TR4 trip through picturesque Switzerland

On September 29, 2014February 10, 2015 By ChristofferIn Classic carsLeave a comment

With the weather forecast promising summer-like temperatures, my wife and I took my TR4 for a rather long trip to Lausanne (280 kms one way) this weekend. Naturally we opted for a route more interesting than the motorway over Bern. On the way there the journey took us over Lucerne, Interlaken and over the Jaunpass at 1509 meters through the Gruyère region, before reaching Lake Geneva at Vevey, close to the beautiful city of Lausanne. On the way back we chose another less spectacular but still beautiful route that led us over Murten, Bern, through the Emmental and then again over Lucerne.

The TR4 performed to perfection the whole way, not hesitating a second even when climbing the Jaunpass, with a 900 meter elevation and up to 12% steep (it was rather the somewhat fading brakes that provided more excitement on the way down…). The old lady’s 2 litre Ferguson engine clearly proved why it was such a popular tractor engine, with a torque powerful enough to take the car up most hills in third which is helpful, given the gearbox is not really a DSG and tends to protest quite loudly against any form of rapid gearchange. I’m therefore happy to say that now that the time has come to plan for the winter storage, no mechanical tasks are on the program over the winter break, just a few minor cosmetic ones. Who said English cars were of bad quality??!?

Arosa Classic Car 2014

On September 13, 2014September 13, 2014 By ChristofferIn Classic cars2 Comments

Attending the Tesla event in Arosa yesterday also gave me the occasion to catch a glimpse of the training day of the legendary Arosa Classic Car race, taking place every year at the beginning of September on the last 7.8 kms of the road from Chur to Arosa. The whole road is legendary by itself, as on a total distance of 31 kms and a height difference of 1280 meters, there a total of 360 (!) turns. On the last 7.8 kms used for the race, the cars climb around 420 meters with 76 turns. Challenging enough in good conditions, but as mentioned yesterday, the temperature this weekend up in Arosa is expected at around 5 degrees with rain…

The race is open for cars built betwen 1905 and 1986 or 1990 in the case of group C rally cars, of which there are plenty. it is a very fine selection of oldtimers and old rally cars (including the odd formula car) that take part, typically modified to race configuration, with special emphasis given to the engines judging by the sound. Below a few picks from yesterday and clicking here allows you to experience the race from onboad a MB 300 SL Gullwing, including drifts. A very fine automobile worth around EUR 1.5m in standard configuration…

Heaven on earth is in Germany!

On June 27, 2014June 27, 2014 By ChristofferIn Classic cars, NewsLeave a comment

The small German town of Singen, 10 minutes from the Swiss border and around 20 km from the more well known German city of Constance, probably doesn’t mean much to most people. Given however you are a reader of this blog, chances are that you would experience a visit to Singen as finding heaven on earth. Because even if the town itself is about as exciting as a beige Volvo 240, for reasons no one can really explain, Singen has developed into something of a car Mecca in southern Germany.Along what is referred to the auto mile on the outskirts of Singen, more than 20 different brands from Skoda to Ferrari have showrooms. One dealer stands out form the crowd and is at the root of the relative fame of the city: the Auto Salon Singen, maybe the world’s leading dealership of used cars. Yep, you read that right, the Salon sells used, or rather pre-owned cars. There is a however a slight difference to the used car dealership around the corner, as the Salon specializes in very rare, pre-owned supercars and oldtimers. In a showroom that to the outer world doesn’t look like much is an exhibition including cars that you will very rarely have seen in real life, to a total value of which one can only speculate. What makes the Salon unique is on one hand the offer that is second to none, but also the combination of unique old-timers and supercars.

As with so many things, the beauty is on the inside…

This does not mean the Salon is full of millionaires with their pockets full of money. As confirmed by an extremely well polished salesman, very rarely do clients visit the salon other than possibly to pick up their cars. The client base is global with a fair part in Germany and Switzerland, but also with a significant number of clients in Russia, the Middle East and Asia. That has the nice side effect that if you do visit the Salon, you will have it pretty much to yourself and should you wish only to wander around and enjoy this feast for the senses, the well-trained sales force is very happy to let you do so. When asked how they find their truly unique vehicles, a polite reference is only made to their global network and also to their existing clients, of which they have about 35.000 in their database. Another database covers about 15.000 cars around the world, including pretty much every supercar or truly rare oldtimer still around. In other words the exhibition itself is only a drop in the ocean and a significant part of the Salon’s business is also finding specific cars on request.

