tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89341267240957225342024-03-13T20:30:56.753-07:00The Driving PhilosopherUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-39454644345330745662012-03-10T04:22:00.005-08:002012-03-10T04:27:30.478-08:00The future of motoring in Geneva<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gK7c0hXFGs/T1tH4RROITI/AAAAAAAABtU/IpL7y03rDzs/s1600/IMG_8953.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gK7c0hXFGs/T1tH4RROITI/AAAAAAAABtU/IpL7y03rDzs/s400/IMG_8953.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718243183910854962" border="0" /></a>Besides traditional people mover cars and supersportscars there were also a number of futuristic cars at this year's Geneva Auto Show. If what we see at Opel and Renault is the future of motoring, then we probably will seat behind each other in the car of the future and the transportation mean is quite simple, rather like a micro car of the Fifties. A bit more comfort comes with the bionic car of Toyota. Well, if today's designers are as successful in predicting the future as their counterparts of the Fifties and Sixties then the motoring future will probably look quite different anyway ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uIF_Apd8e6Q/T1tH1szQBQI/AAAAAAAABtI/RLQBZymQohw/s1600/IMG_9022.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uIF_Apd8e6Q/T1tH1szQBQI/AAAAAAAABtI/RLQBZymQohw/s400/IMG_9022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718243139761734914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdeuJoFRV08/T1tHxU4Q-xI/AAAAAAAABs8/_RjqqHhExAI/s1600/IMG_9408.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdeuJoFRV08/T1tHxU4Q-xI/AAAAAAAABs8/_RjqqHhExAI/s400/IMG_9408.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718243064620841746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YSBWOwy6b7U/T1tHuWzMQ1I/AAAAAAAABsw/NmjGbE4vWN4/s1600/IMG_9404.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YSBWOwy6b7U/T1tHuWzMQ1I/AAAAAAAABsw/NmjGbE4vWN4/s400/IMG_9404.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718243013596824402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ro4h3FGDMkY/T1tHqIQ_AHI/AAAAAAAABsk/vSJ0TXN7ErA/s1600/IMG_8956.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ro4h3FGDMkY/T1tHqIQ_AHI/AAAAAAAABsk/vSJ0TXN7ErA/s400/IMG_8956.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718242940975775858" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-22382076514771419452012-03-09T01:16:00.004-08:002012-03-09T01:20:29.880-08:00Toyota's GT in Geneva<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-8K7FZjlPU/T1nKs2fz9vI/AAAAAAAABsY/gZqu2nXmV6U/s1600/Toyota%2BGT%2B2000%2Bvon%2B1968%2Bzusammen%2Bmit%2BToyota%2BGT%2B86%2Bvon%2B2012__IMG_8891.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-8K7FZjlPU/T1nKs2fz9vI/AAAAAAAABsY/gZqu2nXmV6U/s400/Toyota%2BGT%2B2000%2Bvon%2B1968%2Bzusammen%2Bmit%2BToyota%2BGT%2B86%2Bvon%2B2012__IMG_8891.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717824073815553778" border="0" /></a>Toyota presents the GT 86 in Geneva, the new sportscar coupé built together with Subaru. It's a nice car and the power goes to the rear axle which is a good sign! But what really made the appearance special was the Toyota GT 2000 shown together with the new GT 86. The GT 2000 is probably one of the most beautiful car any Japanese manufacturer ever built. In white, presented in front of a red background it looks even better. Wonderful, but very very rare!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yb0_1HyifIg/T1nKqGm6MQI/AAAAAAAABsM/SX6JjCYIgkI/s1600/IMG_8904.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yb0_1HyifIg/T1nKqGm6MQI/AAAAAAAABsM/SX6JjCYIgkI/s400/IMG_8904.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717824026600681730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XfmVCa6v4ZE/T1nKmVEJ90I/AAAAAAAABsA/673dwyZZTJE/s1600/Toyota%2BGT%2B2000%2Bvon%2B1968__IMG_8910.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XfmVCa6v4ZE/T1nKmVEJ90I/AAAAAAAABsA/673dwyZZTJE/s400/Toyota%2BGT%2B2000%2Bvon%2B1968__IMG_8910.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717823961761969986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfBo6wfqb-E/T1nKhqu3MbI/AAAAAAAABr0/_SfJqEkr6ec/s1600/IMG_9125.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfBo6wfqb-E/T1nKhqu3MbI/AAAAAAAABr0/_SfJqEkr6ec/s400/IMG_9125.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717823881678893490" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-67876137231596560972012-03-08T11:45:00.006-08:002012-03-08T11:56:03.028-08:00The sportscar future from Honda and Infinity in Geneva<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V1mOLR70qdQ/T1kNJLlqfvI/AAAAAAAABro/p-PPZzhUVBk/s1600/IMG_8949.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V1mOLR70qdQ/T1kNJLlqfvI/AAAAAAAABro/p-PPZzhUVBk/s400/IMG_8949.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717615653304303346" border="0" /></a>Two japanese car manufacturers brought elegant sportscars to Geneva this year. Honda presented the "NSX concept", a V6 hybrid, while Infinity surprised with the Emerg-E, an electrical sportscar with range extender in the 400 hp segment.<br />Interestingly the two cars were both painted in silver and the shapes are somewhat similar. For me the Infinity looks even a bit more elegant than the Honda, but the Honda of course profits from its own tradition and history, as we haven't forgotten the NSX sportscar from the Nineties, haven't we?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EhALzKkAteM/T1kNDZRU23I/AAAAAAAABrc/R7HNuiCg44I/s1600/IMG_9138.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EhALzKkAteM/T1kNDZRU23I/AAAAAAAABrc/R7HNuiCg44I/s400/IMG_9138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717615553897880434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_ndMr8OtYI/T1kM9-R_YjI/AAAAAAAABrQ/LOl7B6Naxk4/s1600/IMG_9134.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_ndMr8OtYI/T1kM9-R_YjI/AAAAAAAABrQ/LOl7B6Naxk4/s400/IMG_9134.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717615460753564210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2CfYzG4hSRM/T1kM2CDLKhI/AAAAAAAABrE/SmTopDnN_z4/s1600/IMG_9137.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2CfYzG4hSRM/T1kM2CDLKhI/AAAAAAAABrE/SmTopDnN_z4/s400/IMG_9137.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717615324326210066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GLziWofXOnc/T1kMupQyMXI/AAAAAAAABq4/zeksy1nHQMo/s1600/IMG_9285.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GLziWofXOnc/T1kMupQyMXI/AAAAAAAABq4/zeksy1nHQMo/s400/IMG_9285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717615197413323122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P1QDtwmLHBs/T1kMpghdszI/AAAAAAAABqs/k7j6AV_L1PY/s1600/IMG_9277.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P1QDtwmLHBs/T1kMpghdszI/AAAAAAAABqs/k7j6AV_L1PY/s400/IMG_9277.