Overtaking prestige

Daniel Reinhard
05/31/2023

Überholprestige Mazda versus Ford (© Daniel Reinhard)

If a Porsche or a Ferrari appears in the rear-view mirror, everyone immediately makes way and quickly leaves the field.

Some cars simply look much more powerful and at least want to. An evil aura, a sleek look or bright xenon lights significantly increase the overtaking prestige. At the very least, you make way very quickly, but also expect the car behind you to pass really quickly, which is not always the case.

It's hard to imagine that the Ford Model A in the picture has a very high overtaking pressure. In fact, the Mazda is so slow that the Ford soon has to start overtaking.

But let's be honest: in today's traffic, a pre-war car is not really an obstacle in any way. You can easily drive along again, if only it weren't for the brakes ... because that's where the small difference lies: you need distance, a lot of distance, to avoid hitting the car in front if you need to slow down.

P.S. By the way, the Ford won the race.

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The unusual V4 engine from England

Bruno von Rotz
05/30/2023

V4-Motor im Marcos GT von 1970 (© Bruno von Rotz)

The goals for the development of the Ford Essex engine family were ambitious. Engines with high and low compression were to be built, and even a diesel engine was planned. The V4 and V6 units were to be used in saloons and sports cars, but also in light commercial vehicles.

The V4 version had to adopt the 60-degree angle of the V6, which is much more famous today. The shape of the combustion chamber, pistons, valves and ignition trims were also identical between the V4 and V6. Neither the V4 nor the V6 version were lightweight; after all, the diesel target required a relatively massive construction.

V4-Motor im Marcos GT von 1970 (© Bruno von Rotz)

The Essex V4 was available as a 1.7-liter and a 2.0-liter with identical bores but different strokes. To deal with the vibrations, which could not be prevented due to the 60-degree angle, a balancer shaft was installed, which the V6 did not need.
The performance values were between around 70 and around 100 hp, which were achieved at or below 5000 rpm.

Automobil Revuetested the new British Ford Corsair with V4 engine at the end of 1965 and actually came to a very positive conclusion:
" As the dry paper specifications - weight ready to drive around 980 kg, power 77 DIN hp - suggest, the new Corsair has quite a remarkable temperament. Nevertheless, its engine is not trimmed for maximum performance, but rather for the most consistent possible torque over a wide speed range. The engine characteristics of the new V4 are particularly evident in third gear, giving the Corsair much greater agility on winding roads than its predecessor. Overtaking maneuvers can now be carried out in a much shorter time and therefore with an increased safety margin. The sufficiently energetic clutch is also well adapted to the engine characteristics, the noise coming from the engine is modest and it is characterized by smooth running and freedom from vibration both at idle and under full load. "

A short time later, Motorsport Magazine put the Ford Corsair GT with the more powerful V4 version through the wringer and was disappointed by the performance, which was not exactly GT-worthy. In general, the V4 seemed more like the opposite of a sports engine:
" The V4 Corsair GT is therefore less fussy, but also less satisfying to drive than a Corsair GT or Cortina GT with an in-line engine. Its engine is smooth, quiet and responsive up to a claimed speed of 70 km/h, which corresponds to 3500 rpm in top gear, after which acceleration drops off and there is an unpleasant reverberation and vibration transmitted through the gearshift. In general, the engine noises are louder than I had expected. All this is disappointing after the praise the V-body has received."

Obviously, the Essex V4 was the right engine for people who didn't like shifting too often and preferred low revs. That doesn't exactly sound like a sports car. It is therefore all the more surprising that Marcos opted for this V4 in order to offer a cheaper version below the three-liter V6. However, the approach was not really successful, as less than 100 units were built.

Marcos 2 Litre GT von 1970 (© Bruno von Rotz)

We have described how the V4 feels as a two-liter in the Marcos in a new driving report .

P.S. The V4 engine was built until 1978, but in the end it was only used in the Ford Transit.

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Once upon a time ... the different colored tire

Paul Krüger
05/29/2023

Die innebeleuchteten Goodyear-Pneus des Barris Golden Sahara von 1956

Not only the colors of car bodies, but also those of tires have become increasingly monotonous in recent years. Whether small car, sports coupé or luxury car - nowadays the rubber that provides the vital connection to the asphalt is always a dull black. But that has not always been the case. In the sixties in particular, tire customers were offered a blaze of color that is hardly remembered today.

Weisswandreifen auf einem VW 1200 Export aus den Fünfzigerjahren

The best-known variation is, of course, the whitewall tire, the contrast of which has diminished over the decades from full sidewall height to a narrow line.

Pneu mit schmaler Weisswand auf einem Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

It was a similar story with the red flank decoration, although it was extremely rare in its broad form. It was much more common as a thin ring on US muscle cars of the early years - and all Europeans who emulated them.

Der klassische "Redliner" auf dem Pontiac Banshee von 1964

Anyone who wanted their American to roll on a cultivated mixture of elegance and sportiness could opt for tires with a gold trim line.

