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(first posted 3/3/2011) CC interloper jjd241 has thrown my work plan for the day out the window. He posted a link to this fab pic in his Vega comments (no connection, I assume?), of what appears to be the Gotthard Pass in Switzerland. It’s started a guessing game as to the year, and identifying the cars. Who needs another new CC anyway? Let the Cluers be kept in suspense. Other than the obvious VeeDubs, I’ve got several nailed; I think.
But I’ll hold off for a while to see if anyone else wants to take a crack at it. If not, just enjoy. And keep this in mind: that VW Type 2 pickup hauling that boat has exactly 30 hp (36 gross). It’s all in the gearing.
I have vivid memories of taking a tour into Switzerland on the same or a similar pass road in 1959, with nine adults and two children packed into an equally-powered VW Samba bus, with the panoramic windows and the sunroof open. I remember counting the leaves on the grass as it slowly passed by. That is, when there were no cars to look at.
The burgundy-over gray car on the lower right side looks like a late 50’s Taunus 12 M. And the white car to its left, is that a 404?
I’d like to know what that boat is on the Type 2 pickup.
Looks like the boat the ship’s screw chewed up on “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”!
Well it’s at least 1961 right? cause of the Volkswagen Type III Wagon (in White) and that Black Sedan looks like one of the smaller Opels, maybe a Rekord? (looks a little too plain to be a Kaptian). Was the Ford Vedette available in Switzerland? because that’s my bet for the blue on dark blue 2 door sedan. And finally for all of my shots in the dark: Which British Ford was finny with the reverse slant rear window like a 1957 Turnpike Cruiser and a 1960 Galaxie had a baby?…that’s my guess for the solid powder blue sedan.
Reverse slant pale blue looks like a Consul Classic to me
Powder blue sedan is a Ford 315 Consul behind it a pontoon Merc parked off the road looks like a Vauxhall PA Velox/Cresta. Fiat bambina500 in parking lot. Pug 404 Renault Dauphine descending, Surely a boat trailer would be easier. I need a bigger monitor if youre gunna keep these coming
I think another Millau viaduct would eliminate this sad traffic problem! I couldn’t begin to identify all those cars aside from the VW’s. What a cool, cool photo of a long-gone era!
The problem hasn’t been eliminated, just moved a bit further down the valley. There now is a tunnel but it has only 2 lanes. The traffic jams on both sides of the tunnel in the summer or on holiday weekends are notorious.
It looks like a scene from a Richard Scarry book. Any moment now, a watermelon truck will spill down the hill.
Actually wasn’t this pass featured in the movie “Goldfinger”? Bond in his DB7 and his future ummm… “romantic interest” was driving a Mustang convertible. Bond used his cars modifications to blow out both her tires.
I made a similar comment on the original post (71 Vega) 🙂 .
The watermelon truck image is brillant, btw!
The Pug 404,. Renault Dauphin and the ‘Fitito’ (as the 600 is known in Argentina) are brillant shouts, bryce. This picture is reminencent of Shorpy… too bad we can’t blow it up for a proper view of the restaurant and the canyon itself.
Wonderful colors.. i keep coming back to it &* could look at this scene for hours.
Hahaha, yes! And the dingo in the red convertible will speed past.
I also like the snow/avalanche shed covering the road in the to left. I looks like the folks in the brown beetle with the hood up are having a nice lunch break.
Looks to me like they’re changing the RR tire.
That’s what I thought at first too, but it looks like a folding table is set up right next to the car.
In addition to the other identifications, I see a 1961 German Ford M17 P3 (white with red top) next to the restaurant. The big tan sedan with a luggage rack on top at the crosswalk looks to be a big Opel.The light blue/dark blue top sedan just below the VW pickup appears to be a Simca Aronde. The gray sedan behind the restaurant is a Fiat 1100. I rather think what has been identified by others as a 404 behind the Dauphine isn’t one; it looks to wide, but I could be wrong. That’s about it for me.
Definitely a Farina, but if it’s wider than a 404, could it be the larger Austin A99/A110 Westminster or equivalent Wolseley?
I reckon the black sedan behind the picnicing beetle looks like the 2 Hillman Minxs Ive got in my yard same chrome strip on the bonnet and white flash on the side.
The solid black sedan in the first left turn going up looks like a BMW 501/502 (also known as 2.6/3.2, 2600/3200 in its later years).