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717615109168018226" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-27503183565262210312012-03-08T01:34:00.002-08:002012-03-08T01:39:50.629-08:00The new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta in Geneva 2012<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lGsVTFG7cG0/T1h9XWik1BI/AAAAAAAABqg/bT85kdeRHJg/s1600/IMG_9051.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lGsVTFG7cG0/T1h9XWik1BI/AAAAAAAABqg/bT85kdeRHJg/s400/IMG_9051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717457567087907858" border="0" /></a>A new Ferrari is always a sensation, the new F12 Berlinetta makes no difference. Ferrari not only changed (again) the logic of the model naming they also packed all their engineering knowhow into the car, resulting in a bit less weight and a lot more power (700+ hp).<br />Never before the difference between what you get and what you actually can use in normal driving conditions was so big. When driving with the almost normal 80 km/h roughly 15 hp are enough, and even at 120 km/h you don't need more than 40 or 50 hp. So what on earth will you do with the other 650+ hp? They are there and they make the car expensive as everything needs to be adapted to cope with this massive power. Anyway, so be it. But maybe you remember the Fifties, when a Ferrari had some 120 or 150 hp and drivers have been able to use all of them quite often ....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ULbC24LjCU/T1h9SLDEX7I/AAAAAAAABqU/1vMJm-wLLRA/s1600/IMG_9043.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ULbC24LjCU/T1h9SLDEX7I/AAAAAAAABqU/1vMJm-wLLRA/s400/IMG_9043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717457478103621554" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-37283544321985969692012-03-07T22:41:00.008-08:002012-03-07T22:47:17.563-08:00Geneva girls 2012<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-etzomYJYjOE/T1hVQuSjkDI/AAAAAAAABqI/I7yPACAoEL0/s1600/IMG_9270.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-etzomYJYjOE/T1hVQuSjkDI/AAAAAAAABqI/I7yPACAoEL0/s400/IMG_9270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717413472738971698" border="0" /></a>One of the highlight of autoshows are the models trying to put some glamour on cars that otherwise wouldn't even be looked at. This year's Geneva car show (2012) is no exception here. For longtime observers it seems like there were less girls than in other years, but so what.<br />Have a look yourself and enjoy ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVfk9OZEFGE/T1hVF2DRZsI/AAAAAAAABp8/q9hhOYsL4kc/s1600/IMG_8951.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVfk9OZEFGE/T1hVF2DRZsI/AAAAAAAABp8/q9hhOYsL4kc/s400/IMG_8951.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717413285843789506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t_l05Dj5E7k/T1hVCXWdgNI/AAAAAAAABpw/Fk0i3kBjnMw/s1600/IMG_9256.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t_l05Dj5E7k/T1hVCXWdgNI/AAAAAAAABpw/Fk0i3kBjnMw/s400/IMG_9256.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717413226063167698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJmnR43tpbA/T1hU76I0BEI/AAAAAAAABpk/X0t2PkIglOk/s1600/IMG_9141.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJmnR43tpbA/T1hU76I0BEI/AAAAAAAABpk/X0t2PkIglOk/s400/IMG_9141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717413115142079554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqNguZbIvi4/T1hUzIa-pzI/AAAAAAAABpY/aLDgXYY_kZM/s1600/IMG_8916.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqNguZbIvi4/T1hUzIa-pzI/AAAAAAAABpY/aLDgXYY_kZM/s400/IMG_8916.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717412964357547826" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-72220502115712988402012-03-07T09:31:00.004-08:002012-03-07T22:41:34.737-08:00More air for the Lamborghini Aventador J<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cH2Eky8OCXk/T1eb95M3ucI/AAAAAAAABpM/eNLsbCW_-Zs/s1600/IMG_9078.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cH2Eky8OCXk/T1eb95M3ucI/AAAAAAAABpM/eNLsbCW_-Zs/s400/IMG_9078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717209739599264194" border="0" /></a>Lamborghini presented the unique Lamborghini Aventador J at the Geneva Autoshow 2012. It's kind of a barchetta version of the Aventador, but really very extreme. Well, have a look yourself, it definitely steals the new Ferrari F12 a bit the show ...<br />P.S. The car has been sold for 2.1 million Swiss Francs, so no need to think too much about it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVnCl-Fq0PY/T1eb6Gr-ZHI/AAAAAAAABpA/AYxihjBH2xQ/s1600/IMG_8964.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVnCl-Fq0PY/T1eb6Gr-ZHI/AAAAAAAABpA/AYxihjBH2xQ/s400/IMG_8964.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717209674499908722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYKhY-pzY9I/T1eb1vvaVkI/AAAAAAAABo0/O_Mk9zVLx9k/s1600/IMG_9245.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYKhY-pzY9I/T1eb1vvaVkI/AAAAAAAABo0/O_Mk9zVLx9k/s400/IMG_9245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717209599620830786" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-30270309004456818232012-03-07T05:40:00.006-08:002012-03-07T05:45:49.960-08:00Touring Superleggera presents Disco Volante in Geneva 2012<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g8KnTL0AWDs/T1dl6H8pv5I/AAAAAAAABoo/rPrgcG9mWns/s1600/verh%25C3%25BCllter%2BAlfa%2BRomeo%2BDisco%2BVolante%2B2012%2Bvon%2BTouring%2BSuperleggera%2Bneben%2Bseinem%2BAhnen__IMG_9106.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g8KnTL0AWDs/T1dl6H8pv5I/AAAAAAAABoo/rPrgcG9mWns/s400/verh%25C3%25BCllter%2BAlfa%2BRomeo%2BDisco%2BVolante%2B2012%2Bvon%2BTouring%2BSuperleggera%2Bneben%2Bseinem%2BAhnen__IMG_9106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717150301210394514" border="0" /></a>It's interesting! We have been talking about "retro design" for quite a bit of time, but usually we were observing the car manufacturers, but not the Italian design shops to come up with retro styled vehicles.<br />Yesterday though Touring Superleggera presented its Alfa Romeo Disco Volante 2012. And they were brave enough to show it together with the original Disco Volante coupé from 1953 - though on a poster.<br />The new car isn't bad, but if you remember how revolutionary and extreme the original Disco Volante was, then you may be disappointed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ymXQL69-W8/T1dl0w8uwlI/AAAAAAAABoc/ogjMC2bQ8s0/s1600/Alfa%2BRomeo%2BDisco%2BVolante%2Bvon%2BTouring%2BSuperleggera__IMG_9242.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ymXQL69-W8/T1dl0w8uwlI/AAAAAAAABoc/ogjMC2bQ8s0/s400/Alfa%2BRomeo%2BDisco%2BVolante%2Bvon%2BTouring%2BSuperleggera__IMG_9242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717150209137361490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OBpZpBwMXsM/T1dlqmt8JyI/AAAAAAAABoQ/d7XsXvC-uRc/s1600/IMG_9194.