Golden Stripe Tires von BF Goodrich auf einem Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

On the other hand, those who were serious about sport and also occasionally practised it on the racetrack could be recognized by a blue line around the rim, often combined with the white name of the tire manufacturer.

Der Rennreifen "Goodyear Blue Streak" auf einem Lotus 34

At the height of the muscle car era at the end of the sixties, the contrasting colored letters were increasingly seen on road vehicles that fought fierce traffic light duels at night.

Der Klassiker: BF Goodrich Radial T/A White Letter auf einem Dodge Challenger

However, the internally illuminated tires of the Barris Golden Sahara remained a one-off gimmick. Almost a pity. Especially today, LED technology would make series production much easier.

Pneus mit roter Flanke auf dem Pegaso Z-102 Cupula von 1952

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The reliable small cab

Bruno von Rotz
05/28/2023

Fiat 1100 als Taxi von Bern am O-iO 2023 (© Bruno von Rotz)

It was in 1954 that a group of cab owners in the city of Bern introduced reliable and cheap small cabs. It was a small revolution, as cab operators normally used large limousines, often American, as vehicles for their passenger services. But there was obviously a need for cheaper solutions. And the Fiat cab with the call number 9 11 11 was cheaper. The basic fare was just one franc and the price per kilometer was set at 0.50 francs if there was only one passenger. With two or three passengers, it cost 0.60 francs per kilometer, with four passengers 0.80 francs. You couldn't fit any more in the Fiat.

So a two-kilometer trip from the main station in Bern to the Hotel Bellevue Palace in a cheap cab cost only 2.60 francs for four people. You couldn't complain, today the journey would even be more expensive in your own Dacia Logan.

Ah, yes, in 1954 Juan Emanuel Fangio became Formula 1 world champion and SBB abolished third class. What's more, "the miracle of Bern" happened that year, but the cab innovation was not meant by that.

And where do you find out such things? For example, at the O-iO classic car meeting in Sarnen/Obwalden, where the yellow and red cab could be photographed. Incidentally, the O-iO is still going into its second round today. We will of course also publish a review of the event.

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To the first!

Paul Krüger
05/27/2023

Ein Kaiser Darrin abgedeckt unter einer Plane

Every week here at zwischengas.com, we write about the latest auction results, which price records have been broken and which cars have become unexpected bargains. But only now can I really have my say on the subject and no longer have to report as an "outsider" on a subject that is foreign to me. Now I'm part of the catalog lifters, finger waggers and subtle nodders. Because I bought a classic car at auction for the first time - albeit at the click of a mouse.

Although (or because) I couldn't see my "opponents", it was an intense experience. Everyone was hesitant. It took a few days before I got over myself to place the starting bid. I was promptly outbid. But the counterattack followed immediately. Highest bidder. Another third-party bid. Still the highest bidder. Confidence and worry alternated with beautiful regularity. Everything happened incredibly quickly until shortly before the end. But the last five minutes dragged on like chewing gum. Then it was finally done: the bid was accepted with reservations.

I have now reached an agreement with the seller and am exchanging almost all my savings for a particularly beautiful example of my dream car. Which one is that? We're not revealing that yet. Just this much: it's a model that hasn't been the subject of a single article here on zwischengas.com and can only be found in very few historical pictures. Of course, that's not why I bought it. But we will of course still take the opportunity to write a detailed vehicle report - as soon as the car has crossed the Atlantic.

P.S. The picture above should be understood as a symbolic image. The car under the tarpaulin is of course not the car I bought at auction.

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New car prices before the Internet

Bruno von Rotz
05/26/2023

Preise von Neuwagen "Motor Reporter"

Of course, 50 or more years ago there was no internet. If you wanted to find out the price of a new car, you could go to the nearest authorized dealer or even the importer. But if you wanted to compare the prices of different vehicles, you had to rely on compendiums that listed the individual prices. The Automobil Revue did this in its catalog, for example, but there were also much more compact and less expensive price overviews.

In the fifties and sixties, the "Motor Reporter" was published in Switzerland. For 1.50 francs you could buy a small booklet in A5 format with around 30 to 50 pages. In addition to the price overviews, the individual issues always featured editorial content, be it new releases or concept cars. And, in addition to the prices for cars, there were also prices for mopeds, trucks and tractors. An entertaining thing.

Preise von Nash bis Hillman im "Motor Reporter" 1954

We have put together some sample pages, e.g. 1955 with vehicles from Nash to Wolseley and Rootes vehicles separately.

Preise von Autobianchi bis Citroën im "Motor Reporter" 1960

The 1960 edition shows the various Autobianchi models, as well as cars from BMW, Borgward and Citroën/Panhard.

Preise von Ford bis Lloyd im "Motor Reporter" 1961

And a double-page spread from 1961 shows the prices for Ford, Goggomobil, Lancia and Maserati, for example.

Zwischengas readers don't have to run to the nearest flea market to research new car prices from back then. There is a special new car price search that points to pages in the magazine archive with price tables.

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Future from Zwickau - Do you know the Sachsenring Uni 1?

