Topic channels on classic cars
Coachbuilt bodies
Beyond the production line is where it truly gets exciting. Discover the fascinating history of coachbuilt bodies on Zwischengas – from elegant Swiss Tüscher cabriolets and Italian design icons by Figoni and Pininfarina to futuristic prototypes. A treasure trove for aesthetes and engineering enthusiasts.
Fantastic Plastic
Explore the fascinating history of plastic-bodied vehicles on Zwischengas. From lightweight pioneers to unique specialty bodies, our collection offers in-depth articles, historical facsimiles, and comprehensive technical data on automotive milestones. Discover a dedicated archive that brings the era of plastic innovation and design to life
Car Exhibitions
This section provides a comprehensive record of over 100 years of international motor shows and automotive exhibitions. Focusing on historical coverage of major events such as the Geneva Motor Show, the IAA, and the Paris Salon, it features original archives from Automobil Revue and auto motor und sport. Readers can explore detailed analyses of world premieres, design studies, and technical innovations from the dawn of motoring to the present day, supported by extensive galleries and historical facsimiles.
Cars with V8 engines
Sedans, coupes and convertibles with V8 engines
Three-wheeled cars
Although it's not at all obvious that a car must have four wheels, this is the case for the vast majority of passenger cars built. However, there have been repeated attempts to do without one wheel in order to achieve greater efficiency or simply lower costs. Some of these vehicles were quite successful.
Twelve cylinders
An engine with 12 cylinders is probably the best compromise between power and luxury. But it's expensive and so only few cars profit from it ...
Cars from the early sixties thoroughly tested
Their names were Olaf von Fersen, Robert Poensgen, Heinz Kranz, and Clauspeter Becker, and they wrote some of the best test reports in automotive history for the Automobil Illustrierte. In this special feature, they come to life again, newly edited and supplemented with a wealth of historical images. A feast for the eyes and the eyes!
700
There were quite a few cars that had the number 700 in their model designation. But there were also cars that weighed 700 kg. Here is a summary of some of them...
All-wheel drive
Cars with all-wheel drive have existed for over 100 years. Here is a summary of some of them.
Forgotten movie cars
Everyone knows Herbie the Beetle, James Bond's Aston Martin, and Columbo's Peugeot. But what did supervillain Diabolik and police officer's daughter Nicole Cruchot actually drive? The world of cinema has far more to offer classic car enthusiasts than one might initially think. We're taking a look at the movie cars that hardly anyone remembers anymore – whether from a major cinematic classic or a clunker of a B-movie.
Historical test reports reworked
Many thousands of test reports have been published over the last 100 years. This channel compiles newly edited test reports from various specialist magazines.
Once upon a time
Things that were once commonplace and are now (almost) forgotten
Formula 1
Formula 1 has existed since 1950, and hundreds of racing cars have been designed specifically for this purpose. This channel collects their history and sheds light on the technology...
Automotive Anniversaries 2024
In 2024, hundreds of car brands and vehicle types will celebrate significant anniversaries. We've compiled reports on some of them here...
O-iO (Classic Cars in Obwalden)
For 25 years, a large vintage car festival has been held annually in Obwalden Switzerland...
Saloon
For many decades the traditional saloon was the most important car type. This channel shows many nice exemples
Hobby test reports on cars from the fifties to the seventies
The test reports in the magazine ‘hobby’ are among the most unique of their kind, because editors like Heinz Kranz and Günther Gebbardt always kept the consumer in mind. This also led to the long-distance tests with purchased cars…
Klausen race
Reviews and event reports of the Klausen races
Pietro Frua
Pietro Frua was one of the greatest Italian car designers. Examples of his work include the Glas 1300 GT, the Maserati Mistral, the Maserati Quattroporte, the AC 428, and the Renault Floride, along with hundreds of other designs.
90s - Cars of the nineties
Welcome to the decade of Eurodance, Game Boy, and groundbreaking automotive design! The cars of the 90s have long since achieved cult status. From digital cockpits and the birth of modern SUVs to the last generation of purist sports cars – we celebrate the icons of an era. Discover reports on 90s youngtimers, buying guides for future classics, and retrospectives on the technological pioneers that are now finally eligible for historic vehicle registration.
Historic Concept Cars
The "Concept Cars" channel on Zwischengas showcases visionary studies, prototypes, and design icons that were often far ahead of their time. From spectacular one-offs to the origins of legendary production models, you will find in-depth vehicle portraits and exclusive archival footage here.
Station wagons, the more useful cars
The best vehicle reports about station wagons from five eras
Technology in racing cars (1958-1978)
The years 1958-1978 were the two most creative decades in the history of racing technology. This series portrays the most innovative, forward-looking, and exotic designs in Formula 1, IndyCar, sports car, and Can-Am, thus tracing the major development trends that continue to have an impact today. The series began with Lotus, one of the most important drivers of innovation during these two decades. And the series will also end with Lotus: with the first ground-effect Formula 1 car, the Type 79, which won a World Championship in 1978.
Le Mans 24 Hours
Experience the thrill of the world’s most legendary endurance race through the extensive article collection on Zwischengas. Explore over 100 years of Le Mans history with exclusive reports and in-depth stories covering the iconic drivers and machines of the Circuit de la Sarthe.
