What is good against a bad mood in times of crisis? It is the nostalgia-transfigured successes of the past that arouse emotions and will therefore also be celebrated by automobile manufacturers in 2023. There are a good 400 milestone birthdays to celebrate, from the Matchbox model to people’s cars and toys for millionaires.
There is nothing better to celebrate than the successes of yesteryear. Legendary milestones convey fascination, they no longer have to prove anything, they have already made great history. So it is not surprising that in 2023 car manufacturers are relying more on the magic of historical moments than before, because good news is in demand in these times of crises, wars and supply bottlenecks. Around 400 birthdays are to be celebrated, and even young anniversaries of 20 years are celebrated by marketing strategists celebrated in celebration. In fact, the journey into the past in 2023 promises big and small car fans a colorful firework of highlights: 70 years ago, the first Matchbox miniatures rolled out of their matchbox-like garages into children’s rooms, and since then there have been well over three billion cars, the boys and girls inspire. The first million-seller was Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation carriage, so kids and collectors are excited to find out which collector’s edition for the coronation of King Charles III. 75 years ago, however, the dreams and imagination of adults inspired Jaguar XK sports cars, Land Rovers and Porsches (356). Henry Ford founded his company in 1903, which ten years later created the basis for affordable automobile mobility through assembly line production. BMW is celebrating a century of motorcycle construction, the electric car revolutionist Tesla is celebrating 20 years. Several major brands are celebrating truly proud anniversaries this year: Mitsubishi is 150 years old, but it was only in 1917 that the first Japanese series car was launched. On Christmas Eve 125 years ago, Louis Renault presented the future-believing Parisian public with the advantages of its 1.75 hp Voiturette, which is equipped with a revolutionary direct drive: the many spontaneous orders prompted Louis and his brother Marcel to found the company Renault Frères in Germany Opel with the construction of the first small car with a petrol engine based on a design by Friedrich Lutzmann. This ingenious automotive pioneer had previously made history in Dessau, because 130 years ago Lutzmann founded the world’s first motor vehicle taxi company in the Anhalt industrial city. Four-seater Daimler Victorias thus pointed the way to the taxi business of the 21st century. Most cars were still powered by steam at the time – the world’s largest car manufacturer was steam expert Stanley in 1898 – but electric vehicles were also spreading faster than petrol engines, especially in large cities. Not so in Great Britain, where the Daimler Motor Company caused a different sensation in 1898: Founded with patents from the German brand of the same name, the manufacturer with the richest tradition to this day in the island kingdom advanced to become the first royal court supplier for automobiles – and the enthusiasm of the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII ., spread to the European dynasties and presidential palaces. Enzo Ferrari, on the other hand, is entirely of bourgeois origin. He was born 125 years ago and whose myth as a racing driver and sports car manufacturer can hardly be surpassed to this day. Nevertheless, 60 years ago Ferruccio Lamborghini with V12 cars and Renzo Rivolta (Iso-Rivolta GT), but also McLaren and Aston Martin (with the DB 5 as a stylish projectile for James Bond) tried to convince the super athletes from Maranello with new Vmax models And that’s not all of the sporting icons from the fast-paced year 1963: Maserati presented the first Quattroporte as the world’s fastest four-door car, Lancia launched the Fulvia, Honda released a wild gerbil called the S360 Roadster and Volvo the 1800 S, Roger’s favorite car Moore since the TV cult series “The Saint” and the Swedish king Carl XVI. Gustaf, who experienced brisk driving pleasure with the cult coupé. The Bavarian car manufacturer Glas caused a sensation in 1963 with the Frua Coupé 1300 GT, which was later adopted by BMW (1600 GT), and Mercedes trusted in finding the shape for the 230 SL (W 113) on the design skills of Frenchman Paul Bracq. In colloquial speech, the roadster was soon just called the pagoda because its hardtop was reminiscent of the Asian temples of the same name, but Bracq was also capable of edgy pomp: his “Big Mercedes” 600, also launched in 1963, chauffeured the rich and powerful of this world for almost three decades, too Music kings from Udo Jürgens to the Beatles. “Design is not a fashion” But even a car of eternal youth began its career 60 years ago: The Porsche911 was never intended to be a spectacular show car or a toy for the rich, but a street racer suitable for everyday use with long-term qualities. This was already the case for the Porsche 901 presented in 1963, the prototype of the sports car series. The line of the timelessly beautiful sports coupé, which is as simple as it is fast, was designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, who followed the credo: “A good product must be discreet. Design is not fashionable.” Back to down-to-earth, affordable models: Volkswagen is celebrating 50 years of the Passat and 40 years of the Golf II. Hyundai motorized Korea 55 years ago and Seat 70 years ago Spain. At the same time, Volvo (Duett) and Opel (Rekord Caravan) anchored the station wagon as a European family car. Pontoon shapes were suddenly in fashion in 1953, and Mercedes spread this design principle with the Type 180 (W 120), which also popularized diesel power – and In the Mercedes C-Class (W 202) from 1993 there was a final successor series, which is still enjoying sales success to this day. The NSU Wankel Spider started with a single-disc rotary piston engine, the Mazda Cosmo Sport 110 S followed with a two-disc rotary engine and even Citroen jumped on this train of the times in 1973 with the GS Birotor. An expensive mistake? No, at least that’s what Mazda says, and in January 2023 it will be showing the electric MX-30 with Wankel as a range extender. Many people think that everything was better in the past. Certainly not road safety, as the figures for accident victims, which were once many times higher, say. No wonder, since there were patents for seat belts as early as 1903, but they were not distributed until almost 60 years later. The first pedestrian traffic light was installed in Copenhagen in 1933, Berlin followed four years later, and Vienna not until 1951. (SPX)
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