The Duden dictionary defines "special" as "something that makes a special appearance", something peculiar, unique, characteristic, something that stands out from the ordinary. The automotive industry of bygone days has produced various such specials, one-offs that are wistfully admired today. In most cases, a Special's career began with the owner's desire to transform his limousine into a racing car or to replace the dilapidated bodywork with something more modern.
Chassis were often shortened, engines tuned and weight reduced. This resulted in lightweight, sleek sports cars. Another "special" had been created.
This hobby was not only enjoyed by well-heeled motorists, no, the young, car-loving generation also screwed, turned and welded on their specials in garages and backyards, because very few people could afford a real racing car.
From today's perspective, these were nostalgic, almost romantic processes; the homologation regulations of our time (unfortunately) practically rule out the construction of individual new Specials.
However, it wasn't just individuals who were interested in specials, these specials also kept car manufacturers busy. Sydney Allard, Trevor Wilkinson (TVR), William Lyons (Jaguar) and Colin Chapman (Lotus) all built specials long before their own "production" models. And the boundary between a special body and a special is just as fluid as that between small series production using mass production technology and puzzle cars assembled by DIY enthusiasts.
The Pantheon Basel, Forum for Classic Cars, is presenting around thirty specials in its 17th special exhibition from October 18, 2015 to April 10, 2016. On display are classic cars from the brands Alfa Romeo, Allard, Alvis, American LaFrance, Austin, Bentley, Buick, Cadillac, Carrozzeria Italia, Ford, MG, Railton, Riley and Wolsley.
Launching a discussion
However, Stephan Musfeld is not only interested in honoring a vehicle category, but also in discussing the genre, its limits and evolutionary stages. It is strange, for example, that in 1972 it was possible to build a buggy on an existing Beetle chassis and register it for road use, but in 2015 the same thing with exactly the same components is no longer permitted by law.
And what is to become of the complete chassis that can be seen in the exhibition? According to current Swiss registration regulations, only the reconstruction of the original saloon bodywork would be permitted; a change of concept, for example by adding a convertible or sports car body (on an unchanged wheelbase and with identical technology), would not be allowed. Legislators (and the veteran purists who influence them) therefore prefer the scrapping of a cultural asset to a targeted modification.
These are precisely the questions that Musfeld would like to raise for discussion. How and in what form will be communicated later.
However, the exhibition is already open now at the Pantheon at Hofackerstrasse 72 in Muttenz. The opening hours are: Mon to Fri: 10 am to 5.30 pm, Sat and Sun: 10 am to 4.30 pm, the entrance fee is CHF 10.
Further information can be found on the Pantheon Basel website.