15 years of zwischengas.com - the best and most extraordinary articles
Over the past 15 years, the Zwischengas team has published over 16,000 articles. Some of these have remained particularly memorable for a variety of reasons, be it because the photographs were especially well done, the featured car was particularly interesting, or for other reasons. These special articles are compiled here.
Convertibles and other open cars
Initially, all cars were open-top, but then car owners recognized the advantages of closed bodies. Open-top cars, however, continued to exist and enjoyed a large following depending on the era. This channel contains many car reports that deal with open-top automobiles.
Barn, garage and other car finds
The days of finding a Ferrari 166 by the roadside are long gone. However, rare automobiles are still being discovered in barns or at least heavily dusty garages. This channel is dedicated to these finds and what became of them.
80s - Cars of the eighties
The 1980s were the decade of automotive icons. From the unforgettable GTI era and the birth of high-tech sports cars to the indestructible workhorses of the mid-range – we're reviving the era of shoulder pads and cassette radios. Discover captivating profiles of iconic 80s cars, fascinating firsthand accounts, and everything about the classics that now proudly grace our roads as historic vehicle plates.
Italsuisse
The Swiss coachbuilder Italsuisse appeared several times at the Geneva Motor Show in the 1960s.
Karl Ludvigsen
Karl Ludvigsen is one of the most distinguished automotive historians; he himself was employed for a long time at major car manufacturers and has been publishing for years on the history of the car, motor racing and the lives of designers, engineers and constructors.
Marcello Gandini and his cars
Marcello Gandini (1938-2024) was one of the most famous Italian car designers. His best-known works include the Lamborghini Miura, the Lamborghini Countach, the Lancia Stratos, and the Ferrari 308 GT4. He also designed everyday cars like the Fiat 132 and the BMW 5 Series, as well as many concept cars...
Picture stories - pictures tell more than words
Cars, events, people – presented in a different light, with humor or a story behind the pictures – that's the purpose of the picture stories on Zwischengas. This channel brings together all of Daniel Reinhard's picture stories so you can enjoy them again and again...
Dani's pitlane insights
Daniel Reinhard is an internationally renowned photographer, a third-generation enthusiast who focuses on automobiles. For over thirty years, he has been present at virtually every Formula 1 race, photographing over 500 Grand Prix events. Naturally, alongside countless photographs, he has also amassed a number of anecdotes. This series presents some of these short stories that Daniel Reinhard has heard during his work...
Concours d'Elegance - Beauty competitions
Between March and October each year, numerous beauty contests vie for the attention of the most elegant cars and their owners. These events differentiate themselves with creative categories and unusual themes, as there is, of course, only a finite number of suitable and high-quality cars in the world. The most important Concours d'Elegance events are documented and analyzed in this channel in a timely manner.
Electric cars over the decades
The first car to exceed 100 km/h was an electric car, and that was back in 1899. Initially, it seemed as though electric cars might prevail against their gasoline- and steam-powered competitors, but with the advent of the electric starter, the car with the internal combustion engine gained the upper hand. And it retained that dominance well into the new millennium, which isn't to say that there weren't repeated attempts to make electric propulsion a success. However, many remained just experiments. Nevertheless, the prototypes and limited-production cars are interesting, which is why they are given their own dedicated section here.
Before and after the Formula 1 races
When Formula 1 legends reminisce about the good old days, our photographer Daniel Reinhard is usually there. This series of short articles summarizes them all.
Flops in automotive history
Whether a car is successful in the market doesn't always depend solely on its design, but sometimes on entirely different factors. Over 130 years of automotive manufacturing, vehicles have failed due to consumer tastes, competitive considerations, economic crises, energy crises, and many other factors. What they all have in common is that they didn't live up to the expectations of their developers. Here we present a small selection of such cars that weren't as successful as hoped.
50 Years of Ford Motorsport Cologne
Rainer Braun has written an exclusive three-part series for zwischengas.com about "50 Years of Ford Motorsport Cologne", which is summarized here.
Question of the Week - All Results
Zwischengas readers are regularly posed a thought-provoking question. The answers are then analyzed in a blog post. The results of previous "Questions of the Week" can be found here.
Women behind the wheel
Automotive history is dominated by men, but in almost every era there have been women who outperformed some men, were faster or better, and should be remembered for that reason alone. This series of articles summarizes all of them.
Group B - Motorsport of the horsepower monsters
In motorsport, the term Group B has referred to a specific level of modification for Gran Turismo cars since 1982. These cars achieved enormous popularity when they were used in the World Rally Championship from 1982 to 1986. The regulations of the FIA, the governing body of motorsport, allowed for extremely powerful and fast racing cars at that time, but these soon proved manageable on the rally stages only by a few world-class drivers.
Hallo Fahrerlager
He is one of the most profound experts on the racing scene from the 1960s to the present day, and almost everyone recognizes his voice as a prominent track announcer. Rainer Braun was also a racing driver, editor, and much more. He has compiled his memoirs in the books "Hallo Fahrerlager" (Hello Paddock). He blends anecdotes, background stories, and exciting events, portraying racing greats and lesser-known figures, winners and losers. He always does so in the most entertaining style, with carefully chosen words and the use of rare photographs.
