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Mar
01
Hans Christian Andersen wrote a fairy tale called ‘The Ugly Duckling’. The story revolves around a little bird that suffers abuse from the other birds, until eventually maturing into a beautiful swan. Looking at the Volkswagen 412 Variant I found in Karlsruhe a couple of years ago, you can see a similar story. A vehicle that was considered ugly by most people and received a lot of bad comments right from the start.
However, the end of the story differs dramatically from the fairy tale version. In real life the story doesn’t have a happy end. Even now, almost 40 years later, nobody would ever confuse it with a beautiful swan. But hey… it does have a brightly colored 76 sticker. 😉
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Feb
24
2009 wasn’t such a good year for funfairs. With the financial crisis hitting the economy hard in 2008, many people didn’t have a lot of money to spend on rides, hot dogs, popcorn, etc. This and the chilly bloody cold temperatures during the Karlsruher Mess’ gave us the rare opportunity of taking some nighttime funfair pictures, without having to worry about a crowd. Most of the pictures turned out to be awesome – but lonely and sad at the same time. Proof, that an economic crisis takes the fun out of a funfair.
This post is dedicated to the beautifully lit Vita Popcorn® themed stall. A homely, warm glow that really stood out from the more colorful neon lights surrounding it.
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Feb
15
First seen from a distance across the road. Later on up close in the paddock area. Did I like the Ford GT? You bet! Would have never thought it could look great in silver with grey stripes…
Feb
12
Advertising is sometimes… weird. Create a new version version of a Renault 16 called TS, add a Le Mans racecar sticker to the rear window and a set of extra headlights. Et voilá – you have a sporty version of a rather sedate family car with plenty of roll in corners. Don’t forget to add elf oil and wear fancy sneakers – for that extra sporty pedal feel 😉
Feb
12
Everybody dreams about a barn find. A treasure that has been preserved for many years in a dry place, by a caring old gentleman. But reality often is rather cruel. I found this Mercedes-Benz W116 S-Class behind a Mazda dealership. Not preserved. Certainly not cared for. Just left outside to r̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶w̶a̶y̶ add some patina.
Jan
27
While browsing the MeilenWerk in Düsseldorf with a friend in 2010, we found this pristine shark nose BMW 635 CSI.
Jan
26
On the way home yesterday, I drove past an industrial estate near Würzburg and found a beautifully restored Porsche 911 SC Targa with the roof open. Outside. Mind you, it was just barely over 0° Celsius and cloudy…
Jan
16
Do you remember the time when the Camel Trophy was an annual highlight for all 4×4 enthusiasts? Seems like that was ages ago. I fondly remember watching the coverage every year on TV when I was a boy. I used to dream about doing something like that one day in the future. Great to see one of the survivors in good but authentic condition these days. The Land Rover Discovery Mk1 looks way too clean, though. In my memory, the vehicles have always been caked in mud. The pictures below have been taken at the 2010 Abenteuer Allrad in Bad Kissingen.
Jan
15
Nürburgring, April 26 2013. It rains and the strong wind is bloody cold. Time for a hot shower! But wait… the local weather provides one of the natural photo effect filters it is so well known for: fog. Fortunately there is a nice opportunity for a couple of pictures. The BMW Z4 VLN racecar sits in the fading light, sporting a nice reflection on the wet ground. All it needs now is a bumper sticker… I’d rather be racing.
Jan
11
RRROOAARRR! That sort of mean V8 growl is not what you usually expect to hear when seeing a classic Berlin double-decker bus. There is a mean beast rare car hiding behind the bus, scaring the cyclists. The light turns green, the cyclists make a run for cover and the beast… spins the tires due to lack of grip caused by the summer rain in July 2012. Finding a suitable parking spot might not be easy with a vehicle that has such a long name: 1972 Chrysler Newport Royal 2-Door Hardtop Coupé.