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OBpZpBwMXsM/T1dlqmt8JyI/AAAAAAAABoQ/d7XsXvC-uRc/s400/IMG_9194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717150034592278306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vYZfwzR2J_Q/T1dlj1Kq3MI/AAAAAAAABoE/TEEgINxY3ds/s1600/IMG_9230.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vYZfwzR2J_Q/T1dlj1Kq3MI/AAAAAAAABoE/TEEgINxY3ds/s400/IMG_9230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717149918211792066" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-22080669018880710562012-01-06T12:41:00.000-08:002012-01-06T12:48:21.853-08:00Kodak - a famous brand fades away<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W9P96aF2z1o/Twdc0E-drKI/AAAAAAAABnc/-aKH-TrGGCk/s1600/Kodak%2BCollage%2Blarge.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W9P96aF2z1o/Twdc0E-drKI/AAAAAAAABnc/-aKH-TrGGCk/s400/Kodak%2BCollage%2Blarge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694622303591967906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kodak </span>is probably one of the most well known brands of the world. Almost a hundred years Kodak dominated the photography or influenced it substantially to say the least. And now the end of this empire seems to have come close. Unbelievable!<br />Why would a car buff like me talk about Kodak? What does Kodak have to do with cars? A lot, yeah! On a substantial share of all the black and white films, the Kodachrome and Ektachrome slides and all the other film materials Kodak produced cars were pictured! Our fathers used a Kodak Retina camera, the generations in the Sixties and Seventies grew up with a Kodak Instamatic or a Kodak Instamatic Pocket camera and yes, of course, the took pictures of cars and a lot of them. Many of them have survived thanks to the quality of the Kodak products, otherwise the pictured cars maybe would have gone forgotten just like the cameras that took the pictures.<br />Yet another puzzle piece of the good old times vanishes, it's quite sad!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-85030580900582207762012-01-03T09:21:00.000-08:002012-01-03T09:29:26.452-08:00Colorful Porsche World in the Seventies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2z4hdyrG-io/TwM5upLuzqI/AAAAAAAABnQ/3t8yDZj5YRo/s1600/Porsche%2B911%2Bvon%2B1976.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2z4hdyrG-io/TwM5upLuzqI/AAAAAAAABnQ/3t8yDZj5YRo/s400/Porsche%2B911%2Bvon%2B1976.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693457827418263202" border="0" /></a>You could't imagine such a world today. Porsche sportscars in yellow, bright blue, organge, red, green, etc. But this is how buyers ordered their Porsche in the seventies. To make my point I have added two color portfolios of 1974 and three pictures of Porsche sportscars from 1976 und 1971.<br />Make up your own mind, wouldn't you rather want to live in a Porsche world full of wonderful colors, compared to the silver, grey, black, dark blue trends we have today?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oWDv0RpzJM/TwM5rCo8PEI/AAAAAAAABnE/52w0I9o0aXM/s1600/Porsche%2B911%2Bvon%2B1971.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oWDv0RpzJM/TwM5rCo8PEI/AAAAAAAABnE/52w0I9o0aXM/s400/Porsche%2B911%2Bvon%2B1971.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693457765532187714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6EiAFJTPqo/TwM5oMrWJnI/AAAAAAAABm4/z3y_uldwj6E/s1600/Porsche-Farbkarte%2B1974%2B-%2BSeite%2B2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 204px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6EiAFJTPqo/TwM5oMrWJnI/AAAAAAAABm4/z3y_uldwj6E/s400/Porsche-Farbkarte%2B1974%2B-%2BSeite%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693457716687021682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80d4OMLBGEc/TwM5cQJj5VI/AAAAAAAABms/2oeVniF-maI/s1600/Porsche%2B911%2BCoup%25C3%25A9%2Bvon%2B1976.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80d4OMLBGEc/TwM5cQJj5VI/AAAAAAAABms/2oeVniF-maI/s400/Porsche%2B911%2BCoup%25C3%25A9%2Bvon%2B1976.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693457511460627794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W8YtgGy7M0w/TwM5Wn9ELfI/AAAAAAAABmg/HFJhew0-lC4/s1600/Porsche-Farbkarte%2B1974.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W8YtgGy7M0w/TwM5Wn9ELfI/AAAAAAAABmg/HFJhew0-lC4/s400/Porsche-Farbkarte%2B1974.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693457414771453426" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-71578074734362286812011-12-24T07:06:00.000-08:002011-12-24T07:14:34.833-08:00Goggomobil - more than modern 60 years ago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AzuhONXJyo/TvXqhQnHpsI/AAAAAAAABmI/a0tqPCQ8lVw/s1600/Goggomobil%2Bunter%2Bdem%2BWeihnachtsbaum.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AzuhONXJyo/TvXqhQnHpsI/AAAAAAAABmI/a0tqPCQ8lVw/s400/Goggomobil%2Bunter%2Bdem%2BWeihnachtsbaum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689711561368118978" border="0" /></a>What you see here under a Christmas tree is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goggomobil T 250</span> from around 1957. This was a very small (less than 3 meters long), light (around 415 kg) two door four seat limousine favored for its good performance, excellent handling and state of the art economy.<br />Mind, that this little thing could do more than<span style="font-weight: bold;"> 50 miles per hour</span>, but it was <span style="font-weight: bold;">more economical than a Smart</span> today.<br />Now, the point I want to raise is, that with this tiny vehicle people were able to commute, to take a vacation trip with their family and to even start at hillclimbs or circuit races. It satisfied all transportation demands. Today, people buy a two ton vehicle accelerated by a 300 hp engine to basically do the same. And they wouldn't arrive much earlier with their SUV than they did with a 50ies Goggomobil. Great progress, isn't it?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anyway, merry christmas!</span><br />P.S. If you want to know more about the Goggomobil and you read German, then <a href="http://www.zwischengas.com/de/FT/fahrzeugberichte/Goggomobil-T250-von-1960-Kleinmobil-mit-Langstreckenqualitaeten.html">here's a worthwhile article to read</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-21523296761775771142011-05-24T13:36:00.001-07:002011-05-24T13:42:02.987-07:00Aston Martin V12 Zagato - what a car<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KD8eeDpK_Zo/TdwXOARGFAI/AAAAAAAABj8/VZW4ETzeypg/s1600/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KD8eeDpK_Zo/TdwXOARGFAI/AAAAAAAABj8/VZW4ETzeypg/s400/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610384765154104322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aston Martin</span> presented the <span style="font-weight: bold;">V12 Zagato</span> in Cernobbio last weekend. It was entered into the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este</span> and won its category, the concept cars and prototypes of 2010/2011.