S7-Photos-du-jour-Auto-Salon-Singen-60609
Definitely more like it!

Unfortunately the (still very polite) salesman made clear that the Salon is not very hot on pictures being taken inside the premises, so any illustrations of the offer below are taken from the internet. If you visit the Salon this month, the first thing you will note is a car that really doesn’t fit, not being a supercar at least in the traditional sense. Parked in between a pale yellow Aventador and a Ferrari-red Enzo is a VERY white Maybach Landaulet that takes up about 6 metres of floor space. The semi-cabrios called Landaulets were built on specific request and each one is unique. This one, from 2010 and with very few km’s on the clock, is yours if you have EUR 1.4m to spare and REALLY can’t find anything better to do with it.

Maybach-Laudaulet-rear-birdman
Eeeh…. No

Turning right you will step into the Ferrari section, counting about 30 Ferrari’s, both “normal” and less so. if an Enzo is not exotic enough, the offer also includes notably a magnificent 599 GTO Cabriolet. the GTO was a limited series of the 599, presented in 2010 and of which 600 cars were built. The GTO Cabriolet that was shown the same year at the auto salon in Paris was an even more limited series of which only 80 cars were built. It is a truly beautiful vehicle that has all the style the white Maybach lacks. Priced at EUR 799.900, it will still leave you enough for a decent family car!

Looks even better in real life!

The Porsche section is even larger than the Ferrari section. Starting on the oldtimer side it includes not one, not two but three original Speedsters in mint condition. A 911 Speedster is also included, and at the top end is a fascinating 997 GT3 -08, tuned beyond mechanical recognition by the German tuning specialist 9ff. Still relatively anonymous on the outside except for the trained eye, about every mechanical details has been changed including every part of the engine. The 9ff in this version develops around 900 bhp and 1000 Nm of torque, (hopefully) transmitted to the ground by a sequential six-speed gearbox. With a top speed of 395 km/h, the 9ff does 0-200 km/h in 7.4 seconds and 0-300 km/h in a Veryon-like 15.9 seconds. With only 15.000 kms on the clock it is yours for EUR 134.900, which in relation actually sounds like a true bargain!

9ff_502
You want this. And a racetrack. And probably a good whisky to calm your nerves before you try it out…

Obviously all the wonderful things that could be told about the Auto Salon Singen are too lengthy for a post on this blog, but hopefully these short impressions are enough to make you seriously consider a detour to the Bodensee region when next on vacation in central Europe. It is after all truly beautiful, and no more than one hour from Zurich airport!

How to fix the old lady with a hammer

On May 26, 2014 By ChristofferIn Classic cars1 Comment

Now before I get accused of all sorts of things, let me start by making clear that the old lady here mentioned does not make reference to any close or distant family member of the living kind, but rather to the old lady for which I have had to rent separate living quarters – my Triumph TR4.

As some of you know driving an oldtimer is never dull, neither is owning one. The latter can however easily become financially more challenging, at least when you are as mechanically illitterate as me. Around Zurich there is certainly no lack of specialized garagists very eager to help out, but somehow, in a Western world where inflation is nowhere to be seen (at least officially), the bills these guys send you have something Zimbabwe-like about them in terms of price evolution. So if there is the slightest chance of doing it yourself, you try to, which in my case means calling on far more suitable oldtimer friends than myself, i.e. those who actually understand what happens under the bonnet.

It was around a month ago that my TR4, which has always sprung to life effortlessly even after several months, all of a sudden had problems doing so. Having checked the basics (battery, power supply, corrosion on the bolts etc.) the exclusion method led to a strong suspicion of a defective starter engine. At this stage however the car would not start at all, and the starter engine was no longer even turning. Given the location of the garage, the car can neither be started by running, nor is it easy to tow, meaning just getting it to a mechanic had become a challenge. I felt grey hairs growing as the sunny days went by.

As with any true lady, beautiful to look at, difficult to understand…

Last week I then went for lunch with a dear friend in Zurich, the proud owner not only of some vintage English oldtimers but also of an equally old boat, running on a V8 from the 50’s and having last year had some issues with the starter engine. ”Don’t worry” my friend said between bites, ”try what I did: hit the starter engine with a hammer a couple of times while someone turns the ignition. With a bit of luck, it is just the cogwheels that are dislocated and this could make them spring back.” As if there was nothing more normal in the world than what he had just suggested, he then changed the subject and went on to enjoy the rest of his lunch.