Jan
10
The first week after a long winter treated us to sunshine and quite agreeable temperatures in April 2010. While driving home, I found this yellow Nissan Skyline R34 drifter parked on a side road with a for sale sign on the dashboard. When I downloaded the files weeks later, I discovered something I never noticed when taking the pictures. The McDonalds billboard in the background says: We bring enjoyment to roll. Quite fitting, I suppose 😉
Jan
09
One day in February 2011 I drove through an unfamiliar town in the Rhön mountains. I spotted the familiar shape of an Alpine A610 and immediately thought I should make a U-turn and stop quickly to check it out. To my surprise I found even more Alpine goodness that made me drool. It seems like the proprietor, Axel Reß, knows a thing or two about the beautiful French sports cars. There have been quite a few awesome cars and engines in the showroom. Unfortunately the shop was closed that day and there was nobody around to answer a few questions. I should actually go back there some day…
Jan
08
Offenburg. A hot day in August 2010. Heading for the car wash after a long day on the Autobahn. Turning around a corner, minding my own busine… what?!? Wait a second! What the hell is that? A Clan Crusader. Excuse me, a what? With an Irish license plate?
Sometimes I stumble upon vehicles I have never even heard of before. The Clan Crusader is a lightweight monocoque car that is based on Hillman Imp Sport running gear and a rear-mounted 875 cc engine. It was designed and built in the 1970’s by ex-Lotus engineers. Guess it’s a true saying that you learn something new every day 🙂
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Jan
03
October 3rd is a public holiday in Germany. The weather in 2011 was perfect to go for a ride in my trusty convertible. Taking a detour on my home way from Bamberg was well worth it, again. Not only did I discover a twisty road that is fun to drive, but I also found something extremely rare at a roundabout somewhere along the way: a Piaggio Ape Calessino 200. These little vehicles have been around since 1949 and are usually found in Italy, providing transportation for goods and passengers in the narrow streets of old cities.
Sep
29
Sometimes you walk around a corner without expecting anything unusual. And… bam! There it was, sitting in the middle of the Nürburgring paddock at a VLN race weekend. Most people actually walked by without noticing that there was something wrong with it different and unusual about it. The base was clearly identifiable as a BMW 850i. It looked like somebody had a couple of leftover Z8 parts in the workshop and grafted them onto the E31 body. The craftsmanship and execution are excellent, but the style is, as always, a matter of taste…
Jul
14
The title says it all. This post is about emotions. The Volkswagen T2b pictured here sparks many of them, quite literally. These vehicles are just so positively sympathetic, you couldn’t force the smile off your face – even if you wanted to. Not smiling isn’t an option due to friendly feelings, friendly people and friendly encounters. Slowly (as they are) but surely, the classic VW campers creep into your heart. You just want to pet them, as the sign in the opening pictures suggests 🙂
Sep
24
Back in the days when sex smoking was safe and racing was dangerous, many cigarette companies used race cars to promote their products. The French brand Bastos supported a number of teams and cars. Each vehicle featured the signature red/white color combo with Bastos lettering and gold accents, similar to the cigarette boxes. I found this Bastos liveried BMW E12 at the Nürburgring Tourenwagen Revival. The car seemed to be restored, judging by the shiny paint and lack of battle scars. Old glory, indeed.
Feb
05
While hunting for a project car, I found this excellently crafted Volkswagen Beetle Pickup. The vehicle belongs to the Hagenauer body & paint shop in Würzburg. The split rear windows are a nice touch, but the rear bumper and lights leave something to be desired. They could have created something that suits the overall appearance of the Beetle Pick-up better. But that’s complaining at a high level 😉
Mar
19
Borgward produced quite a few technically interesting vehicles in the 1950’s but was forced into bankruptcy in 1961. The Borgward B 611 I found in Bremen represents a company that unfortunately is long extinct. However, the brand is still loyally supported by enthusiasts from the (e.g.) Borgward IG and the Borgward Club Bremen. The van featured here looks like it was properly restored at one stage and painted in period-correct colors. Sun visors have been popular accessories back then, available in various sizes and colors.
Apr
28
The DeTomaso Pantera is a car that will always have a special place in my heart. I fell in love with this elegant but somewhat brute supercar when living in the US. Our neighbor had a yellow Pantera with a stroked liter V8 engine, based on a Ford FE Marine(!) block. Visiting the 2007 Jim Clark Revival, I found the Perfect Pantera. It just has the perfect stance and is equipped with a beautiful set off multi-piece BBS wheels. The body has been tastefully modified, retaining the clean lines of the original design – albeit accentuated perfectly.
