Four-wheel fun at the castle
From history to the future: Volkswagen at the 13th Classic Days at Schloss Dyck
Now in its 13th year, the festival of classic cars and motor vehicles was once again a colourful automobile garden party. Thousands of cars from almost 120 years of automotive history assembled in the well-kept castle area: from classic and elegant to sporty and robust, from pre-war precision, production classics, style icons and rare items to racing cars and future classics.
The wide range of vehicles on show in 2018 once again attracted tens of thousands of international visitors to Jüchen in North Rhine-Westphalia. Volkswagen brought its own impressive array of cars to Schloss Dyck. Autostadt was well represented at the Classic Days by just short of 40 vehicles relating to the theme ‘Passion, Pace, Performance’. Volkswagen Classic provided a mixture of elegance and rarity, summer driving pleasure and motorsport.
Strong colours and racy appearance
Even today, the Beetle 1303 S in matt black and Saturn yellow still looks rather aggressive. In its day, even politicians in the Bundestag were required to debate whether or not the 1973 ‘Yellow/Black Racer’ special edition, in its sporty attire, was not an invitation to speed. Nowadays, the sough-after classic promises honest Beetle fun.
GSR took to the circuit with a truly exotic specimen for the special Autostadt parade: the 1974 Volkswagen SP 2. Produced by Karmann in São Paulo, the sporty, rear-engine coupé was unfortunately never destined for the European market. As such, there are now only about 150 examples of this model registered in Europe, with just short of 60 of these in Germany. The Volkswagen Classic SP 2 is particularly rare, due to its original, unrestored Violetta Pop paintwork.
Air-cooled summer dreams
The Golf Blue dream convertible at the Volkswagen Classic stand was another unique car. “Absolutely beautiful! I have never seen one like it,” was the regular response. Correct, as the open Type 3 is unfortunately a prototype. The elegant four-seater convertible thrilled visitors to the IAA back in 1961 – and had the same effect at the Classic Days in 2018. The Beetle 1303 convertible next to it may not be a one-off, but still proved to be an absolute eye-catcher in Metallic Viper Green. Recently restored in the Volkswagen Automobile Collection Osnabrück, the 1980s US model also shone like new. Whether Beetle or Type 3, both convertibles soon had people fantasising about the summer: get in, and off we go for a little spin through the castle grounds, then on to the lake in glorious weather…
Period camping in the castle gardens
A few enthusiasts experienced just how wonderful a summer trip with a vintage car can be in the castle garden. Historic camping was the order of the day in the ‘Nostalgic Journeys’ area. Whether in Bulli (camper van), tent or vintage caravan, the main thing was that it was in period style. And so inviting that one had to take care, whilst strolling along, not to simply sit oneself down under a parasol and make yourself comfortable on an old-fashioned deckchair. For example, in front of the Scholz brothers’ 1966 camping trailer, which formed a perfect couple together with a Lofoten Green Golf Mk1 from 1976. Bianca and Andreas Wehlen love to travel a lot with their vintage holiday duo. The camping trip to Schloss Dyck has become a permanent fixture in their travel plans. The quartet was part of the exhibition for the fourth time – regulars, you could say. “The general atmosphere here is unique. When else do you get the opportunity to spend the night in such beautiful castle gardens?” said Bianca Wehlen, bright-eyed. “This romantic camping is unbeatable. We will certainly be applying to return with our two handy vintage vehicles,” added her husband, as he straddled his original Bonanza bicycle and set off on a lap of the Dycker Feld.
Coatis in the grass
Roughly 7,500 private vehicles assembled between the head-high Miscanthus grass on Dycker Feld, forming Germany’s largest multi-brand club meeting. A perfect venue for a special anniversary celebration: 50 years of the Volkswagen Type 4. The association of Volkswagen 411/412 owners had pulled out all the stops to mobilise its international members. One fan even travelled from as far as Chile to the birthday get-together. The sun shone on just short of 50 fine examples of the Volkswagen Type 4, which was produced for the first time on 12 August 1968 – and five decades of the ‘Coati’ were celebrated deservingly at Schloss Dyck.