My belief in the suggested solution was, I’ll admit, not very strong. But given the car would not start at all the downside was obviously limited, so I took my son with me and went up to the garage. As he did not want to handle the ignition and could not really be trusted to aim the hammer at the starter engine rather than at something far less suitable, I took the hammer, hit the starter engine three times here and there and then without any hope at all, went round the car, sat down and turned the ignition. As you already guessed, the engine sprang to life on the first try without effort, and has done so ever since (which I’ll admit is only a few days so far, but still).

So what does this teach us? Firstly, whether it relates to cars or in general, take great care of your friends! Secondly, it is actually fun having a car with an engine that still looks like one, and where you can locate things as a starter engine. Would you know where yours is? And finally, an oldtimer requires far less sophisticated tools than modern cars. Sometimes, a hammer will do just fine!

Thanks my friend, I owe you one!

Oldtimer Sunday Morning Meeting

On September 8, 2013September 8, 2013 By ChristofferIn Classic cars, Fun stuffLeave a comment

From late spring to early fall, the Swiss city of Zug hosts an oldtimer event called the Oldtimer Sunday Morning Meeting, a nice gathering with a beautiful mix of 150-200 cars from the 10’s (1900 that is) to the 80’s. The official end of the season is celebrated with a parade through the city center of Zug, which is reserved for the oldtimers for this occasion. The 2013 parade took place today, and even though the weather gods could have been friendlier, it was a great day of which a few pictures can be seen here below.

One of the oldest participants from the somewhat forgotten brand American la France…

.to the more recent, beautiful 50’s curve on this early Corvette.

Under the hub of a Ferrari 365. 12 cylinders, 6 carburettors, 100% mechanic…

Mercedes 540 K.

.and a beautiful Bugatti with an even greater sound from the 20’s.

And finally, Swissness obliges!

Möte med våren i Zürich i en Triumph TR4 -65!

On May 10, 2013January 9, 2014 By ChristofferIn Classic cars, FeaturesLeave a comment

Vårens ankomst välkomnas väl av de flesta, men kanske speciellt av oss oldtimer-förare. Har vintern dessutom varit ovanligt lång och kall som det här året, med mycket begränsade möjligheter att motionera ögonstenen mellan november och april, då pirrar det alltid lite extra i magen när landskapet börjar grönska, vägarna torkar och luften blir mild!

I mitt fall är ögonstenen en Triumph TR4 från -65, inköpt i Danmark i slutet på 2011 och sen dess rullandes hos mig i Zürich. Här börjar ju våren lite tidigare än i Sverige, och i början på april var det så dags att gå upp till garaget, lyfta av dammskyddet, dra ut choken, trampa två gånger på gasen, vrida om nyckeln och hoppas på det bästa. Inte mycket reaktion på första försöket. Ej heller på andra. En märkbar hostning på tredje, och på fjärde är vi igång, först lite tveksamt men snart med ett härligt bluddrande ur alla fyra cylindrar i Ferguson-blocket. Triumph talade alltid ogärna om det, men motorblocket kom ju ursprungligen från traktorvärlden, så de 105 hk som tas ut ur 2 liters cylindervolym är riktiga ardennerhästar. Och mycket likt dessa arbetsdjur är det vridmomentet snarare än höga varvtal som är motorns bästa sida.

Med handskar och skärmmössa på och med oljan på arbetstemperatur blir svängarna lite snabbare och närvarokänslan total. Väghållningen, med stora däck i varje hörn kan närmast beskrivas som 60-tals gokart, styrresponsen som förvånansvärt snabb och den väldigt stela bakaxeln som rätt egensinnig när asfalten är sprucken. Sittandes väldigt nära marken i en fart som må kännas som 150 km/h men sällan överstiger 80 km/h har man den extra bonusen av att känna lukten av allt från vårblommor till kogödsel. The thrill of driving i sin mest oförfalskade form! Med ännu snötäckta alptoppar som kuliss närmar sig en tvärt svängande nedförsbacke snabbt, och insikten gör sig påmind att motorbromsning i alla 60-talsbilar har en helt annan innebörd än att det är kul – det är en nödvändighet, om man inte vill lukta på blommorna på lite väl nära håll…

Sen den första turen har det vid det här laget blivit ytterligare ett par, och om minnesvärda Triumph-utflykter, oldtimer-världen i stort samt car spotting och lite annat smått och gott från bilmetropolen Zürich ska det bli mitt nöje att, som medförfattare på Thrill of Driving-bloggen, berätta mer om under kommande månader!

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines, spring is here!

Zürich-hälsningar,

Christoffer

The Thrill of Driving

Category: Classic cars