Editor-in-chief Peter Steinfurth already makes it a topic in the editorial. The "Oldtimer Markt" magazine has been partially restored, or at least that's how Steinfurth puts it.
The layout has been refreshed with the help of the KircherBurkhardt agency and the typography has been revised. The most visible change is the redesigned title page with a new logo and a more geometric overall look.
However, the clearest distinguishing feature compared to previous editions is the adhesive binding, which replaces staples. While 260 pages was the maximum for the previous binding, the new issue has a record 276 pages, and there is a lot on offer, namely six car reports, four motorcycle articles, two articles in the "Tips and technology" section and two service articles.
There are also a further seven reports on interesting current or historical topics. No magazine is likely to offer more, so Europe's highest-circulation classic car magazine can confidently call itself "Europe's biggest".
Quirky mobiles
In the automobile section, which is now compact and uninterrupted, Wolfgang Blaube presents a collection of bizarre automobiles. And indeed, you come across many a vehicle here that makes you wonder what its creators were thinking. The Aurora Safety Car, for example, looks rather aesthetically unfortunate, but the AWS Shopper from 1973 also looks more like a box on wheels. And then there is the Taylor Aerocar flying car or the Russell Plywood Car, the Picairn Autogiro, a road-going light helicopter, and the Hoffman X8.
Blaube briefly characterizes over 60 exotic cars and we will forgive him for including the Lotus Elite, perhaps the most beautiful plastic car of all time, in the list. The Rochdale Olympic would probably have been more appropriate, as it really was the most consistent chassis-less plastic car of all time.
David against Goliath
Oldtimer Markt took the story of the Bugatti 35C and Mercedes Benz SSK comparison to the next level. The classics were photographed from a helicopter. The comparison is interesting, as the two cars had completely different talents, but often competed against each other during their active time.
50 years of the VW Buggy
I wonder if Bruce Meyers isn't really stepping on the gas anymore? In any case, the lead picture for the 50-year buggy article looks a bit artificially accelerated. The rest of the article is interesting, however, because you learn a lot of interesting facts about the history and development of the VW Buggy.
The Frenchman with the big tailgate
The new OM number also devotes a report to saloons, more specifically to the unforgettable Renault R16, which established the rear hatch in the mid-size class as early as 1965. With 300 units (out of a quarter of a million) still registered in Germany, the French classic is now rarer than some luxury classics.
Reissued after 30 years - Opel GT buyer's guide
The buying guide to the Opel GT is also exciting to read, especially because the authors Steinfurth and Ramackers also take a look at the buying guide published 30 years ago in "Markt" and show what has changed. The weak points have remained the same, but today history and originality are important, whereas 30 years ago, TÜV hurdles and accident/rust damage were critical.
And, and, and ...
The "Tips and technology" article on refreshing plastic parts in and around the car is valuable, as is the list of the ten most common carburetor problems.
The development of the Alfa Romeo logo from 1910 to the present day is worth knowing. The story of how Röhrl became European Rally Champion during the oil crisis is entertaining.
And of course there is a 90-page classifieds market in the yellow section, which contains over 1300 small ads.
The classic car dates have been reformatted, with the date and postcode/location of the event now highlighted. Whether this is really clearer and easier to read is for the buyers of Oldtimer Markt to decide. In any case, you can now find the new magazine in newsagents (or in your letterbox).
