Will plug-in hybrids become a classic?

Bruno von Rotz
05/31/2022

Ferrari 296 GTB Assetto Fiorano (© Ferrari)

With the Toyota Prius (from 1997) and the Honda Insight (from 1999), the hybrid drive became established in series production and to this day, hybrid concepts are constantly being refined and have even been installed in exotic and super sports cars with or without recharging options at the socket for some years now.

A plug-in hybrid such as the Ferrari 296 GTB (pictured above) (or the BMW i8 from 2014) enables purely electric operation over a short distance, pure combustion engine drive or the combined use of both drive systems, supplemented by the option of recharging. It is obvious that a great deal of complexity is involved here, and a glance under the various hoods and covers makes it immediately clear.

But how will these technologies age? For a modern plug-in hybrid to be able to drive, all components must function, including the battery. The failure of one sensor is enough to call the car in for maintenance. This may still be no problem today, as manufacturers feel bound by warranties and maintenance obligations, but in 20 or 30 years' time it will be a different story. What's more, car manufacturers are supposed to delete their software after a certain period of time in order to avoid possible claims for damages decades later.

So the chances of still being able to drive a Ferrari 296 GTB or a BMW i8 without any problems in 2050 are not too good. But maybe we're wrong?

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There is also plenty to see outside the halls

Bruno von Rotz
05/30/2022

Jaguar E-Type an der Swiss Classic World 2022 (© Bruno von Rotz)

For some visitors, the parking lot in front of the halls is almost more interesting than the classic car show itself. Depending on their tastes and preferences, this was probably also the case for some visitors to the Swiss Classic World Lucerne last weekend.

After all, there was a lot to see! On Saturday, for example, magnificent Jaguar sports cars and limousines were parked in front of the halls. Porsche 911s of various generations were parked right next to them.

Iso Lele an der Swiss Classic World 2022 (© Bruno von Rotz)

If you went a little further, you came across one of the rare Iso Lele , painted bright red. Less than 300 cars were built and the interior of the car was simply spectacular! (Should the owner ever want to take part in a vehicle portrait, we would be delighted to do so).

Interieur des Iso Lele an der Swiss Classic World 2022 (© Bruno von Rotz)

But there were also many other interesting vehicles to admire, from the popular Beetle to the Enzmann 506 and the Alpine A110, to name just a few examples ...

VW Käfer an der Swiss Classic World 2022 (© Bruno von Rotz)

P.S. Our comprehensive trade fair report with lots of pictures will follow shortly.

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An actual barn find

Bruno von Rotz
05/29/2022

Chrysler Windsor von 1957 - Swiss Classic World Luzern (© Bruno von Rotz)

Many of the barn finds in the press tend to be vehicles that have been stored in garages and have just gathered a bit of dust.

Heck des Chrysler Windsor von 1957 - Swiss Classic World Luzern (© Bruno von Rotz)

However, the Chrysler Windsor in these pictures is different. This car, which was first registered in 1957, was parked in an open shelter at the end of the 1970s and has led a rather sad life ever since. Although the shelter grew over the years, the Chrysler was never dry and warm.

Front des Chrysler Windsor von 1957 - Swiss Classic World Luzern (© Bruno von Rotz)

The car would probably have disintegrated completely at some point, but as luck would have it, a photographer published a picture of it in the German magazine Autobild. This photo in turn caught the eye of an AMAG employee and with a little detective work, he managed to track down the owner of the Chrysler. The two struck up a conversation and the car changed hands.

Frontscheinwerfer des Chrysler Windsor von 1957 - Swiss Classic World Luzern (© Bruno von Rotz)

The fact that AMAG was interested in this Chrysler is due to the fact that the company assembled cars in Switzerland between 1949 and 1972, including this Chrysler. And so, after around 65 years, the car found its way back to Schinznach Bad, where it was once assembled.

Beifahrertüre des Chrysler Windsor von 1957 - Swiss Classic World Luzern (© Bruno von Rotz)

And just a few days later, the impressive 1820 kg car, which has a wheelbase of 3.2 meters and an overall length of 5.57 meters, can be admired at the AMAG Classic stand at the Swiss Classic World in Lucerne until 29 May 2022.

