Risks for (inexpensive) classic pearls

Bruno von Rotz
11/30/2022

Mini Cooper Clubman von 2007 (© Bruno von Rotz)

Long-time Zwischengas readers may remember the article in which we promoted the Mini Cooper Clubman (R55) to classic pearl status .

In the meantime, we have gained some experience with it and we are no longer so optimistic that many examples will even make it to classic car age.

Back in 2020, our little car came close to being a total write-off when the camshaft control unit gave up the ghost. But that wasn't the last major damage: later on, the catalytic converter also had to be replaced, a suspension coil spring broke and a lambda sensor had to be replaced. The fact that the gearshift knob also fell apart is something of a curiosity.

All in all, we spent considerably more on maintenance in three years than the car had cost when it was 12 years old. And this is probably no exception. Of course, some things could be repaired more cheaply, but the dealership quoted around three grand for a possible clutch replacement, for example.

Many parts that should actually last the life of the car give up the ghost relatively early on. Today, most spare parts are still reasonably easy to find, but in five or 15 years' time this will become increasingly difficult, even for a premium Mini.

All this does not mean that the full costs for such a car are excessively high, because in view of the fact that the Mini now has over 180,000 km on the clock, the maintenance costs are actually bearable, also because the depreciation is also low.

Mini Cooper Clubman von 2007 (© Bruno von Rotz)

In total, the Mini has covered over 43,800 km including fuel/fluids/insurance/etc. and cost over CHF 22,000, i.e. just over CHF 0.50 per kilometer. With a few optimizations, we could certainly have saved a few more centimes per kilometer. It's still not cheap to drive a Mini, but we know that today.

But now back to the subject: expensive repairs and parts that give up the ghost too early, electronic complexity and sometimes difficult fault diagnoses make the long phase until a young car becomes a real classic and vintage car a risky trip. In any case, the Mini photographed will probably never become a classic car ...

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The hula hoop on your face

Paul Krüger
11/29/2022

Schnittmodell eines G-Laders von VW

New technology poses a major challenge not only for engineers, but also for journalists - less of a constructive nature and much more of a descriptive nature. After all, how do you describe the workings of a new achievement of human ingenuity to the still unsuspecting reader so that they are entertained and hopefully a little less clueless afterwards? Creativity is required. Occasionally, this results in cultivated nonsense such as the assertion that the rotor in a rotary piston motor "wobbles" - which gave it and its inventor its name.

Sometimes, on the other hand, the simple explanation of a complicated issue is so aptly illustrated that it is understandable on first reading - and also triggers a very bizarre mental picture. For example, auto motor und sport described the eccentric rotary motion of the G-Lader at its debut in the Polo GT G40as that of a hula hoop dancing in the charger housing. Four years later, at the start of series production of the updated Polo G40 , they decided on a paraphrase in Stuttgart that would mean something to even the most unathletic of contemporaries: "It's the same movement that the washcloth performs on all our faces early in the morning."

Fortunately, unlike the turbocharger, twin turbocharging never became established in the G-Lader. That would have been complicated in terms of the engine. Who has ever washed their face with a hula hoop?

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Lack of driving pleasure is no damage

Wolfram Hamann
11/28/2022

BMW 3er Touring oder Porsche Cabriolet?

Is it reasonable to switch to your estate car if you actually want to use a Porsche convertible but can't because it has been illegally parked for days? The German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) had to deal with this question in the context of a claim for damages due to the temporary withdrawal of the possibility of use. This was based on the following case: The plaintiff is the owner of a BMW 3 Series station wagon (note: the BGH probably means "Touring") and a Porsche Turbo S Cabriolet, which she had parked in a garage. However, their exit was blocked by a vehicle, so that the lady was unable to use her Porsche for 14 days. She claimed that she had wanted to take a four-day vacation on Lake Garda in this very car. She stated that she would not have had an equivalent vehicle at her disposal with her BMW station wagon, which is why she was entitled to compensation for loss of use totaling EUR 2450.

The highest German civil court did not follow this view in its ruling of October 11, 2022 - file number VI ZR 35/22 - and consequently rejected the claim for damages due to temporary deprivation of use. The Porsche driver had not suffered any material damage, even if her property rights had been unlawfully and culpably violated by blocking the garage exit. The damage fails because the BMW was at her disposal. It was also reasonable for her to use it.

According to the BGH, however, it is irrelevant whether the Porsche is more prestigious than the estate car, conveys a different driving experience or increases individual enjoyment. This is only an individual reduction in enjoyment and does not constitute economic damage.

