Historic and Rare Volkswagens: A Visit to the Automuseum Volkswagen, Wolfsburg, Germany

Hi folks -- today we visited the VW museum in Wolfsburg before going to the VW plant for a tour.  On the outside this museum didn't look like much;  but inside it proved to be remarkable.  I'm not going into details from the photos -- I'll let you do the identifying for now.  A must visit for anyone interested in VWs or post --WWII auto history.

A Visit to the Da Capo Auto "Oldtimer" Museum in Leipzig

Can you identify the following cars?  Pretty tough stuff!

I'll give you the above -- an American Erskine!

Hi folks -- a surprise visit to the Da Capo Oldtimermuseum thanks to a wonderful friend's suggestion.Located at Karl-Heine-Strasse  105, 04229 Leipzig.  It was hot in there, but some cars I have never come even close to seeing before.

A Gothic Diversion: 20,000 Goths descend on Leipzig this weekend!

Hi folks -- can I possibly be related to these people?  A big weekend in Leipzig, as the city is overrun by Goths!  Sort of like a black Mardi Gras!  If I can find Goths in cars I will take photos of them to see what  they drive. 

Driveable Dreams from Eastern Germany: A Mercedes 200

Hi Folks -- I am starting to troll the streets looking for "driveable dreams."  The above is a 1960s Mercedes 200.  It has been spot painted (especially low along rocker panels), reupholstered, and lives down the street from my apartment.  There are few cars of interest parked on Leipzig streets, so this one stands out, no matter its condition. Either there are new Mercedes, Audis, or BMWs, or old cheap cars, but few "Oldtimers."  Perhaps this is to be expected, as people are still picking themselves up ecponomically, even 20 years after the end of communism.

HST 344 Leipzig: The Automobile and American Life, European version, is about to begin!

Hi folks -- Emily and  Peter  arrived this morning and met with hosts and mentors.  The flood of students arrive this afternoon.  First classes Thursday, 9 a.m.! City tour on Thursday afternoon, and class all day (ugh) on Friday.

Syllt: Cars and Status, and where Audis, M-B, and Porsche Roam!

Hi folks -- I took a side trip to Syllt and the town of Westerland yesterday. This is the northern most point in Germany.  It is a place for the well-to-do, and only accessible via train. Cars do get on the island, however, via a rail car transport system that is rather expensive.  As one German told me, it is all about Audis, M-B, and Porsche and "see the car I own."  The Germans are about materialism gone amuck, and this place reflects it perfectly. But the air was so fresh and good. 10 Celsius yesterday, but it felt warmer.  I guess I am as materialistic as the next person on this island, as  I felt right at home!

A German Car that was not so good -- 1974 Ford/Mercury Capri

A belated autobiography – my 1974 Ford Mercury Capri

One of, if not the worst car that I ever owned was also the first car that I bought new.   It was the fall of 1973, and I was working at Clemson University in Agricultural Chemical Services.  Why a Mercury Capri?  Made in Germany, at the Cologne plant, perhaps.  As it turned out, a real piece of junk.

There were two Capris at the Edwards dealership in Walhalla, SC. One was a new 1973, yellow,  hood damaged probably in transit, V-6, 2600 cc.  In retrospect I should have bought it, but I opted for a new 1974 green Capri, loaded with 2800cc v-6, sunroof (manual), 4 speed, tan interior, cool little map light, AM-FM radio.

It was a dog, but I kept it nearly ten years. There  were just too many add-on  emissions control devices – a decel valve, a thermactor pump, spaghetti like vacuum lines all over the engine compartment. 

And then there was the clutch cable. It first kinked about 6 months into our relationship.  I began to lose pedal height, and it felt strange, like it was being wound up.  4 cables later, the problem (as  I remember) was solved.

More… water pumps. I had several of them as well. And for a time, they came with imperfect castings, not exactly flat, so when the mechanic tightened down on the bolts, the pump cracked!

