Old love never rusts: large crowds at the first classic car meeting in Garching

Created: 07/04/2022 05:32

By: Sabina Brosch

Eye-catcher: When Karatas Önder is out and about in his Chevrolet “Bel Air”, passers-by turn their heads – at the latest when the 165 hp engine starts to roar.

© GERALD FÖRTSCH

What a sight: At the 1st Garching classic car meeting, visitors and exhibitors indulged in nostalgia.

Garching – The "Indian Scout 600" can already be heard from afar.

Painted in deep wine red, with a round speedometer and a brown leather seat, it's standing there on the lawn in the Bürgerpark.

Something for the eyes and for the ears.

"There's nothing in the exhaust, it's really booming," says Reiner Litwin from Unterföhring, who owns the machine.

For him, his Indian is “the most beautiful motorcycle ever built.

It's not just a bike, it's a legend.” Litwin is one of the enthusiasts keeping this legend alive.

"It's not just a bike, it's a legend": Rainer Litwin on his "Indian Scout 600".

© Gerald Fortsch

And they came together at the weekend in the Bürgerpark at the first Garching classic car meeting, organized by the Motor Sport Club (MSC): Over 300 chic sports cars, from American road cruisers to classic Porsches and motorcycles, triggered many a wistful memory among the visitors.

Litwin bought his motorcycle 20 years ago, it came more or less as junk in a sea container from Lima.

He has lovingly restored them for years, and there is also a Harley from 1927 in his garage.

"Everything machines with patina, everything with a lot of mind and spirit!".

When Litwin passes the entrance gate at the Bürgerpark meadow, Gerhard Kölbl's eyes light up too.

He is the chairman of the MSC and has his hands full.

He registered around 150 registrations just a few days ago, but due to the fantastic weather there were over 300 vintage cars: 30 motorcycles, 20 tractors and the rest cars.

"It's crazy, we never expected that," says Kölbl.

His personal favorite is rolling past, a beige Mercedes 230 SL – “the world's first sports car.

Now simply priceless.”

"Snow White's coffin": Irmi and Helmut Schwarzmann with their Messerschmitt bubble cars.

© Gerald Fortsch

Hundreds of visitors parade through the rows of vehicles steeped in history on this day, it is a paradise for classic car lovers.

Right in the middle: the two Messerschmitt bubble cars, a white "Tiger 500" and a red "200er", affectionately known as "Snow White's coffin".

They belong to Irmi and Helmut Schwarzmann from Puchheim (district of Fürstenfeldbruck), for whom the two vehicles are not “just” exhibits, they also travel with them when the weather is nice.

Irmi Schwarzmann even took part in the Nordcap Rally in 1999 with her “Karo”.

"The tiger is the last of its kind to roll off the assembly line," says Helmut Schwarzmann.

What the two cars are worth "is not discussed".

The 2-stroke engine runs "easily at 130 kilometers per hour and can't really be stopped." If there's a tweak, it's repaired in the company's own workshop.

Admittedly, there are more men on the square, who often lean deep into the interior of the vehicles in addition to extensive technical talk.

For example, Karatas Önder from Unterschleißheim, who is working with two buddies on the air filter of his Chevrolet “Bel Air” from 1957.

He's had his "biggest dream in pistachio green" for a year now and his eyes light up when he talks about his rides.

"The Chevy only comes out when the weather is nice," says Önder, then he lets the 165 hp engine roar.

"It has something and everyone looks after you when I drive through the city."

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recognized?

You can take a look into the cockpit of "KITT" with this "Knight Rider" replica.

© Gerald Fortsch

For many visitors, the classic car meeting is a journey into their own past.

Mayor Dietmar Gruchmann (SPD) can still remember his studies well when he sees a VW Beetle Bulli.

"I drove one of those." It's a "bit of a strange feeling" when these cars are here as vintage cars.

"Well, time flies.

But we will definitely repeat these events next year.” Werner Haberl from Aschheim feels similarly nostalgic.

He is happy about the yellow "duck", the Citroën 2CV.

"I had one like that too, mine was green and it was my first vehicle." The 53-year-old has now changed brands, "my vehicle now comes from Bavaria and is an electric car."

More news from Garching and the district of Munich can be found here.