Paul Krüger
05/25/2023

Der Sachsenring Uni 1 von 1996

Rarely has the leap in innovation between two successive cars been greater. As recently as 1989, a 32-year-old, oil-fume rattling plastic wagon had been put together, which only managed to catch up with the four-stroke modern age with outside help. And as early as 1996, Sachsenring GmbH in Zwickau built a seven-seater saloon with an aluminum body and hybrid drive: the Uni 1.

The idea of combining an internal combustion engine with an electric motor was not revolutionary. However, unlike the Alfa Romeo Alfa 33 Ibrida , the Saxons did not use a petrol engine, but a diesel engine. More precisely: the 1.9-liter TDI from Audi with 90 hp, already celebrated as a miracle of efficiency even without electric assistance. The 41 hp electric motor sat between the self-igniting direct injection engine and the transmission.

The transmission was an electro-hydraulically operated five-speed gearbox developed by Fichtel and Sachs and originally intended for the BMW Z3. In general, components from experienced companies were used wherever possible instead of developing something in-house and worse for more money. The front axle, for example, came from the Ford Galaxy. The transmission selector lever could also be used to switch off the diesel while driving, so that it was possible to drive 80 kilometers in urban conurbations and smog-free areas.

At the end of the 1980s, people in West Germany were still laughing about the Trabant and looking to the GDR for inspiration, but now it was the "Wessis" who wanted to learn from the "Ossis". For test purposes, a Ford Mondeo was also fitted with the Uni 1 drive. Companies from Japan were also particularly interested in the new technology.

Der Sachsenring Uni 1 von 1996

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Humber or Subaru?

Bruno von Rotz
05/24/2023

We had just returned from a short photo reportage with a 1935 Humber 16/60 (pictured below) and were getting ready for a second photo session with a 2001 Subaru Impreza WRX STi (pictured above) when we were asked what kind of car the Humber was. The man was enthusiastic about the classic design and wanted to know how valuable this car was. When we replied that the almost 90-year-old Humber with a six-cylinder engine would cost less than the silver, almost 20-year-old Subaru, our conversation partner didn't want to believe it at first. In fact, he probably had a completely wrong idea of the prices that many pre-war vehicles fetch today.

The Oldtimer Galerie, which will be auctioning the car at the Swiss Classic World in Lucerne on Saturday, June 3, 2023, expects around CHF 25,000 to 35,000 for the Humber, while the Subaru also on offer there is expected to cost CHF 35,000 to 40,000.

Why could a comparatively normal car like the Subaru be worth more than the charismatic Humber, the man asked us? You could philosophize about this question, but at the end of the day it's all about supply and demand. Many of today's classic car buyers tend to look for younger cars, while the simpler and less glamorous pre-war vehicles that were once in great demand have to fight for new owners.

And who still knows what a Humber is today? But Subaru is well known, not least thanks to its many rally successes, which certainly had something to do with the Impreza WRX STi.

P.S.: If you would like to take a look at the entire range on offer from the classic car gallery at the Swiss Classic World Lucerne, please refer to our auction announcement . And we will of course be publishing a driving report on each of the two cars in the near future, which will provide information about the special charms of Subaru/Humber.

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For the joy of shifting gears

Bruno von Rotz
05/23/2023

We've philosophized from time to time about how shifting gears manually creates a particularly intimate relationship with the mechanics of a car. You are simply more involved when you move the gear lever through the gearshift lanes and open and close the clutch at the right moment. Intermediate clutch and intermediate throttle is then the freestyle.

The builders of concept cars and prototypes have apparently also recognized this. In any case, a brand new one-off called the Kode61 Birdcage was on display at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este . And anyone looking into the cockpit immediately recognized the six-speed manual gearbox. Cool.

On Saturday, a Ferrari 550 Maranello from 1997 was also sold at RM/Sotheby's for a record price of EUR 286,250 or CHF 277,663. You guessed it, it was manual (... and had low mileage, admittedly).

Nowadays, if you want to buy a new car or a young used car with at least 200 hp, you will hardly find a manual transmission anymore. Only specialty cars are still sold with a classic manual transmission on request and sometimes for a considerable surcharge. You can find one at Porsche, BMW or Lotus, but not at Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz or Ferrari. High-horsepower everyday cars are almost 100 percent equipped with automatic transmissions, as are electrically powered cars.

Where will this lead? We suspect that, at least for a certain period of time, manual classic cars will achieve significantly higher ratings than DSG/converter automatic alternatives. Whether this will continue when the generation of manual transmission drivers dies out, however, is another question ...

However, this question will never arise with the Ferrari 250 GTO, which was only available with five manual gears. That's a good thing!

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Good to know - My own calendar

Balz Schreier
05/22/2023

Anyone who enjoys attending classic car events will certainly be familiar with our extensive calendar of events. However, due to the large number of entries, it is not really easy to keep an overview.

Remember dates

That's why the calendar offers the option to save events:

As soon as you have marked appointments, you can switch to your personal calendar at the top:

And only those appointments that you had marked will be shown:

Practical, isn't it? Try it out. It's best to create a "bookmark" for your personal calendar on your cell phone so that you have your appointments ready to hand at any time. Try it out here!

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