<br />It's quite an impressive machine, clearly a race car. The red one will be driven by Ulrich Bez himself at the 24 hours of Nurburgring in July. Ulrich Bez told me that he is looking forward to it.<br />The V12 Zagato continues a tradition that had it's best time in 1960 when Zagao produced the DB4 GT Zagato, a truely iconic early super car. But today's version is impressive as well, especially when you start the engine. Its sound is amazing. Have a look at the pictures to see the elegant shape ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qjnx1QbchRQ/TdwXCiGm69I/AAAAAAAABj0/mIp5ARHXafM/s1600/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qjnx1QbchRQ/TdwXCiGm69I/AAAAAAAABj0/mIp5ARHXafM/s400/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610384568078494674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHOVtQhpb1w/TdwW_EzPyMI/AAAAAAAABjs/zuUZz-2IJ4g/s1600/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHOVtQhpb1w/TdwW_EzPyMI/AAAAAAAABjs/zuUZz-2IJ4g/s400/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610384508673050818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-30YlbOwIVGY/TdwW7nGS_LI/AAAAAAAABjk/H6DBOHeuHAM/s1600/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B12%2B-%2BZagato%2BZ.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-30YlbOwIVGY/TdwW7nGS_LI/AAAAAAAABjk/H6DBOHeuHAM/s400/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B12%2B-%2BZagato%2BZ.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610384449160281266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zZlhFOwWb9I/TdwW4-JucKI/AAAAAAAABjc/VmEQlnsv3Rg/s1600/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zZlhFOwWb9I/TdwW4-JucKI/AAAAAAAABjc/VmEQlnsv3Rg/s400/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610384403809071266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWnoNObzWfM/TdwW1AXvT2I/AAAAAAAABjU/N2abgbsoO_Y/s1600/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B6%2B-%2BInterieur.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWnoNObzWfM/TdwW1AXvT2I/AAAAAAAABjU/N2abgbsoO_Y/s400/B_Aston%2BMartin%2BV12%2BZagato%2B6%2B-%2BInterieur.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610384335685242722" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-59356802611575491142011-04-22T02:26:00.001-07:002011-04-22T02:28:45.656-07:00What colors did you get with a Porsche 356 in 1963?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pETdXQEGZbQ/TbFJxZyHWzI/AAAAAAAABjM/j011MSqPbRY/s1600/Farbkarte%2BPorsche%2B356%2BC%2Bvon%2B1963.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pETdXQEGZbQ/TbFJxZyHWzI/AAAAAAAABjM/j011MSqPbRY/s400/Farbkarte%2BPorsche%2B356%2BC%2Bvon%2B1963.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598336924881738546" border="0" /></a>Have a look at the color card of the 1963 Porsch 356. Not a lot of choice, really. Only four colors with a metallic scheme. And 7 non metallic colors. White certainly was popular, black as well. And the campagne yellow can also be seen quite often.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-18439959676239473692011-04-10T02:47:00.000-07:002011-04-10T02:53:38.553-07:00Driving a 1956 Messerschmitt KR 200<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUxnHbRb0ZI/TaF86SkUmFI/AAAAAAAABjE/Y7XBIr7SgJU/s1600/Messerschmitt%2BKR%2B200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUxnHbRb0ZI/TaF86SkUmFI/AAAAAAAABjE/Y7XBIr7SgJU/s400/Messerschmitt%2BKR%2B200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593889553029306450" border="0" /></a>This week I had the pleasure to drive a microcar called <span style="font-weight: bold;">Messerschmitt KR 200 </span>built in 1956. It looks a bit like the top of an older airplane with three wheels beneath it. You enter it by lifting the glass top. Driver and co-driver sit behind each other. The controls are a mixture of what you are used in a car (pedals, gear stick) and what you know from motocycles (steering, sequential gearbox).<br />It's really exciting as it feels to different to anything else I have driven. It's not fast and I didn't try to reach the 92 km/h it should be capable to do. The sound is typical two stroke single cylinder. The highlight is the view, 360 degree and to the top. It's understandable that these small cars fetch 25000 Euros at auctions these days! <a href="http://www.zwischengas.com/de/FT/fahrzeugberichte/Messerschmitt-KR-200---Flugzeugkanzel-auf-drei-R-dern.html">A more detailed report can be found here</a> (in German language though, but with soundfiles).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uYyroLs9yWA/TaF83YTSwGI/AAAAAAAABi8/A_CfzZrm0EI/s1600/Driving%2Bthe%2BMesserschmitt%2BKR%2B200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uYyroLs9yWA/TaF83YTSwGI/AAAAAAAABi8/A_CfzZrm0EI/s400/Driving%2Bthe%2BMesserschmitt%2BKR%2B200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593889503028887650" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-72136563240983918422011-03-02T12:23:00.001-08:002011-03-02T12:52:29.816-08:00Geneva Car Show 2011 - Hybrid, Electricity, and ..... ?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WZUIsRGJ-Gc/TW6p6tz1BVI/AAAAAAAABio/nOjl5L32l5E/s1600/BMW%2BConcept%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WZUIsRGJ-Gc/TW6p6tz1BVI/AAAAAAAABio/nOjl5L32l5E/s400/BMW%2BConcept%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583814553109842" border="0" /></a>So, what's new at the Geneva Car Show 2011? Well, if you need the newspapers, then they claim that <span style="font-weight: bold;">170 new cars are shown by 700 exhibitors</span>. Hmmh. What does "new" mean? I have seen lots of <span style="font-weight: bold;">hybrid</span> and semi-<span style="font-weight: bold;">electrical</span> derivatives of known cars. I have seen a number of interesting <span style="font-weight: bold;">concept cars</span> and a number of quite ugly ones too. I have seen new versions of <span style="font-weight: bold;">sportscars</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7umi42aGBA/TW6p6qIXoTI/AAAAAAAABig/Y6lWfAwR4Jg/s1600/Alfa%2BRomeo%2B4C%2B-%2Bplease%2Bforget%2Bit%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7umi42aGBA/TW6p6qIXoTI/AAAAAAAABig/Y6lWfAwR4Jg/s400/Alfa%2BRomeo%2B4C%2B-%2Bplease%2Bforget%2Bit%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583813565522226" border="0" /></a>So, what do I really remember after 8 hours of constant walking around and taking pictures? Yes, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">BMW Vision</span> concept car is quite impressive. The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alfa Romeo 4C</span> concept car hopefully never makes it close to production, it's clearly not my cup of tea. I certainly will remember forever the highly attractive <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato</span> (from 1962) at the Aston booth. It probably was the most beautiful car of the show. I was quite impressed by the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mazda 4 door saloon concept car</span>, nice design and good presentation, really! And then the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bertone Jaguar 4 door saloon car</span>. First I really liked the car, when I spotted it in a newspaper. But now, having seen it in the real world, I am not so sure anymore. Would the design really last well over time? I doubt it. It's too short term oriended in my eyes.