If you are wondering what a Chrysler Windsor looked like as a new car, the following picture, which shows the faux convertible version, is recommended.

Chrysler Windsor Hardtop von 1957

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Intermediate throttle in direct contact

Bruno von Rotz
05/28/2022

Zwischengas-SwissClassics_Revue-Jungfrau-Rallye-Stand an der Swiss Classic World Luzern 2022 (© Marcel Pelletier)

We set up our stand yesterday at the Swiss Classic World Lucerne classic car fair, which is open until Sunday evening (May 29, 2022). Together with the Swiss Classic Revue and the Jungfrau Rallye, we will be answering questions from our readers and accepting tips Suggestions and hints. Of course, you can buy current and previous annual magazines and archive issues of SwissClassics Revue if you still have gaps in your collection.

At the center of the stand is a Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, and for good reason. On the cover of the current SwissClassics Revue, such a car appears together with the 230 SLK, and the article in the magazine compares the two convertibles, which have been separated by more than four decades.

Because the red 190 SL was no longer available, we had to organize an alternative with a different colour scheme. But there is a story about exactly this car on zwischengas. Perhaps someone will notice the small difference ...

Mercedes-Benz 190 SL von 1956 (© Daniel Reinhard)

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A traffic jam is always attractive (car connoisseur quiz)

Bruno von Rotz
05/27/2022

Stau am Gotthard (© ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv / Fotograf Jack Metzger)

Well, the statement in the title is probably not quite right. Hardly anyone likes to spend a lot of time in stationary convoy traffic and even creeping forward at what feels like an average speed of 2 km/h is usually no fun.

But the picture changes when we see photos of traffic jams from back then. That's when things get really interesting, as there are usually lots of vehicles in the traffic jams at the same time, which are also much more exciting from today's perspective than they might have been back then.

Stau an der Rosengartenstrasse in Zürich (© ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv / Fotograf Comet Photo AG (Zürich))

We have collected some of these traffic jam photos and put together a car connoisseur quiz. It is now up to our readers to recognize when the photos were taken. This requires a detective's instinct, knowledge of cars and a bit of luck.

Do you want to give it a try? Click here for the latest car connoisseur quiz ...

P.S. The two color photos above are from the ETH-Pics collection and were taken by Jack Mezger and Comet Foto AG Zurich.

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Attention and mindfulness

Bruno von Rotz
05/26/2022

Messerschmitt KR200 (© Bruno von Rotz)

Anyone who spends a lot of time on the road is sometimes surprised at how inattentive people are. Everyone is primarily looking out for themselves and doesn't even consider what effects their own actions could have on the traffic behind them. Sneaking across the junction on the green? Never mind, you've crossed the junction and the cars behind you will have to wait for the next green light. Leaving huge gaps open in city traffic? Yes, you have to write a text message or search for the next radio station at the same time. There are many examples.

Modern cars are taking over more and more driving functions and their drivers are becoming increasingly distracted. Naturally, they lack the presence of mind to keep the traffic flowing or to help other road users.

An old car is much better at teaching attentive and careful driving. After all, the absence of accidents also depends on this, and an old car always needs to be driven with attention and concentration anyway, so there is no time left for texting and the like. And you also watch the traffic much more closely due to reduced passive safety and lower braking performance. Anyone who has driven a classic car for a while will also drive more attentively in a modern car, won't they?

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The forecast for the electric car as the classic car of the future

Bruno von Rotz
05/25/2022

Hyundai Ionic 5

We are always amazed at how quickly time passes. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class? It was only launched recently. Yet it was launched in 1997, 25 years ago! In five years' time, fans will be driving it to classic car meetings.

Looking at it this way, most of us will of course live to see the time when the electric cars of the years 2012 to 2022 become youngtimers and classic cars. But do these vehicles really have a real chance of still being on the road in 20 or 30 years' time? There is a lot to be said for this. Electric cars are significantly less complex and consist of fewer components. Some things are also standardized. After all, cars are primarily software that brings hardware to life and makes it drive.