From a legal point of view, this is logical, even if a classic car enthusiast may see it differently. It should be noted that this only concerns aspects of private law and not the question of whether the blocker has committed a criminal offense. A clear distinction must also be made between financial loss and non-material damage, which under German law can only be compensated in exceptional cases. But at least the judgment mentions the term "enjoyment", which is probably synonymous with the "joy of driving"...

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Like father, like son?

Bruno von Rotz
11/27/2022

Aston Martin DB2 DHC neben verkleinerter Version

Prince Bertil of Sweden was an enthusiastic car racer, loved cars and even contributed development ideas to production from time to time. Among other things, he drove Saab, but he also liked the British brand Aston Martin. He probably owned an Aston Martin DB2. And because people like to share the joy, he also received a scaled-down version of the open-top Aston Martin DB for the royal offspring.

Aston Martin DB2 DHC als Kinderauto für die königliche Familie von Schweden um das Jahr 1950

As Bertil had no children at the time, the lucky boy in the little Aston was probably Carl Gustav, who later became King of Sweden. His father died in 1947, while we date the photo to around 1950/1951.

But perhaps a reader is more familiar with the Swedish royal family and can add something here?

P.S. The two photos can of course also be found in higher resolution in the Zwischengas archive .

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Is this the future of the combustion engine car?

Bruno von Rotz
11/26/2022

777 Hypercar (2022)

Practically all major car manufacturers are more or less rapidly turning away from cars with combustion engines. However, there are a few small car manufacturers who do not yet want to believe in the end of the four-stroke engine. One of these is the company "777 Motors", which has just unveiled a new hyper sports car. The performance data reads impressively: 900 kg weight, 4.5-liter V8 engine with 730 hp at 9000 rpm, lateral acceleration up to 4 g.

A racing car for the road? Not quite. Despite the FIA-homologated monocoque, it is probably not suitable as a racing car because there is unlikely to be a suitable racing series. The car is not even approved for road use.

777 Hypercar (2022)

This leaves the buyer, who will have to pay EUR 7 million for one of the seven planned cars, with only a private track day. This always takes place in Monza, where 777 Motors is based. Together with the other six owners, they can then try to beat the calculated lap time of 1 minute 33 seconds on the fast circuit. Intensive technical and physical training is recommended beforehand, as the longitudinal and lateral accelerations are at F1 level. A training machine and a GT simulator are available to the 777 hypercar buyer for this purpose.

Despite the lack of a hybrid drive, environmental considerations are not neglected, with synthetic fuel being used.

Of course, this future of the car with a combustion engine is not really popular. And we hope that this is just one of many ways in which cars with four, six, eight and twelve-cylinder petrol engines can still be operated in the future.

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Ceramics without brakes: The Fusel Ferrari

Paul Krüger
11/25/2022

Ferrari Dino 246 GT Famous Firsts Decanter 1975

Alcohol and cars don't usually go so well together. Nevertheless, in the mid-1970s, the company "Famous Firsts" from New York offered various spirits in car-shaped amphorae. In addition to the Porsche 911 Targa and Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, the Dino 246 GT was also available as a ceramic decanter in several colors. Measuring around 33 centimetres in length, it contained 1 pint (473 ml) of Kentucky Straight Bourbon or peppermint liqueur. However, the spout protrudes hugely and centrally from the rear like the outlet of a gas turbine. So if you want to store the Dino on its wheels, you need to be sure that the cork is really tight.

Ferrari Dino 246 GT Famous Firsts Decanter 1975

The salt and pepper shakers in the shape of an Opel Rekord P, which an artistically talented enthusiast made for his club friends a few years ago, are somewhat more practical. The 1:50 scale models distribute their contents through holes in the roof instead of at the rear. Only the clear identification of the spice does not always succeed at first glance, as it is based on the color of the roof and not that of the hull. However, the artist cannot be blamed for this. The colors were freely selectable when ordering. And a certain Zwischengas editor and Rekord P owner must have made a mistake.

Opel Rekord P1 als Salzstreuer und Pfefferstreuer

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And the old cars are good enough for that again ...

Bruno von Rotz
11/24/2022

BMW 2002 GT4 Frua mit der "Goods for Freude"-Kollektion (© BMW AG)

Yesterday, after a long time, we once again received a BMW press release showing a BMW classic.

BMW 2002 GT4 Frua mit der "Goods for Freude"-Kollektion (© BMW AG)

However, the old cars are apparently just staffage for a "LlfeStyle collection". "Quality doesn't have to be loud to attract attention", you can read in the press release, but the title caught our eye the most. We want to reproduce it 1:1 here:
"BMW Lifestyle launches collection "GOODS WITH JOY". Sustainable, individual and minimalist."