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wiesmann</span> showed a design concept that makes you like the current designs even more. I was positively suprised when looking at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Carozzeria Touring</span> design for a potential new <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gumpert</span>. The existing car is quite functional and beauty probably wasn't high on the criteria list, but the Touring version could make it one of the better super cars in my eyes.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Giugiaro</span> showed a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Volkswagen</span> that makes the existing fleet of Volkswagen look quite old and outdated. Yes, that's a direction I could support! The Saab concept car makes you hungry for more, while the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lamborghini Aventador </span>sort seems to be more of the same, no real quantum leap that I would have hoped Lamborghini could do (think Miura versus Countach). <span style="font-weight: bold;">De Tomaso</span> surprised with a comeback presenting the de Tomaso <span style="font-weight: bold;">Deauville</span>. There's a good and a bad message here: The Deauville is not pretty at all and really nothing you would dream of, the people from de Tomaso announced that they will present a <span style="font-weight: bold;">new Pantera</span> later this year, so we still can hope for better things to come. Some nice displays with old cars were shown as well, I mentioned the Aston, but there was also a Jaguary E Type from 1961, a Mercedes Simplex and a Lehner-Porsche. Too bad Renault only tried it halfway, cutting a 1961 Renault R4L in pieces ....<br />What would I want to buy? I honestly don't know!<br />More and other pictures can be found <a href="http://www.zwischengas.com/de/VC/veranstaltungsberichte/Tradition-und-Automobil-Erbe-am-Genfer-Autosalon-2011.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bokSR54Gls0/TW6p6X6IXQI/AAAAAAAABiY/xHkhFEgD0eM/s1600/Aston%2BMartin%2B-%2Blegacy%2Band%2Bfuture%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bokSR54Gls0/TW6p6X6IXQI/AAAAAAAABiY/xHkhFEgD0eM/s400/Aston%2BMartin%2B-%2Blegacy%2Band%2Bfuture%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583808673963266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uthNxc22xYo/TW6p6HjLRrI/AAAAAAAABiQ/6D6dMmknwhA/s1600/Aston%2BMartin%2BDB4%2BGT%2BZagato%2B-%2Bprobably%2Bthe%2Bmost%2Bbeaufiful%2Bcar%2Bat%2Bthe%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uthNxc22xYo/TW6p6HjLRrI/AAAAAAAABiQ/6D6dMmknwhA/s400/Aston%2BMartin%2BDB4%2BGT%2BZagato%2B-%2Bprobably%2Bthe%2Bmost%2Bbeaufiful%2Bcar%2Bat%2Bthe%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583804282717874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dECjqeSy3o/TW6p5idmYkI/AAAAAAAABiI/O0ir6ZaBQLU/s1600/Peugeot%2BHybrids%2Bwhereever%2Byou%2Blook%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8dECjqeSy3o/TW6p5idmYkI/AAAAAAAABiI/O0ir6ZaBQLU/s400/Peugeot%2BHybrids%2Bwhereever%2Byou%2Blook%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583794327216706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSKg5rxx4Z4/TW6pjAoxPcI/AAAAAAAABiA/wAQzlveiID4/s1600/Cool%2BMazda%2BConcept%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSKg5rxx4Z4/TW6pjAoxPcI/AAAAAAAABiA/wAQzlveiID4/s400/Cool%2BMazda%2BConcept%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583407290138050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-grHJV6IkgHc/TW6pivF8NbI/AAAAAAAABh4/LVFZ0Q2D2kE/s1600/Bertone%2527s%2BJaguar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-grHJV6IkgHc/TW6pivF8NbI/AAAAAAAABh4/LVFZ0Q2D2kE/s400/Bertone%2527s%2BJaguar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583402580653490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zdE7Z8eY5Y/TW6piTejvmI/AAAAAAAABhw/4lroAajJikk/s1600/A%2Bnew%2BWiesmann%2B-%2Brather%2Bnot%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zdE7Z8eY5Y/TW6piTejvmI/AAAAAAAABhw/4lroAajJikk/s400/A%2Bnew%2BWiesmann%2B-%2Brather%2Bnot%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583395167714914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thQ0zzGCQ1o/TW6ph4Fl7DI/AAAAAAAABho/l2VB9GSN0Qo/s1600/Gumpert%2Bby%2BCarozzeria%2BTouring%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thQ0zzGCQ1o/TW6ph4Fl7DI/AAAAAAAABho/l2VB9GSN0Qo/s400/Gumpert%2Bby%2BCarozzeria%2BTouring%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583387815242802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5a-IqZCiEQ/TW6phknEOyI/AAAAAAAABhg/kLE-9iioddI/s1600/A%2Bnew%2BGolf%2B-%2Bwhy%2Bnot%2B-%2BGiugiaro%2Bat%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5a-IqZCiEQ/TW6phknEOyI/AAAAAAAABhg/kLE-9iioddI/s400/A%2Bnew%2BGolf%2B-%2Bwhy%2Bnot%2B-%2BGiugiaro%2Bat%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579583382586932002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L6K7K1ukrYs/TW6o1g2vdGI/AAAAAAAABhY/OKV5MecLWPs/s1600/Saab%2BConcept%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L6K7K1ukrYs/TW6o1g2vdGI/AAAAAAAABhY/OKV5MecLWPs/s400/Saab%2BConcept%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579582625664693346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-EXtR21M5o/TW6o1RFPXWI/AAAAAAAABhQ/EpXWmJdiWN4/s1600/Lamborghini%2BAventador%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-EXtR21M5o/TW6o1RFPXWI/AAAAAAAABhQ/EpXWmJdiWN4/s400/Lamborghini%2BAventador%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579582621430537570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aE8w9TrJZ6M/TW6o0y8XKKI/AAAAAAAABhA/EVn_LxL6IsI/s1600/Audi%2BA3%2BConcept%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aE8w9TrJZ6M/TW6o0y8XKKI/AAAAAAAABhA/EVn_LxL6IsI/s400/Audi%2BA3%2BConcept%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579582613340235938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0PpMpAWCupQ/TW6o0kWDRHI/AAAAAAAABg4/VxLajh_20Ug/s1600/Koenigsegg%2BAgera%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0PpMpAWCupQ/TW6o0kWDRHI/AAAAAAAABg4/VxLajh_20Ug/s400/Koenigsegg%2BAgera%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579582609421452