VW 1500, the legendary five-cylinder Audi, the Golf GTI, the Audi Cabriolet, the Porsche Boxster - they all have something in common; they are celebrating an anniversary. AMAG Classic is honoring this with selected models at the Swiss Classic World in Lucerne.
When Swiss Classic World opens its doors in Lucerne on May 29, AMAG Classic will also be present at its usual location in Hall 2. In addition to classic cars for sale, AMAG Classic will be honoring selected models that are celebrating an anniversary this year.
The third model series from VW
65 years ago, Volkswagen presented the third model series after the Beetle (Type 1) and Bus (Type 2) at the IAA in Frankfurt. Accordingly, the model family, consisting of the VW 1500 saloon and Variant, was internally called "Type 3". It was supplemented by the "Type 34", the "big" VW Karmann-Ghia, which used the same technology and the same platform. With the Type 3, VW was responding to customer demand for a larger, more prestigious saloon for customers who wanted to outgrow the Beetle. In Lucerne, AMAG Classic is exhibiting the oldest VW Karmann-Ghia still in existence in Switzerland.
Audi 100 C2 with five-cylinder engine
Half a century has passed since Audi presented the second generation of the Audi 100. After the first model series had been developed in secret, Ferdinand Piëch, then Audi Board Member for Technology, opted for high-tech in the officially developed second generation: lightweight construction and the legendary five-cylinder engine, which later powered rally icons.
VW Golf GTI
Also 50 years ago, three letters changed the "compact class" segment: GTI became synonymous with "hot hatches", powerful vehicles with hatchback bodies. "Over coffee and sandwiches", people secretly thought about how to make the new Golf faster and usable for motorsport. Cultivated with the new 1.6-liter injection engine from the Audi 80 GTE, which was also new at the time, this secret project later also convinced the VW Board of Management, which gave the green light for a small series. Originally only planned as a special series of 5000 units, the Golf GTI developed into a successful model, particularly in Switzerland. Together with AMAG Import, AMAG Classic presents various generations of the Golf GTI - right up to the current anniversary model "GTI Edition 50".
Audi Cabriolet
15 years later, Audi launched the first convertible since the brand was reactivated in 1967. The model based on the Audi Coupé (Type 89) was simply called the "Cabriolet" - even though many referred to it as the Audi 80 Cabriolet. As was usual for Audi at the time, the manufacturing quality was very high, and even today nothing squeaks or creaks. The vehicle on display in Lucerne doesn't anyway, and with around 15,000 km on the clock, it is still on a par with a new car.
Two other important models will become classic cars in 2026 - which surprises many, as they are still part of the everyday street scene:
VW Passat B5
The VW Passat B5 came onto the market in the fall of 1996 and embodied the new understanding of quality of Ferdinand Piëch, who took over as Chairman of the Board of Management in 1993. In addition to the usual four-cylinder engines for the Passat, this Passat generation was also available with V6 and W8 engines. With the B5, VW moved towards becoming a premium manufacturer. The model exhibited at the Swiss Classic World was used by Volkswagen AG as a test car at the launch.
Porsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster (Boxer and Roadster) was a new start for Porsche in many respects. At the NAIAS in Detroit in January 1993, Porsche presented a study of the same name that anticipated the most important elements of the later production model: Two-seater, mid-engine, six-cylinder boxer engine. The Boxster was Porsche's answer to the new roadster boom in 1996. In addition, Porsche needed a model below the 911 after production of the 944/968 series had been discontinued. The Boxster also anticipated design elements and the first water-cooled boxer engine of the next 911 (code number 996), sharing the front end up to the A-pillar and other elements.
Visit the AMAG Classic stand at Swiss Classic World from May 29th to 31st, 2026. Further information about the trade fair can be found on the event website.