BMW 2002 mit der "Goods for Freude"-Kollektion (© BMW AG)

Here's a little more text from the PR release, which would certainly make German teachers' eyebrows twitch:
"Well thought-out details, discreet style, sustainable materials: BMW is realigning its lifestyle collection with the GOODS WITH FREUDE product line. All collection items are made from high-quality, durable and resource-saving materials and come in timeless colors. Scarves, socks, shirts and skirts can be freely combined. In this way, they emphasize the individual style and at the same time bring the idea of sustainability to the fore."

Well, at least they weren't afraid to drape a BMW 2002 styled by Pietro Frua, a series 2002 and a 3-series E30 in fashion. Just "goods with joy" ...

Goods with Freude Kollektion (© BMW AG)

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Why not Niki Lauda's Ferrari?

Bruno von Rotz
11/23/2022

Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 von 1973 (© Dorotheum)

Niki Lauda became F1 world champion in a Ferrari in 1975 and 1977. However, he was already driving for the Scuderia in 1974 and was given a Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 (chassis 17517) as his company car.

Niki Lauda und sein Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 von 1973 (© Archiv Marcel Massini - Courtesy Dorotheum)

He obviously liked the coupé painted in Grigio Argento, as there are photos of him washing the car himself. Which F1 champion still washes his car himself today?

Despite the great pride of ownership, he soon passed on the car with its export license plates, presumably because there were too many problems with it at customs. The coupé passed through several hands, changed color to dark red métallic and was lost.

Now Lauda's first Ferrari company car has resurfaced and can be bid for online at Dorotheum until December 7, 2022. Bidding started at EUR 30,000 and is currently at EUR 60,000, which is probably not the end of the line, even though the car is certainly not in condition 1.

It will be interesting to see how much the celebrity bonus will affect this car, valued at EUR 61,000 in condition 3 according to Classic Data . At least the interior is probably still largely original, so perhaps a little Lauda is still hidden between the seams of the leather seats.

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A sensible restomod?

Bruno von Rotz
11/22/2022

When people talk about so-called "restomods", they are usually referring to Porsche 911 models, or perhaps Ferrari sports cars. They are intended to combine the old "look" with newer technology and usually cost hundreds of thousands.

The company Tolmanin the UK, known for restoring early Lotus Elite models among other things, took on another car, the Peugeot205 GTI.

Initially, the 1.6-liter purchased in 2014 was to be restored true to the original, but it was soon decided to improve a few parts and gently bring the fast French GTI into the modern era. It was given a more modern engine management system, LED headlights, a DAB radio, improved suspension/brakes, modern tires and a few other refinements, but remained true to its core. Visually, it still looks like the original Peugeot 205 GTI, only the interior has been "improved" with leather and higher quality materials. Perhaps they even went a little too far here, as the original fabric seats were actually very nice to look at.

The 1.6-liter version produced around 130 hp after the cure, but for a series of up to 10 cars, Tolman would then go for the more powerful 1.9-liter model.

Of course, the cure is not cheap, Tolman is talking about around £50,000, i.e. around EUR 60,000 or a similar number of Swiss francs. On the other hand, it can be assumed that much of the lively character of the Peugeot 205 GTI, which weighs less than 900 kg, is retained and the car is just as much fun today as it was back then. The little Peugeot has just made an appearance in Top Gear, where it was able to make a good impression as an alternative to the new (and similarly expensive) Honda Civic Type R.

Perhaps even some purists could do with such a rest-mod GTI? According to the people at Tolman, it would even be possible to restore it later!

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I like clothes and accessories related to car brands (question of the week)

Bruno von Rotz
11/21/2022

Frage der Woche 222: Markenartikel

People who love their car brand often like to show it. Manufacturers, clubs and third parties have long since discovered this as a welcome source of revenue and offer a wealth of accessories and items of clothing with the logos of the beloved car or sponsor brand. But what do the owners of classic and vintage cars, the Zwischengas readers, think?

In a " question of the week" we wanted to know: How about you, do you also (occasionally) buy "promotional items" (or items of clothing) with your favorite brand printed on them?

The result is not entirely clear. 40.5 percent of the almost 340 respondents stated that they do not or hardly ever buy clothing/accessories with "their" car brand on them, while 46.8 percent are quite willing to buy car-related items, be it a Team Rothmans jacket or an Alfa Romeo T-shirt. Of these, 18.5 percent even go through the whole program, buying umbrellas, caps, coffee cups, whatever shows the beloved car brand.

This time, the proportion of 12.8 percent who did not like any of the answers was relatively high.

Here is the result in graphic form:

Frage der Woche 222: Markenartikel - Ergebnis

Of course, we have already defined the next "Question of the Week" . This time we are interested in whether classic car and modern classic car owners upgrade the headlights of their cars with more modern technology for better light output.

And of course you can still read all the answers to the previous "Questions of the Week" , as there is a separate topic channel for this.

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