402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cOcCw-CZHKw/TW6omWIVICI/AAAAAAAABgw/9gN-PSkExyY/s1600/de%2BTomaso%2BDeauville%2B-%2Bfuture%2Bof%2Bde%2BTomaso%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cOcCw-CZHKw/TW6omWIVICI/AAAAAAAABgw/9gN-PSkExyY/s400/de%2BTomaso%2BDeauville%2B-%2Bfuture%2Bof%2Bde%2BTomaso%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579582365087637538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrCEyxTUreg/TW6omMHzfYI/AAAAAAAABgo/cskzYOjVLZI/s1600/Modern%2Bmusles%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrCEyxTUreg/TW6omMHzfYI/AAAAAAAABgo/cskzYOjVLZI/s400/Modern%2Bmusles%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579582362401078658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGqBzA2qu4o/TW6olrRiUcI/AAAAAAAABgg/bXFgFipTSAY/s1600/Mercedes%2BSimplex%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGqBzA2qu4o/TW6olrRiUcI/AAAAAAAABgg/bXFgFipTSAY/s400/Mercedes%2BSimplex%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579582353583526338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxQyus_UWSc/TW6olHdlBVI/AAAAAAAABgY/ajZV8LZ6rK8/s1600/Peugeot%2BHR1%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxQyus_UWSc/TW6olHdlBVI/AAAAAAAABgY/ajZV8LZ6rK8/s400/Peugeot%2BHR1%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579582343970358610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEH4xI_1jPk/TW6okwNzuwI/AAAAAAAABgQ/yu8Ipfx64Uk/s1600/Peugeot%2B908%2Band%2B508%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEH4xI_1jPk/TW6okwNzuwI/AAAAAAAABgQ/yu8Ipfx64Uk/s400/Peugeot%2B908%2Band%2B508%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579582337730198274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEDYpRVBbc0/TW6nvIKBD2I/AAAAAAAABgI/G9BhrfRUruA/s1600/Peugeot%2BEX1%2B-%2Btoo%2Bcool%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bbuilt%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEDYpRVBbc0/TW6nvIKBD2I/AAAAAAAABgI/G9BhrfRUruA/s400/Peugeot%2BEX1%2B-%2Btoo%2Bcool%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bbuilt%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579581416443809634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4IIIQx1SdzI/TW6nu0JLY9I/AAAAAAAABgA/E1AOjFlwgnA/s1600/Morgan%2BThreewheeler%2B-%2Beverybody%2Bwants%2Bthe%2Bold%2Bfashioned%2Bstuff%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4IIIQx1SdzI/TW6nu0JLY9I/AAAAAAAABgA/E1AOjFlwgnA/s400/Morgan%2BThreewheeler%2B-%2Beverybody%2Bwants%2Bthe%2Bold%2Bfashioned%2Bstuff%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579581411071583186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M24EmJzIA4w/TW6nuxsFjHI/AAAAAAAABf4/yoJPymotWyA/s1600/Fiat%2B500%2BConcept%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M24EmJzIA4w/TW6nuxsFjHI/AAAAAAAABf4/yoJPymotWyA/s400/Fiat%2B500%2BConcept%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579581410412694642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYQ4ldxTdXg/TW6nuUKjNmI/AAAAAAAABfw/ZfVIEpMR_5c/s1600/Renault%2BR4L%2Bin%2Bfront%2Bof%2BPrius%2Bgroup%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYQ4ldxTdXg/TW6nuUKjNmI/AAAAAAAABfw/ZfVIEpMR_5c/s400/Renault%2BR4L%2Bin%2Bfront%2Bof%2BPrius%2Bgroup%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579581402487404130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zw-ZOQit7U/TW6nuOuYUtI/AAAAAAAABfo/mestNaULANQ/s1600/Fiat%2Byesterday%2Band%2Btoday%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zw-ZOQit7U/TW6nuOuYUtI/AAAAAAAABfo/mestNaULANQ/s400/Fiat%2Byesterday%2Band%2Btoday%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579581401027072722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7fMKjRt8nRk/TW6nY0BU2QI/AAAAAAAABfg/KJ3ol0S4flQ/s1600/Yet%2Banother%2BMusle%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7fMKjRt8nRk/TW6nY0BU2QI/AAAAAAAABfg/KJ3ol0S4flQ/s400/Yet%2Banother%2BMusle%2BCar%2B-%2BGeneva%2BCar%2BShow%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579581033081526530" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-53660843755214623542011-02-27T21:53:00.000-08:002011-02-27T21:59:07.235-08:00Ferrari F40 vs Porsche 959<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CPkFNVnAdLc/TWs4e3_jdfI/AAAAAAAABfY/8L8PNGUSCK8/s1600/Porsche%2B959%2Band%2BFerrari%2BF40.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CPkFNVnAdLc/TWs4e3_jdfI/AAAAAAAABfY/8L8PNGUSCK8/s400/Porsche%2B959%2Band%2BFerrari%2BF40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578614666506237426" border="0" /></a>In the last episode of the current Topgear series Hamster had the pleasure to drive both the Ferrari F40 and the Porsche 959, the mid 80ies super cars. What a wonderful movie! As usual the pictures were marvelous, but the sound track was even more exciting. Amd Richard got it right by summarizing the characteristics of the two cars. And of once he and Jeremy even agreed on what the better car was, both voted for the F40. But Richard made a good point, that the Porsche 959 actually was the car to show where the future would be, not the Ferrari. Funny, that at the end both cars apparently collapsed on the fast lap with Stig, but anyway the track was damp and ....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-82541829389756533442011-01-27T22:19:00.000-08:002011-01-27T22:24:37.351-08:00Does the Volkswagen XL1 stand a chance?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TUJf83FZR4I/AAAAAAAABfM/ETdceBFVJBo/s1600/VW%2BXL1%2B2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 189px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TUJf83FZR4I/AAAAAAAABfM/ETdceBFVJBo/s400/VW%2BXL1%2B2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567117588566722434" border="0" /></a>Volkswagen has presented the <span style="font-weight: bold;">VW XL1</span>, a car doing almost 100 km with 1 litre of diesel fuel. So yet another prototype. Let's turn the page. But stop, Volkswagen also announced that they will be producing this car in two years and everyone can buy one. Surprise! If Volkswagen really is able to produce this prototype style sports two seater then I will be putting it on my wish list. Honestly, it looks good and stylish, it has the gullwing doors I love and I can drive it to save the world. Great, isn't it? Of course it's a question of pricing too. I would not want to pay more than let's say 40'000 Euros for a car with the performance of an 80ies saloon car despite all the styling bells and wistles. But clearly this is the most advanced thing Volkswagen has presented in a decade and I will follow its progress closelyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-26187769035511682812011-01-26T05:02:00.000-08:002011-01-26T05:08:47.392-08:00100 Years of Rallye Monte Carlo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TUAbkDS5TgI/AAAAAAAABfE/dTms9Q0zMmI/s1600/Rallye%2BMonte%2BCarlo%2B1948.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TUAbkDS5TgI/AAAAAAAABfE/dTms9Q0zMmI/s400/Rallye%2BMonte%2BCarlo%2B1948.