So much for German quality.  It was not always so good, especially at Ford Germany and from what  I gather, Opel. We can romanticize about a place in a way that can be totally undeserving.

Auto History Trip To Germany, May 17-June 22

Hi folks -- for the next several weeks I will be sending updates from Germany. I leave today, and begin teaching auto history in Leipzig next week. I sure will miss being home and driving my Porsche, but the opportunity to learn again, as in 2009 is immense.

Among the filed trip experiences this time around are the following:

1. BMW Leipzig, at the plant for the entire week of June 4-8.
2. Porsche Leipzig, plant tour, June 12.
3. Visit to VW, Wolfsburg.
4. Visit to Mercedes Museum, Stuttgart.
5. Visit to Robert Bosch manufacturing plant, Stuttgart.
6. Trip to Eisenach for BMW and Rolls Royce die facility.
7. Trip to Horch/Audi Musuem in Zwickau.

I am probably missing something as I do not have my calendar in front of me. Anyway, expect plenty of posts during the days ahead!

COBB Ap 005 upgrade TO Ap 006

To all of you who are  interested to upgrade their COBB Ap Nis 005 to theCOBB AP Nis 006 with newer Software with TCM capability feel free to contact us :)

Hks GT800 + Swift spring + Hks internals+ ADv1 wheels

After 3 months driving the car with the stage 4 upgrades..this time 2 customers intend to go with the next level upgrade. The  Hks  GT800  is their choice. For the bottom block the HKS pistons + Hks Rods will take the responsibility for the High Torque and load. Hks intercooler is incharge to reduce the intake air temp and the  Greddy Fuel Rail + INJECTOR Dynamics+ Deactwerk will be responsible for the fuel system. For the ext system ART Titanium Y pipe + AMUSE catback is in charge for this beast.For The Transmission the dodson superstock clutch plate and clips is ready to transmit the power to the wheels. Cobb Tunning Is the Brain for all of this upgrade. This car is runing on RON 95..we believe it can produce more power with better fuel

Nissan GTR R35 Carbon Fibre Interior

Here is an exclusive products for carbon fiber lover..after a month waiting for this parts at last it arrive at OUR shop . Total 22 pieces of carbon fibre parts . We can do it in 2 choices of carbon design

100% perfect fitment  .

1) The Glossy Type
2) Dry Carbon

For our next incoming products they are in DRY Carbon.

You have to take this quiz on American cars from the 1950s!

http://www.americantorque.com/game/car-show-50s/

Hi folks -- I took this quiz and got a 100%.  I dare you to see how good you are as a "car spotter!"

Historically Important German Cars: The 1924 Opel Laubfrosch or "Tree Frog" -- the first moving assembly line car in Germany

The 1924 Opel is one of the most important cars in German Automotive history. It's green color is at the origin of its "tree frog" nickname, but its importance is because of the way it was made, the numbers made, and the controversy over its design related to a very similar looking Citroen model. A car with 4 taxable horsepower, approximately 120,000 were made by 1931.


Opel’s Rüsselsheim plant may have contained the first automobile production line assembly system in Germany, but the first automobile production line in Europe had been created by Andre Citroen who had initially adopted Henry Ford’s system for the production of munitions, and subsequently applied the technique to production of the Citroen Type A. It was not merely the production system that Opel took from Citroën. The two-seater Opel 4 PS when launched in 1924 bore an uncanny resemblance to the little torpedo bodied Citroen 5CV which had been launched in 1921. Sources differ as to whether Opel purchased the right to assemble the Citroën under licence, or merely copied the design.
There were differences. The Opel’s wheelbase was longer by 5 mm and the look of its radiator was different. The early Opels were mostly green whereas the early Citroëns were mostly yellow. Under the skin, the Opel had a twelve-volt electrical system at a time when most cars (including the Citroën 5 CV) used a six-volt system. And the Opel’s four-cylinder water-cooled engine size was larger, at 951 cc, than the Citroën’s 856 cc.