An Old Picture for a New Story
In a few weeks, the “zwischengas Annual Magazine 2027” will be published, featuring a report on the wonderful Maserati 8CM (1934) and its story of triumphs and tribulations. Almost 20 years ago, the car made its way from Hungary to Switzerland. I had the privilege of documenting the restoration and the car's first test drive with my camera.
Of course, I had absolutely no idea at the time that my father and I had already seen and photographed the car in Budapest back in 1986. While searching for black-and-white negatives from the 1986 Grand Prix season, I came across three photos of a classic car. It wasn't until I used a magnifying glass that I realized it had to be the Maserati with chassis number 3015—a fact that its current owner quickly confirmed.
On August 10, 1986, the first Formula 1 World Championship race took place behind the Iron Curtain in the so-called Eastern Bloc. My father and I were there and witnessed true history. Not because this Maserati happened to complete a few demonstration laps—no, the crowd at the Hungaroring broke every record in Hungary.
Neither of us had ever seen so many spectators—around 200,000 are said to have lined the track on race day—before. In the end, there was a Brazilian one-two finish with Nelson Piquet ahead of Ayrton Senna and the Brit Nigel Mansell.
It's amazing how a photo archive can surprise you time and again. You think you know and remember everything, and then suddenly something resurfaces that isn't even present in your faintest memory. I can't even say anymore which one of us pressed the camera shutter back then.
Anyone who'd like to learn more about this car and its fascinating Swiss history will be able to read all about it very soon in our 2027 annual magazine.