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566479445603732994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">100 years ago</span> the first <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rallye Monte Carlo </span>was started. Challenges, rules and setup changed from year to year and initially it was more a <span style="font-weight: bold;">reliability</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">regularity</span> test than a speed race. Only in the 60ies they invented the special sections where <span style="font-weight: bold;">speed</span> was king. From time to time they invented<span style="font-weight: bold;"> funny rules</span>, such as the more <span style="font-weight: bold;">people</span> you have in the car you more points you gain, or a <span style="font-weight: bold;">design</span> evaluation where Coupés were more valuable than Convertibles. Most of us probably remember the times of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mini Cooper</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alpine A110</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Porsche 911</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lancia Stratos, Audi Quattro</span> and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Group B</span>.<br />On <a href="http://www.zwischengas.com">zwischengas</a> you find an article for each year and plenty of pictures (in total more than 200) and it's quite interesting to see the winners and losers coming and going.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-83172173404904231162011-01-11T08:57:00.000-08:002011-01-11T09:01:03.459-08:00The beginning of speed control - Ford Thunderbird<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TSyL9-7naxI/AAAAAAAABe8/wZu-aOjNgzo/s1600/Tempomat%2Bim%2BFord%2BThunderbird%2Bvon%2B1964.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TSyL9-7naxI/AAAAAAAABe8/wZu-aOjNgzo/s400/Tempomat%2Bim%2BFord%2BThunderbird%2Bvon%2B1964.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560973536877046546" border="0" /></a>For the <span style="font-weight: bold;">1964 Ford Thunderbird</span> you could order a <span style="font-weight: bold;">new speed selector device</span>. Ford claimed that motorists could save up to 20% fuel and that the system would reduce driver fatigue and lessen engine and brake wear.<br />Well, I wonder whether this was really true. If you really want to save fuel you actually turn the speed control off. Interesting was that the system would take control as soon as you are driving with the speed you have selected with the little wheel, different to today where you have to restart the system when you are ready.<br />But anyway, in 1964 this system was quite an innovation as you can imagineUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-86144417159785268152011-01-02T01:23:00.000-08:002011-01-02T01:34:57.869-08:00Forgotten Fiberglass - great resource for research and inspiration<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TSBEYhlRVmI/AAAAAAAABe0/UXK2WcZ5xCc/s1600/Glasspar__G2__1954.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TSBEYhlRVmI/AAAAAAAABe0/UXK2WcZ5xCc/s400/Glasspar__G2__1954.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557517128297436770" border="0" /></a>During the 50ies and 60ies a lot of cars and car bodies have been created using fiberglass (others may call it plastic, but it isn't really, polyester was another term). Thanks to this material even small production runs could be made profitable and much more variety was possible.<br />Especially the US had a strong fiberglass era, resulting into brands such as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brooks Boxer, Glasspar, Ascot, Woodill Wildfire, Irwin Lancer, Scorpion, Wasp, Edwards, Grantham Stardust, Venus, Meteor, Kurtis, Maverick Sportster, Victress, BMC Singer, Vale, Allied, Atlas, Multiplex, Bosley, Lasaetta, Chicagoan, Lightning, Rockefeller Yankee, Triplex, Hollywood Plastics, Snohomish Plastics, Almquist, Alken, Sorrell, Bangert, McCormack, La Dawri, Kellison, Byers, BoCar, Devin, LeMans Coupe</span> to name just a few.<br />For people interested in these cars and components there's a great online resource: <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/">Forgotten Fiberglass</a>. Have a look and you'll be amazed of what has been built during these years.<br />For German speaking people there's a summary and an interesting gallery on this era on <a href="http://www.zwischengas.com/de/FT/diverses/Vergessene-Kunststoff-Autos---forgotten-fiberglass.html">zwischengas.com</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TSBETVR_LJI/AAAAAAAABes/Ye4sTwKhLWM/s1600/La%2BDawri__Castilian__1965.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TSBETVR_LJI/AAAAAAAABes/Ye4sTwKhLWM/s400/La%2BDawri__Castilian__1965.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557517039095983250" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-24243243039947313712010-12-30T02:53:00.000-08:002010-12-30T02:59:34.212-08:00What and how would you an iPad Classic Car Magazine to be?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TRxk4_PdZxI/AAAAAAAABek/XZXhCQ9pIOU/s1600/zwischengas%2Bauf%2BiPad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TRxk4_PdZxI/AAAAAAAABek/XZXhCQ9pIOU/s400/zwischengas%2Bauf%2BiPad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556426970480076562" border="0" /></a>The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Apple iPad</span> is quite a famous gadget and after many companies missed the hype around the iPhone lots of media companies are investing into iPad applications to be part of the game this time. Wired for example set some sort of a benchmark.<br />As we are thinking about bringing a <a href="http://www.zwischengas.com/de/blog/2010/12/26/zwischengas-auf-iPad-und-iPhone.html">zwischengas</a>-iPad-application sometimes during 2011 we are wondering <span style="font-weight: bold;">what the features would be that iPad users would look for</span>. Of course the App needs to make use of state-of-the-art multimedia, i.e. sound, video, images, but that's probably not enough. It must be more than a website with different navigation patterns and controls, right? But what exactly?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-6676763710870361952010-12-22T22:43:00.000-08:002010-12-22T22:48:03.384-08:00www.zwischengas.com officially launched<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TRLwOb5Ov7I/AAAAAAAABeY/ZaaJQYh0Z0Q/s1600/Screenshot%2Bvom%2B23%2B12%2B2010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TRLwOb5Ov7I/AAAAAAAABeY/ZaaJQYh0Z0Q/s400/Screenshot%2Bvom%2B23%2B12%2B2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553765421297876914" border="0" /></a>It was a lot of hard work, but now its available for public use: <a href="http://www.zwischengas.com"><span style="font-weight: bold;">www.zwischengas.com</span></a>. It's targeted towards German language readers, but the pictures are of course multi language. Have a look and you will understand that my blogging frequency went down over the last weeks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-41498110882356878482010-12-15T04:24:00.001-08:002010-12-15T04:39:10.205-08:00What we can celebrate next year (2011)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TQizrhHoZ1I/AAAAAAAABeQ/K-nbXzN2onQ/s1600/Jaguar%2BE%2BType%2B%2528series%2B1%2529.