The new SwissClassics Revue has arrived at the newsstands. The new issue also takes a close look at vehicles, tells company histories and reviews events.
BMW Isetta - the motor coupé to the rescue
Things were not going well for BMW in the mid-fifties. There was a huge gap between the motorcycle trade and the luxury class BMW 502. A new product was needed - the Isetta. Renzo Rivolta's idea was well received and, equipped with a motorcycle engine, the Isetta was given 12 hp.
The widebody - Renault 5 Turbo
It may look like a Renault 5 with chubby cheeks, but conceptually it has little to do with the small car. The Renault 5 Turbo made the rally tracks unsafe at the beginning of the eighties, with 160 hp it was quite a long way ahead.
Buyer's guide - Mercedes-Benz W108/109
You can still be happy with the star cruiser today. The Mercedes Benz W108/109 arrived at dealers a good 50 years ago. Today, compared to various contemporary brand colleagues, it is available at an astonishingly low price. What's the catch?
Automobile milestones - Kaiser Deluxe 1951
After the Second World War, Kaiser-Frazer had more or less the reputation that Tesla enjoys today. Many ideas fell by the wayside, but with the 1951 model they created a milestone that was to serve as a benchmark for other cars for years to come. In a very short time, they were competing with the major American manufacturers, which was not always easy...
From the treasure chest - on Swiss roads in the fifties
Hans Bodmer's photo collection has one or two surprises in store. The car enthusiast has archived photographs with the most important vehicle data, which today bring back some memories. You can discover a Rolls-Royce Phantom III, a Plymouth PJ DeLuxe and a Fiat 1100 Derby. They all drove on Swiss roads in the 1950s.
Car museums in South Africa - as different as black and white
There are car museums like Wijnland and there are car museums like Franschhoek. They couldn't be more different!
Arriving at the Wijnland Auto Museum, the owner trudges through the dust to open the gate. A few better-preserved cars are stored in one hall, while the rest of the grounds are filled with classic cars parked so close together that you can barely reach every corner and every single car is bristling with rust and desert dust.
The exact opposite can be found in the Franschoek Moto Museum. 220 polished gems are lined up in rows behind barrier strips in beautiful, if not over-restored condition.
Matra Automobiles - Une épopée continue
Matra emerged from the French aviation industry before the Second World War. Between 1964 and 1974, Matra tried its hand at motor racing and was successful. Matra Automobile survived as Matra Manufacturing & Services s.a.s.