The white on gray/blue sedan circling the restaurant going down seems to be a W110 Mercedes. The car in front of it (right behing the flagpoles) could also be a W110.
The truck parked uphill of the pedestrian crossing seems to be a Berna.
Hello Paul,
absolutely stunning image, looks almost as if part of a massively detailed model train set…
I registered on TTAC shortly before your demise (as Portnoy, guessed the Renault 4 Curbside Classic Clue) and I’m very happy to find that my very favorite category on that site is now up and running again. You’ve added loads of content in such a short time, great pace!
Having just returned from a hiking vacation (Wanderurlaub) in Spain, I offer you these “Curbside Classics” I shot there for your viewing pleasure. Apart from the VW “Bulli” I’m pretty sure these are some cars you won’t find in Eugene. Tried to identify all of them, no model years, though. They’re not many, but beautiful ones – 20 or even 10 years ago, I would have brought many more photos with me, but most of those old SEATs, Citroens and Renaults that used to be ubiquitous in my childhood have disappeared from the roads.
You may use these Photos any way you like, I claim no copyright to them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulnoir/sets/72157626195257576/
What a nice pic!
Ahead of the Simca Aronde, isn’t that a VW 411 Variant? A Mercedes 190 uphill meeting the Renault Dauphine (downhill), a Ford Cortina ahead of the Mercedes 190, a Fiat 500 at the parking lot at the restaurant, a Mercedes S class (blue/white) downhill near the restaurant.
That red/silver truck uphill in the parking lot might be a Saurer or Fiat.
I think I’m seeing folks in a VW Beetle with the hood popped open, being car sick on the side of the twisting road.
Counting from the lowest point, irrespective of direction of travel, I’ll give it a try….10 years too late
1) I don’t know
2) Pale gray, fintail Mercedes, likely a W111
3) Gray, Fiat 1100 (or Neckar)
4) Powder blue, white top with sunroof – Fintail Mercedes, likely a W112
5) I don´t know
6) Pastel – Opel Rekord / Olympia P1, 2 door
7) Blue-grey VW
8) Dark blue VW
9) White, black top – Ford Taunus P3
10) Gray – Vauxhall?
11) Black, white top – Opel Rekord P2
12) Black…..it could even be a VW, but I’m far from sure
13) Powder blue, white top…Don´t know
14) Parked, beige – don’t know
15) Black….would say it’s a Falcon but seems a little out of its habitat
16) Black, in the shadow, looks like a P2 Opel Rekord
17) Pastel, sunroof, Mercedes Ponton W120/121
18) Light gray, Renault Ondine/Dauphine/Gordini
19) Ford, I can´t place the name
20) Peugeot 404
21) Ford Taunus P2
22) Light blue, dark blue top: Simca Aronde
23) Black with spear, perhaps another Simca, not sure
24) VW Variant (US: squareback)
I didn’t look at the restaurant parking, I an see a P3 Taunus and a Fiat cinquecento.
It looks like a Wiking Models catalogue or a Marklin train set all bright and orderly.
Looks like a great Hot Wheels track setup to me. Very nice! Switzerland must be even more beautiful than I had known.
That whole area, Canton URI, is magnificent, best when it’s 20 degrees and sunny. Great driving roads, lakes to see, ah I miss it!
I recall being on the Klausen Hill climb route having coffee in a hotel, a brew ha ha taking place, fellow complaining his schnitzel was cold and his Coke hot… the lady behind the counter, about 70 years old if a day, picked up the schnitzel and threw it at him smacking into his chest. Funniest thing I saw in a long time.
Just imagine crawling up the mountain in your early sixties built Setra coach supported by 150 MAN Diesel horses, double clutching all the time and trying to avoid your drumbrakes to overheat before you’re on the way down, the bone-white 3′ steering wheel firmly in your hands while hearing the soft screams of your passengers who live in the flat lowlands and who are not used to these spectacular views.
Could it be a Triumph TR4 at the parking, white with a red top, next to the Fiat 500. Maybe too big for a TR4.
The Farina looks a 404 to me. Rear bumper stretching to the the side, and it has a sunroof (many 404s had these from the factory). Too small for a 6 cil Farina.
In the foreground are two vehicles identical to ones I owned years ago. The blue VW pickup (mine was a ’59) and the gray VW sunroof (mine was a ’62). Not really a fan of VW ever since, but those two were memorable.
Terrific photograph and cool that so many are able to point out which car is which…
-Nate