However, there are some trends that do not bode well for current electric cars. For example, it is highly likely that the current generation of battery technology will be completely outdated in just a few years. By then, batteries will be able to store more power, recharge faster and be more durable overall. By then, no one will be crying a tear for today's lithium-ion batteries. And the manufacturers of today's cars will have no interest in keeping these batteries and the cars in which they are installed alive beyond the warranty period. For third-party suppliers, these cars will be a black box that makes it difficult to replace individual or even entire batteries. Upgrades will hardly be possible without extensive modifications to the control and cooling systems. Things won't look much better with the rest of the car's components. And when the LCD display no longer lights up, the whole car will usually be finished as well.

Perhaps the current generation of electric cars is at a similar point to the cars around 1910. The technology changed so quickly back then that used cars could hardly find a buyer after a few years. Unlike today, however, a car from 1910 can still be repaired in 2022, provided you have the technical knowledge and talent. This will no longer be enough for a Tesla or Hyundai built in 2022 in 2052. But nobody wants to use old cell phones today, apart from a few exceptions. And since the car is mutating into a cell phone on wheels ...

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New type of spare parts problems

Bruno von Rotz
05/24/2022

When colleagues discuss spare parts problems, they usually talk about complex electronic parts or rare interior components. But, as conversations with spare parts specialists have shown, due to Corona and the turmoil of war in the East, there are now completely different spare parts problems where you would not have expected them at all.

Even British cars such as a Triumph Spitfire or an MG A, which were always expected to be supplied without any problems, can suddenly run out of critical parts. Whether float valves for SU carburetors, brake master cylinders or pumps for the windshield shower, lighting or electrical components, suddenly something is missing everywhere, nobody can deliver anymore. One of the reasons for this is that the British have outsourced post-production to India or other Asian countries, and if the sea freight suddenly stops working or a subcontractor goes out of business due to the pandemic, the supply chain collapses. For the owner of a classic, this can mean having to wait longer for a part, having to rebuild it or even being forced to decommission it.

In many cases, a (perhaps expensive or only temporary) solution is eventually found, but by the time this happens, many a bead of sweat has rolled down the back of the neck.

P.S. Have you had similar experiences? Comment below!

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The people choose the "as new" restoration, we choose the patina

Daniel Reinhard
05/23/2022

On Saturday (May 21, 2022), "the people" voted for the winner of the Coppa d'Oro at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2022 in Cernobbio. At a hot 32 degrees in the park of the luxury hotel, the Aston Martin Bulldog of collector Philip Sarofim, which is only 1.09 meters high and (almost) 200 miles per hour, was chosen as the visitors' favourite. It was certainly one of the three most unusual cars on site and deserved the prize after an extensive complete restoration.

But personally, I would have preferred to see the only unrestored car at the top. As a big pre-war fan, the Bugatti Type 59 (pictured above) thrilled me in every respect. The sound, taste and a bit of smoke when starting the car, which is totally covered in patina, made it so likeable that I would have given it full marks. Who's voting with us?

P.S. We will of course be publishing a comprehensive report on the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2022 with the results and lots of pictures shortly.

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Agility then and now

Bruno von Rotz
05/22/2022

We've discussed it many times before: Cars have become heavier and bigger over the decades. If the cars of the sixties had had the dimensions and weight of today, they would almost certainly have been denied any agility back then.

Back then, agility was defined by comparatively dainty dimensions and, above all, low weight in conjunction with well-tuned chassis components and not oversized tires.

The fact that a modern super sports car or a comparatively huge saloon today is also considered to be agile is due to the fact that the weight and huge dimensions are offset by sophisticated technology and a great deal of engineering. Steerable rear wheels, dynamically adapted damper characteristics, weight positioned low to the ground, aerodynamic tricks, power steering systems that support and translate depending on the speed and much more are all part of the modern car manufacturer's toolbox to conceal the enormous weight from the driver.

A Lotus Elan or an Alpine A110 didn't need that back then. Thanks to filigree designs weighing less than 800 kg, narrow tires and sportily tuned chassis, no power steering and certainly no rear wheels that swivel in to support cornering were needed to speak of agile handling. No wonder Gordon Murray, the inventor of the McLaren F1 and many other designs, still says today when asked about the best sports car: "The Lotus Elan. I've never driven anything better. Including the McLaren F1."

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