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TQizrhHoZ1I/AAAAAAAABeQ/K-nbXzN2onQ/s400/Jaguar%2BE%2BType%2B%2528series%2B1%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550884100940261202" border="0" /></a>Soon we will swap 2010 by 2011 in our calendars. So I started to think about what cars have been <span style="font-weight: bold;">presented 50 years ago</span>. Here's a first list:<br />Renault 4 <br />Jaguar E-Type<br />VW 1500<br />Peugeot 404<br />NSU Prinz 4<br />Fiat 1300/1500<br />Daf 600<br />Devin VW (Devin D)<br />Citroen Ami 6<br />Fiat Coupé 2300 S<br />Simca 1000<br />Jaguar Mark X<br />Triumph TR 4<br />Ferrari 250 GT(E)<br />Alfa-Romeo 2000 Sprint (Bertone)<br /><br />Yes, I agree, not all of these have the same relevance ;-)<br />So, here's a list for cars presented <span style="font-weight: bold;">30 years ago</span> (so 1981):<br />Alfa-Romeo GTV 6<br />Audi Quattro<br />Audi Coupé<br />Talbot Murena<br />Porsche 944<br />Renault 5 Turbo<br />Ferrari Mondial<br />Mercedes 380/500 SEC<br />Opel Ascona (front wheel drive)<br />VW Jetta<br />Talbot Tagora<br />TVR Tasmin<br />As always, I am open for feedbacks and corrections.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-36474239482423046652010-11-28T20:58:00.001-08:002010-11-28T21:06:41.894-08:00Devin D restoration project for sale - now on ebay<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPMzWkq3DDI/AAAAAAAABeI/y7FUAPCdots/s1600/Devin%2BD%2Bdel%2Bto%2BSnooks%2B10%2B23%2B10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPMzWkq3DDI/AAAAAAAABeI/y7FUAPCdots/s400/Devin%2BD%2Bdel%2Bto%2BSnooks%2B10%2B23%2B10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544832029116795954" border="0" /></a>I have been writing about this <span style="font-weight: bold;">Devin D restoration project</span> before. It's a very rare find! It has been with the same owner since 1973 and comes with a clear title identifying the car as the number 20 of totally 49 Devin Ds every built. It will make a splendid vintage racer, but could also be finished as a street car. Of course, there's some work to do, but the components are available.<br />The odometer apparently reads only 1139 miles. The car had been raced in original red with black interior and also with Porsche silver with burgundy accents. The car had been prepared to re-paint when the current owner bought it. The instruments, wipers, windshield and other components where remove to sand and refinish. The car has remained in this condition to this day. There is an additional windshield glass from 1956 Porsche Speedster, full top, bows and side-curtains. There are other additional parts, such as exhaust and muffler and other sundry parts.<br />So, if you are in the market for a rare vintage racer (I know of only two D Devins in Europe) then here's an opportunity to acquire a fantastic platform to start with.<br />As said, it's <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260696978987&v">on ebay now</a>. Have a look.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPMzSsJKybI/AAAAAAAABeA/vtVkv8UOzK0/s1600/Devin%2B1956%2B%2B04%2B10%2B10%2B011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPMzSsJKybI/AAAAAAAABeA/vtVkv8UOzK0/s400/Devin%2B1956%2B%2B04%2B10%2B10%2B011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544831962403490226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPMzO0zTMGI/AAAAAAAABd4/08DwbEdarM0/s1600/Devin%2B1956%2B%2B04%2B10%2B10%2B023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPMzO0zTMGI/AAAAAAAABd4/08DwbEdarM0/s400/Devin%2B1956%2B%2B04%2B10%2B10%2B023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544831896008208482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPMzLo9DDMI/AAAAAAAABdw/FRIFD7QN-rQ/s1600/Devin%2B1956%2B%2B04%2B10%2B10%2B014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPMzLo9DDMI/AAAAAAAABdw/FRIFD7QN-rQ/s400/Devin%2B1956%2B%2B04%2B10%2B10%2B014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544831841288260802" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-31032928658454319782010-11-27T22:47:00.000-08:002010-11-27T22:51:41.517-08:00The Classic Car Season is over<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPH7Fh-B3UI/AAAAAAAABdo/Fi2S3EHfkB4/s1600/Winter%2BTime.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TPH7Fh-B3UI/AAAAAAAABdo/Fi2S3EHfkB4/s400/Winter%2BTime.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544488688706248002" border="0" /></a>A few days ago I posted a comment on my last trips with my cars for this year, and I was right. In the meantime the <span style="font-weight: bold;">winter</span> has visibly arrived, with snowfall and cold temperatures.<br />So for the next couple of months it will be more about reading books and magazines, watching movies and maybe working on the cars, than driving our cherished classics. Well, that's how it is when you live in central Europe.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934126724095722534.post-74688940428704199052010-11-17T06:39:00.001-08:002010-11-17T06:44:45.522-08:00When you have to pay more to NOT get an aircondition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TOPpPQBMNNI/AAAAAAAABdg/T17jG88Kqgs/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2010-11-17%2Bat%2B3.38.49%2BPM.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 231px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CjtWge34hfs/TOPpPQBMNNI/AAAAAAAABdg/T17jG88Kqgs/s400/Screen%2Bshot%2B2010-11-17%2Bat%2B3.38.49%2BPM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540528414803113170" border="0" /></a>This is the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Porsche Cayman R</span>. It's a lighter and more powerful version of the Cayman S. To save weight, the Porsche Engineers got rid of the radio and the aircondition. They also got rid of some other comfort accessories and items. They increased power by 10 HP, which shouldn't cost them much more as it's probably chip tuning only. So, you get almost the same, but less and you pay a lot more for the package, Euro 7'300.- to be specific. Okay, the lighter wheels may be a bit more expensive, but honestly, why would you pay so much more to actually get less? True weight saving must start with the basic concept of the car, not by removing convenience.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0