An oldtimer is the generic term over here for all kinds of old vehicles. On June 10 I visited the Oldtimer Festival Neder-Betuwe, and I must say that I never saw such a miscellaneous collection of old vehicles before. Mopeds, motorcycles, cars, vans, motorhomes, trucks, farm tractors and military vehicles; everything was there.
First the cars, I’ll get back to all the others later on.
1985 Buick Century Limited, powered by a 3.8 liter V6 engine.
1976 Opel Kadett C Coupe.
1977 Opel Kadett C City, the hatchback, looking angry.
The FWD Kadett D replaced the C in 1979. Here’s a 1982 Opel Kadett D with the 60 hp 1.3 N engine and an automatic transmission. Note that this one is not a hatchback.
1964 Chevrolet Impala.
1986 Porsche 944.
1986 Volvo 240 GL.
1987 Citroën 2CV6 Spécial.
1987 Volkswagen Golf Convertible. The Karmann convertible based on the Golf Mk1 was built until 1993.
1980 Saab 99 GL.
1978 Buick Riviera, powered by Buick’s 350 V8.
1972 Toyota Crown, under its hood the 2.0 liter 5R 4-cylinder.
1977 Toyota Celica ST.
Fast forward 40 years, this 2017 Toyota Verso was also on display.
1955 Peugeot 203 C.
1966 Volvo Amazon.
1980 Opel Ascona B with a 90 hp 2.0 liter engine. The 1975-1981 Ascona B was Opel’s last RWD mid-size family car, what we call the D-segment these days. Its main competitor was the Ford Taunus.
Both Beetles had their first registration in 1972.
1982 Chevrolet Corvette C3.
In the same year Cross-Fire Injection made its debut.
1979 Saab 96L V4.
1965 Peugeot 404 with the XC7 engine, a 70 hp 1,618 cc 4-cylinder.
You feel happier in a Peugeot 404.
1972 Volkswagen Beetle 1303S.
1983 Volkswagen Golf GTI, 82 kW (112 DIN-hp) from its 1.8 liter engine.
1975 Mazda 929 Coupe.
1972 Triumph Spitfire Mk IV.
1981 Suzuki LJ80.
1972 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow…
…with a matching trailer!
1980 Jaguar XJ6 4.2 Series III.
1972 Opel Manta A…
…with a period correct steering wheel cover.
In 1975 the Manta B superseded the Manta A. Pictured a 1978 Opel Manta with a 90 hp 2.0 liter engine.
1964 Saab 96 with a 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine.
1980 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE, W126-series S-Class.
When I walked back to the parking lot, I passed by this immaculate 1982 Volkswagen Golf GTI. Another fine example of the 112 hp hot hatch legend.
To be continued (i.e. the rest of the potpourri).
Lotta fine cars there ! .
.
-Nate
Interesting that the Corvette still has it’s original “Don’t-Fire” injection system. Those weren’t exactly known as being super reliable although the R&D and refinement eventually resulted in the TBI system.
I wish I had the opportunity to experience the Century with 3800 V6. I’m sure it would handily outrun the V8 G-body GM cars of the same year.
I used one as mu dialy driver for three years, summer and winter, one new battery and a temperature sensor were all the troubles it gave me.
WOW. Very diverse group of cars. A Rolls is like unobtainium where I live in Arkansas. Mere working class mortals are rarely exposed to a Rolls except on TV or a vacation in someplace like Beverly Hills. In my previous career as a mechanic, I never got to work on one. Heck, I never even got to touch one.
On a business trip to Australia, I saw one on the street. Being a gearhead, I had my Australian colleague quickly snap a photo of me with the car before the owner came back. The Rolls you photographed is on a whole different level though.
I really admire the craftsmanship that went into making that trailer. Unusual and a testament to the ability of whoever fabricated it.
As for me, I personally favor the ’55 Peugeot. The photo of the engine shows a mechanic’s dream. It looks SO easy to work on compared to modern cars.
BTW – As a retired Army guy, I’d love to see the photos of the old military vehicles. I served in Korea, the Mideast and Africa, but was never stationed in Europe so I never saw too many of the NATO vehicles except on a joint exercise in some other part of the world.
I’m sure most of the old military vehicles will look familiar. The guys set up a sort of mini-camp, with tents etc., right at the entrance of the show.
From what I’ve heard a good Rolls Royce or Bentley from the seventies and eighties is relatively affordable. To buy, that is… They can be seen at shows quite regularly. Popular wedding cars too.
Wow, what a wide selection! As an American, I get a kick out of the wide variety of Opels there. We, of course, got a decent selection of Opels into the 1970s but then they went away, so it is interesting to see some of the less familiar ones too.
The white 64 Chevrolet Impala reignites my complicated relationship with these cars – they were so beautiful to look at. The two-tone early 80s Buick Century gets no such help, and I don’t really miss these at all. At least not yet.
That’s a beautiful red Amazon, I’ll have that please.
Quite the trip back in time.
The RR with trailer is a bit odd. Is that a way to bring ones parts car a long for the ride?
And did you notice that the trailer has a trailer hitch on it? In some parts of the US, it would be legal to add another trailer, but I doubt that’s the case in the Netherlands. Or am I wrong?
I’ve only seen big trucks and farm tractors towing 2 trailers. I assume the trailer’s trailer hitch is for a bicycle rack…
Is there a special endorsement available for double towing in Europe?