Prominence and prototypes in the paddock
Anyone who has ever been to the new paddock knows that there are always a few delicacies to sample here. The bright orange racing cars immediately caught the eye. The sound of their engines had a magnetic effect: Autostadt presented five exclusive Porsche from the ‘’72 Stagpower – The Spirit of Jägermeister Racing’ initiative. With VIPs Hans-Joachim Stuck and Walter Röhrl in close attendance, fan groups and shop talk were the order of the day.Even connoisseurs of the scene were astonished by one Volkswagen Classic sports car on display in the paddock: it looks like a Golf, and is a Golf – but this Golf looks ready to take on all comers out on the track. And so it was that a curious cluster of visitors was regularly to be seen gathered around this extraordinary Golf Mk3.
Volkswagen used the 1993 rally Golf Mk3, named the A59, to explore the technical feasibility of an electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system. The prototype was commissioned in 1992 by the research and development departments at Volkswagen AG. A Group A rally car was to be developed for Volkswagen Motorsport for the manufacturer’s return to the WRC (World Rally Championship). The concept from Wolfsburg was implemented by sms (Schmidt Motorsport) in Cadolzburg.
The appearance of the Golf Mk3 leaves one in no doubt that this is a sports car: wheel arch extensions, extracted sills, bulbous fender flares, side air scoops, ducts and bulges on the bonnet, and a striking rook spoiler. The interior is relatively similar to that of the production model, but a roll bar, digital instrument cluster with various additional displays, and built-in extinguishing system are more clear indications that this is a sports car. With a two-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine generating 202 kW (275 PS), the A59 was capable of a top speed of up to 270 km/h. A computer-controlled four-wheel drive system, with hydraulically controlled, limited-slip central differential and limited-slip differential at the rear, applied the power to the 16-inch wheels.
The proposed small-scale production of a Golf Mk3 A59 ‘Rallye’ did not take place. In the end, only two prototypes were made – only one of which was driveable. As a unique specimen, the A59 is a rarity per se. However, its outing at the Classic Days was also its comeback: the A59 had lain still for years, and was now returning to action out on the track for the first time since its major overhaul.
Volkswagen Classic reunited the strong duo out on the historic circuit at the Classic Days. Although the special runs are no hill climb, the man from Hamburg was visibly happy as soon as he was able to drive ‘his’ Pikes Peak Golf: “Ideally, I would like to take the Golf home with me, to be honest. It was excellent to be able to present the car in this wonderful atmosphere. The people are close to you and can ask you questions. They ask you to sign all kinds of things. There are a lot of spectators waving around the circuit. And everything is so lovingly organised. This is truly motorsport up close and personal.”
Over 30 years after the twin-engine Golf’s outing, Volkswagen made motorsport history on Pikes Peak in 2018 – with its first fully-electric racing car. The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak, with Romain Dumas (F) at the wheel, not only bettered the previous best time for electric racing cars at the 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, but also set a new all-time record with a time of 7:57.148 minutes. The I.D. R Pikes Peak also broke the record for electric cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The castle welcomes two Pikes Peak legends
Another powerful Golf prototype took its place next to the A59 in the paddock: the 1987 Golf Mk2 ‘Pikes Peak’. As soon as rally legend Jochi Kleint fired up the Golf, the raw power was clear to all around. After all, Volkswagen Motorsport’s turbo-powered Golf, designed by Kurt Bergmann, was built for the demanding hill climb on Pikes Peak in Colorado (USA). The prototype, with two independent engines, generated a maximum output of 480 kW (652 PS). Jochi Kleint was at the wheel of this unique powerhouse for Volkswagen Motorsport at the 1987 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Premiere at the castle
The 500-kW (680-PS) I.D. R Pikes Peak made its German debut at the Classic Days. Autostadt presented the double record holder as the highlight of its ‘Passion | Pace | Performance’ exhibition. The visitors were thrilled and paid tribute to the successful Volkswagen. The electric racing car saw Volkswagen form the link between past and future at the 2018 Classic Days.