Innovations and inventions in vehicle manufacturing
The car has been invented. This was already the opinion of automotive pioneers in the 1920s. From their perspective, there was hardly anything left to invent. And perhaps they were right. Many innovations are indeed quite old, be it the turbocharger, the windshield wiper, or the airbag. However, they have been continuously developed and refined over the years. In this channel, we look back at the beginnings, but also at the phases of improvement.
Investing in classic/vintage cars
Of course, one shouldn't buy an old car purely for financial reasons, but rather for the joy of driving classic vehicles. Nevertheless, considerable returns have been achieved with classic cars and, to some extent, modern classics over the last 10 or 15 years, and investors are already referring to them as "movable assets." Observations and analyses on this topic are regularly published on Zwischengas, and these are summarized here.
Classic Gems of the Future
In our "Zwischengas" series, we primarily focus on cars that are at least 20 years old, thus firmly in the classic car category. However, it's also interesting to see which newer vehicles might achieve classic status in the future. This series explores such classic gems.
Curves and routes
Famous or unknown curves and sections of track with a special history are documented and captured in pictures here.
Classic car shows
Immerse yourself in the world of gleaming car bodies and historical treasures. On our dedicated page, you'll find current reports, highlights, and reviews of the most important trade fairs and exhibitions for classic and modern classic cars. From Techno-Classica to regional insider events – we provide you with exclusive insights, photo galleries, and expert reviews of the classics of yesterday and today. Don't miss any of the season's highlights!
Microcars - Small cars - Microcars
In the 1950s, cabin scooters and microcars offered an upgrade from motorcycles as a means of transport. They were cheaper than cars but more comfortable than motorcycles. Some achieved impressive sales figures and command high prices today.
Museums for vintage car enthusiasts
On this page you will find all reports about museums.
Neo Classics - The classic cars of tomorrow
Classic and vintage cars each have a "history," but a uniform category name for modern classics has been lacking. "Neo Classics" is proposed as a memorable name to fill this gap.
Pictures (almost) without words
A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. And indeed, a single photograph can tell an entire story. Zwischengas has been collecting such images since its inception and regularly publishing them in short posts. In this thematic channel, these "pictures (almost) without words" finally find a common home and invite you to an entertaining exploration.
Rainer Braun - Motorsport reports on zwischengas.com
Rainer Braun has been a motorsport journalist, TV commentator, and track announcer since the early 1960s. His familiar voice has been heard by countless motorsport fans at over a thousand races. In this section, you will find all of Rainer Braun's articles published on zwischengas.com.
100 Years of the Monte Carlo Rally
Much has been written and photographed about the Monte Carlo Rally. To celebrate the "100 Years of the Monte Carlo Rally," Bernhard Brägger has written almost 60 articles exclusively for Zwischengas, which are presented here in an overview, allowing you to quickly access your favorite years. From there, you can easily navigate to the previous or following year under "Recommended Articles."
In the rearview mirror of Rainer Braun
He is one of the foremost experts on the racing scene from the 1960s to the present day, and almost everyone recognizes his voice as a prominent track announcer. Rainer Braun was also a racing driver, editor, and much more. In the "Rearview Mirror" section, Rainer Braun looks back exclusively for Zwischengas, recounting exciting anecdotes from historic motorsport.
Celebrity Cars – Cars from film, radio and television
Cars owned by famous personalities, particularly from the film, entertainment, and music industries, consistently fetch significantly higher prices at auctions than "normal" classic cars. This channel is dedicated to all these vehicles, the so-called "Cars of the Stars" or "Celebrity Cars."
Technology in discussion
Over the past 120+ years, groundbreaking, but sometimes also ineffective, drive concepts, aerodynamic experiments, suspension designs, and power transmissions have been developed time and again. The "Technology in Conversation" articles explore these technologies and techniques in a relaxed dialogue.
Disappeared Brands
There have been around 10,000 car brands and manufacturers – most have disappeared and been forgotten. Since finding information about them is very difficult, we've compiled some here and are constantly adding more... If you already know of a brand that isn't listed here, please don't hesitate to send us a message; we'd love to hear from you!
Vintage cars from the pre-war era
About 40 or 50 years ago, only pre-war cars were considered true classics (or veterans). At many events, cars built before the end of World War II dominated the scene. Since then, cars from the 1920s and 30s have faded into obscurity. Yet even back then, it was claimed that the automobile had been fully invented. And indeed, many technologies that weren't standard even in the 1970s were first used in automobiles before World War II. This channel summarizes the early automobiles that made history.
Advertising with and around the car
The automobile has always been a popular tool for selling a wide variety of products. And, of course, a great deal of creative advertising has been produced for the "car" product. This channel showcases some examples.
Youngtimers – the future classic cars?
Cars that have reached the age of 20 are commonly referred to as youngtimers. Most cars of this type are still technically manageable and largely suitable for everyday use. No wonder they are becoming increasingly popular. This channel will present some of these youngtimers in detail.
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