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.