The early form of the front apron

Paul Krüger
01/31/2024

Karikatur eines VW Käfer mit Frontschürze aus Stoff

If the all-metal "deep steering wheel" from Kamei looked too martial, you could also attach a textile version to your VW - at least if you believe this contemporary caricature. Who could have guessed at the time that neither the one nor the other material would prevail for aerodynamic body attachments. And the lace-trimmed air scoop also points in the wrong direction...

VW 1100 Export mit Kamei Aerofix-Tiefensteuer

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The special features of the Porsche Sportomatic

Bruno von Rotz
01/30/2024

Porsche 911 Sportomatic (© Ryan Merrill - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's)

In 1967, Porsche introduced the "selective-automatic" transmission "Sportomatic" for the 911 (and later the 912). The sales brochure promised :
"With the 'Sportomatic', the driver can still shift gears when he wants and as he is used to. But he does not have to change gear. Especially not in situations where he is forced to keep up with the flow of traffic and shifting gears is a gain, but in the long run becomes a burden.
The clutch pedal is no longer needed, because the hydraulic torque converter takes over the function of the starting clutch, continuously converts the power output from the engine and automatically adapts it to the respective driving situation. The clutch required to change gear operates automatically as soon as the driver initiates the gear change. "

And because they wanted to give the driver a better understanding of the peculiarities and characteristics, they printed an almost 40-page operating manual , which also included maintenance instructions and a comprehensive description of the functions.

Schaltschema der Porsche Sportomatic

As a newcomer, you are amazed when you look at the wiring diagram. P for Park, R for Reverse, L for Low (actually first gear), D for Drive (but actually second gear), D3 (third gear) and D4 (fourth gear). All clearly arranged in an H with an additional gear.

In fact, it was recommended to normally start off in second gear (D) and not to leave this gear in the city. Starting off was also possible in D3 and D4, but the acceleration was of course anything but sports car-like. Starting off in "L", i.e. in first gear, was actually only intended on inclines.

But this was not the only important note. The early 911 also had a hand throttle between the driver's seats. When the engine was cold, it was recommended that the hand throttle lever be pulled up so that the engine ran smoothly and did not stall. And when driving uphill, you had to keep an eye on the oil temperature and shift down to the next lower gear if necessary.

"Sporty driving becomes even more interesting with the Sportomatic. The hydraulic torque converter continuously expands the mechanical transmission ratio of each drive stage and enables optimum use of the engine power with ease. You can choose and shift between the four gears at will - for accelerating or braking. The gears are changed quickly yet smoothly. Experienced drivers will find it particularly interesting that the left foot is also available for braking," the instructions explained.

And indeed, this gear shifting was not quite so unsportsmanlike; after all, Hans Herrmann and Jochen Neerpasch, together with Vic Elfort, won the "Marathon de la Route" over 84 hours on the Nürburgring on August 22-26, 1967. They covered 9900 km with an average speed of 117.8 km/h. And their left leg certainly didn't cramp up.

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Vacation in the attic

Paul Krüger
01/29/2024

Studebaker Lark Wagonaire (1965) mit Camping-Aufbau

Everything is a bit bigger in the USA. Accordingly, what had been known in the GDR since 1956 as the "camping sedan" was also adapted to US standards in the mid-sixties. At the beginning of 1965, Studebaker presented the prototype of a camping attachment for the Lark Wagonaire station wagon, which could be fitted in just 20 minutes without any body modifications and transformed the family freighter into a mobile and accessible vacation home.

This was made possible on the one hand by the large sliding roof above the load compartment, which simply allowed the interfering sheet metal to slide out of the way. Secondly, the McNamee Coach Corporation in El Monte, California, which built the alcove extension for the car manufacturer from Indiana. However, the vacation extension for station wagons did not catch on. This was probably primarily because the load compartment sliding roof never caught on. The situation was quite different for pick-ups: the first camping body for a US flatbed truck was offered as early as 1963 - by Studebaker, incidentally.

