They don't shine and yet they have a magical aura: Bugatti, Darraq, Th Schneider, Delahaye, Hurtu, Hispano Suiza. These are just a few of the largely unknown brands from the world-famous "Schlumpf Collection", which were transported from the French automobile museum "Cité de l'Automobile" in Mulhouse to Hall 19 of the Kassel company park at the end of last week. They can be seen there from May 1 to July 31, 2013 in the exhibition "Sleeping Automobiles" as part of the 1100th anniversary of the city of Kassel.
The organizers and the idea
Graduate engineer Heinz W. Jordan and urologist Dr. Dietrich Krahn are the organizers of the Historic Hercules Hill Climb in Kassel. The two classic car enthusiasts from northern Hesse have been friends with the curator of the "Cité de l'Automobile", Richard Keller in Kassel's French twin city Mulhouse, for six years. During a visit to the museum's rooms, which are not open to the public, in 2010, Jordan and Krahn spotted many interesting exhibits that had previously remained hidden from the world. Together with Richard Keller, they selected the most spectacular ones.
"Some of the vehicles had been untouched for 80 years," says Heinz Jordan about the discovery of the vehicles. "This was the holy grail of automotive history."
With this unique exhibition, Jordan, Krahn and Keller also want to encourage discussion about how to deal with such cultural heritage. "It also vividly depicts the aesthetics of the ephemeral," says patron Dr. Peter Ramsauer, Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development. "And at the same time the question of whether the vehicles on display here are automotive cultural assets, works of art or actually just scrap."
Open daily until July 31, 2013
The exhibition is open until July 31, 2013 and can be visited daily from Tuesday to Friday between 11 am and 7 pm, from Saturday to Sunday and on public holidays between 10 am and 7 pm for 8 euros (or 6 euros for concessions) at the Unternehmenspark Kassel (UPK) in Lilienthalstraße, Gate 1, Hall 19.
The exhibition is supported by many partners, otherwise it would not have been possible. Further information is available on the exhibition website.
