The Classic Gala Schwetzingen is one of the largest and most popular beauty contests in Germany. In fact, the Classic Gala, which is taking place for the 21st time, radiates far beyond Germany and also attracts international guests and cars from all over the world.
In 2025, the focus will be on five "A "s:
- A for Adler vehicles, because Fritz Kleyer's Adlerwerke was founded 125 years ago in Frankfurt am Main.
- A for 125 years of ASC, because Germany's most traditional classic car club is celebrating a major anniversary.
- A for 110 years of Aston Martin, because the first "Aston Martin" was built in 1915.
- A for 75 years of Abarth, the special show for the engine wizard from Italy.
- A for 70 years of Alpine-Renault for the French sports car company, which is now 70.
In addition, two very special rarities can now be announced.
Elegant Hispano Suiza with twelve-cylinder engine
One of the best and most expensive cars of the 1930s, the Hispano Suiza J12 was sent by D'Ieteren (Brussels) in 1934 with a cabriolet body and will be presented alongside five early Rolls-Royces and five rare Bugattis.
The D'Ieteren Freres bodywork is a masterpiece of proportions that is both sleek and stylish while concealing the car's massive dimensions. The three-part windshield is typical. Of the four available chassis lengths, this Hispano Suiza was fitted with the second shortest of the four with a wheelbase of 146 inches. The price of the chassis (chassis 13033) at the time was around 200,000 francs, regardless of size.
During the Second World War, the unique J12 was hidden away and sold to Holland after the war. It then made its way to the USA, where it was owned by William Burden and his descendants until it ended up in a private collection.
The car is powered by the legendary 9.4-liter V12 engine from Hispano Suiza. The engine has an identical bore and stroke diameter, a rare square configuration for higher revs at the time, as opposed to the more common long-stroke layout of other brands, which was intended to reduce the displacement tax burden.
The original Stork radiator figure by Francois Bazin adorns the top of the radiator.
This vehicle has been fully restored in the USA and is now in very neat condition with a hint of patina on the beautiful leather interior. It is an extremely spacious vehicle with room for up to 6 people. The rear has a separate windshield that can be folded down to provide protection for the rear passengers. The vehicle comes from a small private collection in Prague.
Innovative Triumph TRX
The British brand Triumph was also a bicycle factory which, after starting motorcycle production in 1923, also built its first automobiles with the 10/20 HP. Standard Triumph was reopened in 1945 and the company was keen to participate in the emerging sports car boom. What began as early as 1946 with the conservative TR1800 and TR 2000, which can also be seen in Schwetzingen, led to the development of the streamlined TRX roadster with an aluminum body in pontoon style, which was the first British car with folding headlights, electric windows and an electric soft top to steal the show from the Jaguar XK 120 at the Paris Motor Show in 1950.
It was supposed to be the Triumph roadster of the future, but the project proved to be too complicated and expensive to produce. One of the three prototypes built embarrassed its designers when, during a demonstration of the electrical gimmicks to the royal family, all the functions went haywire and the car later burned down after a short circuit.
The other two TRXs were preserved, one of which was sent to an automobile collection in Malta and survived the test of time until its current owner Chris Cachia discovered it, was able to buy it and subjected it to a meticulously detailed restoration. This restoration will be completed especially for the ASC-Classic-Gala Schwetzingen and the 1950 Triumph TRX will experience its first worldwide roll-out in the Schlosspark before making its way to other international Concours d'Elégances.
Surprise on the side: at ASC-Classic-Gala Schwetzingen there will be both the predecessor Triumph TR 1800 and a TR 2 Superleggera with touring bodywork and 2-liter Bristol engine on display.
A visit to the 21st ASC Classic Gala Schwetzingen is therefore definitely worthwhile. Further information can be found on the event website.