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Still a fun electric car?

Bruno von Rotz
01/28/2024

Wild One - The Little Car Company

Most electric cars leave real "petrolheads", i.e. people with gasoline in their blood, pretty cold. But now "The Little Car Company" has launched an electric car that might make some people change their minds. A scaled-up version of the cult Tamiya model "Wild One" is being built.

Tamiya Wild One

This was a remote-controlled model of an off-road buggy launched in 1985.

Tamiya Wild One MAX Launch Edition 2023

The British used the design to build a two-seater vehicle around 3.6 meters long with electric drive. As with the original, the rear wheels are powered. Not quite 40 hp must be enough, after all the vehicle should be able to be registered as an e-quad for road traffic. You can commute with it, but also go off-road. A motocross track would probably be just the right environment for this fun car, which is already available to pre-order.

Interieur von Wild One - The Little Car Company

With a deposit of GBP 3500 you are already there, the finished vehicle is currently announced as the Tamiya Wild One MAX Launch Edition for prices starting at GBP 35,000 (EUR 41,000). So the off-road buggy is not cheap. But it promises to be a lot of fun, even if the sounds of an internal combustion engine might be missing and not everyone has the right "dirt track" on their doorstep ...

Here are a few more technical data: Power: 28 kW, battery size 14.4 kWh, top speed 100 km/h, weight 500 kg, dimensions 3.6 x 1.9 meters, classification: L7e.

P.S. All we need now is an invitation to take a test drive, after all, we have already driven similar cars with remote control ...

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Forgotten movie cars: the '56 Chrysler from "Hollywood or bust"

Paul Krüger
01/27/2024

Chrysler New Yorker Convertible Coupe (1956) – Szene aus dem Film "Alles um Anita"

Jerry Lewis as a naïve and cheerful character and Dean Martin as a laconic jinx and womanizer – this last movie of the successful comedy duo does not deviate too much from the usual formula. Nevertheless, fans of American cars from the 1950s should have seen "Hollywood or bust" at least once. The starting point of the plot is that the two share the main prize of a raffle in New York: a brand new 1956 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible Coupe in radiant Geranium Red. Unfortunately, the two very different men also have very different plans for what they want to do with their prize.

Cinema enthusiast Malcolm Smith (Lewis) would like to go to Hollywood to meet the woman of his dreams Anita Ekberg for once in his life. Small-scale crook Steve Wiley (Martin), on the other hand, would rather sell the luxury car today than tomorrow in order to pay off his gambling debts. That's why he pretends to embark on a journey across the country in order to steal the Chrysler at the first opportunity. It goes without saying that this plan fails more than just the first time – and is mainly due to Mr. Bascomb, Malcom's alpaca-sized Great Dane, who always manages to thwart Steve's plans in time.

Chrysler New Yorker Convertible Coupe (1956) – Szene aus dem Film "Alles um Anita"

On the way, they pick up dancer Terry (Pat Crowley), whose old Ford has broken down on the way to an engagement in Las Vegas. Because Steve is afraid of bumping into his former gangster friends on the busy highways, they continue their journey off the beaten track. As this naturally takes considerably longer, the four of them take turns at the wheel – although Mr. Bascomb doesn't even have a driving license, as Malcolm is shocked to discover.

Of course, the movie ends as everyone expected from the beginning: Malcolm and Steve become friends (a little bit), Steve and Terry fall in love (a little more than a little bit), Malcolm is completely overwhelmed by the kiss Anita gives him – and Mr. Bascomb becomes a movie star, which is something you didn't necessarily expect from the beginning. As "Hollywood or bust" takes place largely on the street, there are many US classics to admire in the background. Even the unique 1954 Plymouth Belmont makes a guest appearance at a petrol station.

But fans of fifties cinema in general will also get their money's worth. Because Malcolm refers to numerous films in the course of the plot, Dean Martin discusses the differences between individual countries in cinema culture in the foreword – and Anita Ekberg successfully distracts from the list of contributors in the opening credits.