Some states have a special endorsement, some don’t require a special endorsement…
I’m in a “no special endorsement” state but it is only occasionally that you see say a pickup, towing a 5th wheel camper, towing a couple of jet skis.
All I can say is that I never, ever saw a car/SUV/pickup/van towing more than one trailer.
I’m familiar with something like the DAF below, towing two trailers, but it’s clearly in another segment.
As far as I know, it is not legal to carry people on the trailer (at least in Europe), so I don’t really see the purpose of this contraption. And it looks awfully heavy…..
May be there just in case you happen to back up a little too far to protect that beautiful bodywork.
I bet you can still drive that 404 everyday without much efforts.i saw a 404 PICKUP yesterday with heavy loads probably 3 Times its standard capacity& still going strong.celica is also beautiful.
If there is ever a nuclear war, only three things will survive on Earth: cockroaches, Keith Richards and a Peugeot pick-up.
“1980 Opel Ascona B with a 90 hp 2.0 liter engine. The 1975-1981 Ascona B was Opel’s last RWD mid-size family car, what we call the D-segment these days. Its main competitor was the Ford Taunus.”
I thought the Opel Rekord E , which also competed with the Taunus for a time, was also rear drive and that lasted thru 1986
The Opel Rekord was a Ford Granada competitor, so one segment up the ladder. It was superseded by the Omega, also RWD.
After the Ascona B came the FWD Ascona C and later the Vectra, nowadays the Insignia is Opel’s D-segment model.
Nice selection, the Spitfire looks nice without the North American rubber baby buggy bumpers, a much cleaner look.
Speaking of how bumpers look, the installation of pre-1967 bumpers on a 1972 beetle just looks so wrong.
And it’s next to another lowered over accessorized beetle. Yawn…
Not all Euro Beetles got the C-channel bumpers right away, it was only for the high series cars at first.
Some lovely cars on display there. The C3 Corvette is the 1982 Collectors Edition, from what I understand a very rare version of that Vette that came out just before the C4 replaced it. I had a model kit of that car in the early 1980s, and I read in a Corvette book some years ago that that car was the first Vette costing over $20K in the US. These guys have really looked after their cars well from what I see here.
The VeeDubs were most interesting to me. We in the US were deprived of most of the Opels, after the early 70s Manta. Our substitute for the Opel Kadett C Coupe was a nasty little copy passed off as the “Opel by Isuzu”.
Love the 80s Cabriolets and GTIs. This one showed up at the show I was at yesterday. I have seen it before and puzzled about a Cabriolet with a GTI grill. If VW did not make it that way, perhaps they should have?
There was a Golf Mk1 Convertible GLI. At first with a 1.6 liter 110 DIN-hp engine, later with a 1.8 liter 112 DIN-hp engine. So the same (Euro spec) numbers as the Mk1 GTI hatches.
Scroll down a bit for a chart:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/VW_Golf_Cabriolet
There was a Golf Mk1 Convertible GLI. At first with a 1.6 liter 110 DIN-hp engine, later with a 1.8 liter 112 DIN-hp engine. So the same (Euro spec) numbers as the Mk1 GTI hatches.
We don’t get the really nice VeeDubs here, just the ones aimed at the lowest common denominator.
It’s hard to see from the angle of the pic, but the grill of that white one says “GTI”, so, like the wheels, probably and owner instigated change.
Nice pics, Johannes. Fairly similar to what you’d see at a UK show, although the 404 would probably be replaced by a BMC Farina. I wonder if you know what’s going on with the paintwork on the Citroen SM behind the Corvette?
The SM certainly had an odd three-tone paintjob.
Once again, a fantastically diverse show; many thanks for taking us along, Johannes.
The lovely old Crown has what looks like a filler cap over the rear wheel arch – any idea what that’s for?
Good question; now it’s bugging me too. Whatever it is seems to be just stuck on the surface, but I’m at a loss as to what it could be. Some sort of antenna mount, maybe? I’m stumped.
Beautiful vehicles – would love to have that Amazon in my driveway… Jim.
Great array of cars. The yellow Mazda is particularly tasty, though I also have a soft spot for all three Saabs you snapped. And that Kujira Crown!
Funny about the Opel Kadett D — I never knew they made a non-hatchback version. And the round headlamps are kind of weird, too. Plain Jane special?
Same on the 929, though the colour and rims are way off for me. With that tan velour interior I’d fancy a nice mint green metallic.
Also same on Kujira. Interesting colour, I had something only slightly darker on my 75 Crown. Sort of avocado. Sort of bleh.
Nice one Johannes.
Thanks for another fascinating day at a car show Johannes.
It always blows my mind what the Europeans can enjoy at a car show. If someone tried to show up in an 85 Century here they either wouldn’t be allowed in or wish they hadn’t come when they heard the comments.
That’s one of the main reasons I mostly go to cruise nights now. They seem to have much more democratic attitude when it comes to cars.
Understood on the Buick Century but what comments would you get if you brought a 2017 Toyota Verso?
Not allowed at our US car shows: Chevrolets formerly known as Daewoos. Example below.
Most enjoyable piccies of the cars, J. Dutch. I would scroll down and then back up again to give them their proper 2nd and 3rd looks.
Interesting to look at the mid-80s cars pictured. Doesn’t seem that long ago . . . and yet it’s been 30+ years and there aren’t that many of those around in 2017.
I knew someone who had a 1984 Buick Century for years; it was fun to see the photo of the ’85.