Kurt Michalek from Bichl drives up with two iconic Cadillacs. © Arp
American cars with cult status: After corona-related restrictions, the US car meeting took place in the usual size for the first time since 2019. If you wanted to present your polished car, you had to be there early.
Bad Tölz – Shelbys, Chevys, Dodges and Cougars as far as the eye can see. Anyone who was out and about in Bad Tölz at the weekend could hardly miss it: Heavy sleds came from all directions to set up in the Moraltpark at the US car meeting. Vintage cars, which are otherwise only known from films, attracted numerous horsepower lovers from all over Germany. "Some even came from Hamburg," enthuses organizer Peter Frech.
Old-timers, which are otherwise only known from films, come to Bad Tölz
"This meeting is a fixed date in my calendar every year," says Kurt Michalek from Bichl. With its two "Cadillac Deville", built in 1959, in blue and red, it is a real eye-catcher. Eight years ago, the pensioner fulfilled his dream. A red Cadillac. Four years later, they were joined by the same model in blue. "I've always been a total car fanatic," he admits with a laugh and looks lovingly over at his highly polished babies. "I got the red one from Washington. I found it on E-Bay, and an acquaintance helped me import it to Germany," explains Bichler. It took three months for the car, which cost almost 50,000 euros, to arrive in the Loisach Valley. He only uses the U.S. sleds for his private pleasure. "I go to a lot of meetings, and otherwise they come out of the garage on special occasions." For film productions or weddings, Michalek does not lend his cars.
A popular motif not only for film productions: The Pink Cadillac was photographed by many visitors. © Arp
Cadilac Deville 1959 attracts attention
A few meters away, Franz Scharf sits in a camping chair in front of his 1982 Corvette. He uses the classic car not only for special occasions and exhibitions, but also as an everyday car. "The car is still completely analogue and doesn't have anything digital in it," he reports proudly. Almost 100,000 kilometers are on the clock. "Depending on how I drive it, it consumes between 11 and 14 litres. But at 14 litres, I almost have to hurt him," says the Munich native with a smile. Since he decided on the rare car, it took another two and a half years until he found exactly this model at a classic car dealer in Ulm. He doesn't put more time into his collector's car than he would in a conventional car. "There's an oil change once a year," he jokes.
Hotrods from 1933
Arrived with their 90-year-old hotrods: Olly Haitzer and Christian Müller are die-hard mechanics. © Arp
Olly Haitzer (53) from Tölz and Christian Müller (35) from Ostallgäu will perform as a duo. Both drive a Ford. Of course, not a conventional one. After all, the Ami cars are older than their owners. "Our hotrods are from 1933 and 1934," explains Haitzer. But he doesn't just come to US car meetings with his historic racing car. "We've also been to Carole at the Roll 'n' Flat Beach Race," he says. But that's where we brought the hotrods with the trailer," adds Müller, who had his classic car shipped from Tennessee to Europe in 2015. "I've been looking for one for over two years before." Then it took a few more years for the car to stand as it could be admired at the weekend. Because: "At that time there was no engine and no transmission in it," says Müller, who works as a car mechanic.
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Fancy a voyage of discovery?
The Corvette C1982 built in 3 by Franz Scharf is alsoa real enthusiast's car. © Arp
As colorful and multifaceted as the cars is the trappings of the America-style festival. Thousands of visitors and families meander through the merchant mile with jewelry, leather goods and all kinds of food stalls. Bullriding is a great way to prove your stamina, and children can compete on the bouncy castle.
The American festival attracted thousands of visitors to Tölz in beautiful weather and sunshine. © Arp
No brawls and lots of peaceful visitors
Peter Frech draws a first rough balance on Monday afternoon: "It was certainly the strongest US car meeting of all time," he says with great satisfaction. "It was so well attended that we unfortunately had to turn away a few classic cars on Sunday. The place was already packed in the morning." It is pleasing that there were no incidents: "So far, there has been no brawl. Everyone is peaceful, communicative and just in a good mood."
You can find even more up-to-date news from the region at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.