Chrysler New Yorker Convertible Coupe (1956) – Szene aus dem Film "Alles um Anita"

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Everything for the dachshund

Paul Krüger
01/26/2024

Opel Rekord P2 Caravan mit Hundeluke

Some people cut up their favorite child for their best friend. Don't worry, this is not a Christmas story along the lines of Loriot's forester. Instead, it's another discovery from the car accessories cabinet of curiosities. Because, as we all know, the Germans' favorite child is the car; man's best friend is the dog - and most Germans are humans.

If the purchase of the vehicle was preceded by that of the faithful pet, its needs were often not taken into account. As a result, old car and new dog owners have to get creative afterwards - often with well-thought-out but usually not well-made results, as the cover photo of the Opel Rekord P2 Caravan with dog hatch shows.

It is highly questionable whether the poor rough-haired dachshund will reach its destination alive. Not only because even a gentle rear-end collision can give him a bad headache, but also because he breathes in more exhaust fumes than fresh air due to the suction behind the steep rear of the estate. It would certainly have been healthier for the body panel and the dog to simply place a stool in the load compartment so that the short-legged barker could simply look out of the rear window, protected from exhaust fumes and the weather.

With the saloon version (demonstrated in the picture below on a Ford Taunus in 1954), the exhaust problem was certainly not quite so pronounced. Nevertheless, the periscope-like passenger's ears must have been ringing at inner-city speeds.

Ford Taunus 15 M mit Hundeluke

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The forgotten Skoda Coupé

Bruno von Rotz
01/25/2024

UVMV 1100 GT von 1970

Well, it hasn't been completely forgotten, because we actually reported on this coupé ten years ago . We have since come across it again and also found more background information and pictures. In fact, the coupé was actually called ÚVMV and not Skoda, as it was developed at a university.

Milan Vacek, the engineer responsible, described what it was all about in the local automobile magazine:
"The wide range of sports cars with special coupé bodies is attracting more and more attention from the global motoring public. The Lotus Europa sports coupé, the Matra 530 A, the Lombardi-Fiat GP, the Saab Sonett V 4 and dozens of similar types are making the hearts of motorists of all ages and professions beat faster. In contrast to standard sports coupés, which are variants of standard saloons, e.g. from Opel, Ford etc., these vehicles have a unique body structure that is completely different from that of the standard vehicle. As a rule, they only take over the engine or at most some of the chassis elements. ... These small, likeable cars do not deny that they come from a common stock with their proud and unaffordable cousins from the Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati families.
When considering the construction of an experimental prototype vehicle at the ÚVMV Institute of Automotive Research, the choice fell on this specifically sporty type of car, which was naturally derived from the Š100/110 car production line.
The backbone of the entire project was the work of the bodywork team, which had the task of experimentally verifying methodical development procedures that had only been dealt with theoretically. The aim was to create a model body that could be used in a variety of technical applications.
The coachbuilders' task was to use as many modern design elements as possible and to verify the structural and technological possibilities of constructing a composite body in a combination of fiberglass and sheet metal."
The first step in the development of the new vehicle was the interior, the dimensions of which were designed as a starting point after measuring and evaluating the seating positions of various types of sports cars. Naturally, the coachbuilders wanted to reduce the frontal area of the vehicle to a minimum, as the dependence of the top speed on the inverted value of this area is of the same order of magnitude as the dependence on engine power.
A chassis design was then developed using a complete Š110 drivetrain, for which a new rear axle with triangular trailing arms with inclined pivot axle and two-joint wheel shafts was designed. Alternatively, the installation of a 2-OHC engine was considered, which was being developed at ÚVMV at the same time. The layout of the engine compartment and the air ducts had already been adapted to the needs of this engine. The front axle was retained except for the arrangement of the stabilizer behind the axle. The radiator was located at the front of the body and was equipped with an auxiliary electric fan."

