The allure of showcases
02/06/2023
They are the attractions of all major motor shows: the unattainable car dreams of the fifties and sixties, which are just as unaffordable for normal earners today as they were back then. But between the Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari 250 GT and Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, there are even more fascinating objects on a smaller scale: delivery vans patinated by children, tiny dioramas that are more lovingly decorated than any club stand, and racing car miniatures that look as if they would start up if you injected them with fuel using a pipette.
They almost stimulate the imagination more than the big originals. In which application did the 2CV get most of its quirks? What is the story behind the enormous roof load of the 404? And would a little Alfonso de Portago be able to drive the Ferrari 750 more successfully today than a big one in 1954? Questions upon questions that no one can answer except their own imagination. But perhaps my enthusiasm for the little ones simply stems from the fact that I can't afford the big ones.
