock it over. And the next one was due. They weren't that cheap. And even retracted antennas were not safe from destruction if they were not secured.

That's why the key antenna was invented, where a small key was inserted to release the head before opening. Now the valuable receiving part was protected from vandals. Key antennas were already available in the late 1950s, for example from Hirschmann.

Abschliessbare Antenne von Hirschmann

Fuba also offered the key antenna for the VW Beetle, complete with installation template and for DM 24.

And for people who didn't like rod antennas, Fuba offered an antenna integrated into the side mirror, which was hopefully vandal-proof, or not.

Fuba Radioantenne im Aussenspiegel

The hand-operated rod aerials had one thing in common: without work, radio reception was only half as good. So before setting off, you had to remember to raise the antenna to its maximum height. In return, they offered the best reception and you could live with the wind noise they produced (back then) ...

P.S. By the way, manually extendable rod antennas were still being installed in the 1980s and beyond ...

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The fastest principal has left us (Obituary Nino Vaccarella)

Daniel Reinhard
09/25/2021

Nino Vaccarella an der Ennstal-Classic 2008 (© Daniel Reinhard)

The fastest teacher (and principal) of all time died in Palermo on September 23, 2021 at the age of 88. He was first and foremost a Sicilian from Palermo, secondly a retired principal of a secondary school and finally a racing driver. And it was precisely in this order that Nino Vaccarella remained active from 1956 to 1975 - he even turned down works contracts with well-known companies such as Ferrari and Alfa Romeo!

Vaccarella im Porsche V8 an der Targa Florio 1962

Nevertheless, his career was more than just remarkable: he won Le Mans (1964), then the Targa Florio three times (1965, 1971 and 1975), plus victories in the Nürburgring 1000 km (1964), the 12 Hours of Sebring (1970), numerous first places in hill climbs and smaller sports car races, all at a time when it was more than uncertain whether he would survive all this?

He remained involved in motor racing well into old age, even if he was only rarely seen at race tracks. However, he commented on Formula 1 races for a Sicilian daily newspaper for 40 years, so he had to be in the picture of what was going on.

Unfortunately, I only met him twice in person. The first time I had the pleasure of dining with him and Arturo Merzario in Brisichella on the occasion of the "Trofeo Lorenzo Bandini". As I had been banned from driving in Italy at night (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) for speeding, the two of them gave me an Alfa Romeo poster with the words: "Caro Carabinieri - l`ha lasciato guidare.... Cordiali saluti da Nino Vaccarella e Arturo Merzario".

Nino Vaccarella an der Ennstal-Classic 2008 (© Daniel Reinhard)

Later I met him again at the Ennstal Classic, where he captivated the Austrians with his beautiful Alfa Romeo T33/TT/12.

Sadly, a very special personality and a great figurehead of Alfa Romeo has passed away. May he rest in peace.

P.S. A few years ago we published an extensive report with interview notes about Nino Vaccarella .

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The forgotten test winners and today's favorites

Bruno von Rotz
09/24/2021

In mid-1970, the car magazine "auto motor und sport" carried out a major comparison test in which the market leader VW Beetle was compared with its competitors. The Fiat 128, the Opel Kadett, the Simca 1100, the NSU 1200 and the DAF 55 had to, or were allowed to, compete. The effort required to compare the cars on the basis of facts was immense.

Who won this comparison, you might ask yourself, and of course your first guess would be a German car. But far from it. The Simca 1100 won, followed by the Fiat 128 and the DAF 55, with the German cars VW, Opel and NSU coming in 4th to 6th place.

Incidentally, the cars all cost between DM 5595 and 6060, the Beetle 1500 was the cheapest of the cars, the NSU 1200 C the most expensive.

And today, a good 50 years later? The winners are almost forgotten, the losers of yesteryear are more sought after as classic cars today, at least in our part of the world.

However, it is definitely worth taking a look back at the test printed over two issues. Part 1 was printed in ams 11/1970 , part 2 was published in ams 12/1970 .

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What do these three cars have in common?

Bruno von Rotz
09/23/2021

The three cars pictured here have a lot in common, but there is a specific reason why this photo shoot took place yesterday. The three cars will adorn the cover of this year's Zwischengas annual magazine, and the color combination alone is enough to get you in the mood.

And the composition with these three vehicles is of course not without a certain logic, because after all, there will of course also be a comprehensive and illustrated report on each of these cars in the magazine.

Apart from that, perhaps the most important characteristic that the three sports cars have in common is that they are all genuine driving machines. However, they derive this quality from completely different design approaches. In the Alfa it is the melodious Busso V6 and the transaxle design, in the Lotus it is minimal dimensions, low weight and a Chapman-style chassis, in the Renault it is the uncompromising spider design in combination with a racing car-like substructure.

Together they really would make a dream garage, wouldn't they? But you will also be able to enjoy it in the new 2022 annual magazine, which will be published before mid-December 2021.

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If the replica is already a classic car

Bruno von Rotz
09/22/2021

Replicas have been around for much longer than many classic car enthusiasts might think. Bugatti replicas were built 50 or more years ago, and from 1982 onwards, for example, the company Copycats produced Jaguar C-Type and D-Type replicas. Copycats then became Proteus Reproductions in 1987 and later Proteus Cars, which today operates as Proteus Sports & Racings Cars.

The C-Type pictured above is one of the first cars from the Copycats/Proteus kitchen and was built in the early 1980s. A 1966 Jaguar 3.4-liter was used as the basis and a 3.8-liter inline six-cylinder raged under the plastic hood.

In April 2021, the car was auctioned by RM/Sotheby's for £ 52,800, a rather low price, as good C-Type replicas can sell for well over EUR 100,000.

Millions are paid for the factory recreations by Jaguar itself (D-Type, XKSS, etc.), which were only produced in small numbers in the new millennium. The originals are even more expensive.

But the replicas are also fun to drive, and if they are also over 30 years old, there is no reason why you shouldn't drive them to classic car meetings ...

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Administrative farce in the post-Brexit era of the UK affects classic cars ...

Bruno von Rotz
09/21/2021

Triumph Stag von 1970 mit GB-Aufschrift

You probably have this in your mind's eye: the chrome (or monochrome) letters "G" and "B" on the rear of British classic cars. Well, from September 28, 2021, this lettering will no longer be valid, at least not as the sole expression of nationality. This is because British cars will soon need a "UK" sticker so that the nation as a whole is finally fully addressed. Thanks to Brexit, this change is now possible ...

However, British classic car owners do not seem to be happy about the change, at least the Automobile Association (AA) criticized that a classic symbol would disappear and many classic cars would end up circulating with artfully embedded GB lettering, which would now be replaced by a trivial sticker ...

Incidentally, this change is in line with other major "optimization" steps taken by the now liberated country, such as dispensing with the recognition of the CE mark for electrical appliances (and thus creating its own testing authority) or not allowing metric measurements on packaging ... If the British weren't already driving on the left, now would be the time to introduce this ...

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