Durchsichtszeichnung zum UVMV 1100 GT von 1970

Apparently, the students and their supervisor managed to build a drivable automobile that would have found fans even in Western Europe ...

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Autonomous driving 60 years ago?

Bruno von Rotz
01/24/2024

Mercedes-Benz 600 im Jahr 1964 (© AR)

A very dashing Mercedes-Benz 600 comes around the corner here. Two people sitting in the car, one in the front passenger seat and the other in the back seat? At least that's what it looks like at first glance. So early attempts at "autonomous driving"? And is it due to the slow computer technology that the car has to be forced into the bend too late and so harshly?

It's all an optical illusion. In fact, the test driver simply yanks so hard on the steering wheel that he almost ends up with his upper body on the passenger side.

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With a little money in your account, you could ...

Bruno von Rotz
01/23/2024

The Rétromobile week in Paris begins in just over a week. As always, it will also include three auctions, organized by Bonhams, RM/Sotheby's and Artcurial. Over four days from January 31 to February 3, 2024, 301 vehicles (almost exclusively automobiles, but including a tractor and a few motorcycles) worth almost EUR 130 million can be purchased. Just over half of the vehicles, which are a good 52 years old on average, are being offered without a reserve price.

The particularly valuable cars typically come under the brand names Ferrari, Bugatti or Mercedes-Benz, 28% belong to this group with values of over EUR 300,000, with two Ferraris even reaching eight-figure euro prices.

A further 17% are in the EUR 200,000 to 300,000 price range, while 21% are expected to cost between EUR 100,000 and 199,000. Around 12 % belong to the price category up to EUR 49,999.

However, we now want to turn our attention to the EUR 50,000 to 99,000 price range, as there is great diversity in this area with 65 lots and 94 % of these vehicles will go under the hammer without a reserve price. Bargains are therefore possible.

So if you have a well-filled account and can spend between EUR 50,000 and 99,000 at an auction in Paris, then you have a wide variety of vehicles to choose from.

How about a Ferrari 348 Spider from 1995 (pictured above), an Aston Martin DBS Vantage Sports from 1968 or a BMW 850 CSi?

Or would you prefer a lightweight Amilcar CGSS from 1927 or an early De Dion Bouton from 1901?

Or would you prefer comfort, which a 1981 Rolls-Royce Camargue can certainly offer? Alternatively, a Mercedes-Benz 420 SL from 1987 could also be considered.

Or would a stylish Jaguar XK 150 Drophead Coupé from 1958 or a Porsche 356 A from 1958 be the right choice?

For adventurers, the all-wheel-drive twin-engined Citroën 2 CV Sahara from 1962 could also be an option.

And there are also veritable racing cars such as the Moretti-Branca Formula Junior from 1959 for the set budget.

It might be worth taking a look at our three auction announcements from RM/Sotheby's, Bonhams and Artcurial, each with a complete lot list and photos of all the cars.

It should not be forgotten that around 10 to 16% commission is added to the highest bid. Depending on the country to which the car will be moved, taxes, VAT and transportation costs may also have to be added. A car can quickly become 25 or 30 % more expensive than the highest bid would suggest.

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Everything is so colorful here

Paul Krüger
01/22/2024

We Central Europeans are a people of clear statements. We prefer things in black and white. And we have designed our car license plates accordingly: simple, unambiguous, uniform - but somehow also a little boring if the only splash of color is either the cantonal coat of arms or the TÜV seal.

The Americans are a bit ahead of us when it comes to diversity, as these two photos from the "Porsche Werks Reunion" on Amelia Island show. Not only does every state there have its own completely different color and typographic sign - the color scheme has even changed from year to year. Today, you can choose from different motif backgrounds depending on the state. Passionate anglers in Oregon, for example, can wear a salmon under their license plate number.

We Swiss and Germans are still lucky because white goes with every paint color. The Dutch and British have to have stronger optic nerves. They would certainly like to have a choice like in the USA from time to time. It's complicated, inconsistent and confusing - but pretty.

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