Wunderbar & Co. - Page 5 - Sebastian Bogdanik - Page #1

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Wunderbar & Co.

Germany, France and Britain: cars most Poles only saw in Western magazines before 1989. Today they park right next to the Trabants.

Two Beetles, two clever tricks (1/2) — Two Beetles, two clever tricks. The red-and-cream one is a rare VW Automatic, the “Autostick”: three speeds and no clutch pedal, because a vacuum servo disengages the clutch the moment you touch the shifter. The other carries a leather suitcase on the engine lid, since the front trunk is tiny. More than 21 million Beetles were built, the last one in Mexico in 2003. Herbie would approve.

Two Beetles, two clever tricks (2/2) — Two Beetles, two clever tricks. The red-and-cream one is a rare VW Automatic, the “Autostick”: three speeds and no clutch pedal, because a vacuum servo disengages the clutch the moment you touch the shifter. The other carries a leather suitcase on the engine lid, since the front trunk is tiny. More than 21 million Beetles were built, the last one in Mexico in 2003. Herbie would approve.

The Golf Cabriolet, sold in America as the Rabbit Convertible, here in the Etienne Aigner special edition named after the leather-goods — The Golf Cabriolet, sold in America as the Rabbit Convertible, here in the Etienne Aigner special edition named after the leather-goods brand. Only 2,951 were built and roughly half of them went to the U.S. Germans call it the “strawberry basket” because the roll bar looks like a basket handle. Its owner keeps a scale model of the car on the dash.

The VW Karmann Ghia: Beetle underneath, body built by Karmann, styling by the Italian design house Ghia (1/2) — The VW Karmann Ghia: Beetle underneath, body built by Karmann, styling by the Italian design house Ghia. The horn button carries the crest of Wolfsburg, the town Volkswagen built.

The VW Karmann Ghia: Beetle underneath, body built by Karmann, styling by the Italian design house Ghia (2/2) — The VW Karmann Ghia: Beetle underneath, body built by Karmann, styling by the Italian design house Ghia. The horn button carries the crest of Wolfsburg, the town Volkswagen built.

A Mercedes W114/W115, nicknamed “Strich-Acht” (“slash eight”) after its 1968 debut, the diesel taxi of choice across Europe (1/2) — A Mercedes W114/W115, nicknamed “Strich-Acht” (“slash eight”) after its 1968 debut, the diesel taxi of choice across Europe. Toughness runs in the family: its successor, a W123 taxi in Greece, racked up about 2.9 million miles before Mercedes put it in its museum.

A Mercedes W114/W115, nicknamed “Strich-Acht” (“slash eight”) after its 1968 debut, the diesel taxi of choice across Europe (2/2) — A Mercedes W114/W115, nicknamed “Strich-Acht” (“slash eight”) after its 1968 debut, the diesel taxi of choice across Europe. Toughness runs in the family: its successor, a W123 taxi in Greece, racked up about 2.9 million miles before Mercedes put it in its museum.

A W124 coupe and a cabin trimmed in wood (1/2) — A W124 coupe and a cabin trimmed in wood. Many enthusiasts call the W124 the most bulletproof Mercedes ever made.

A W124 coupe and a cabin trimmed in wood (2/2) — A W124 coupe and a cabin trimmed in wood. Many enthusiasts call the W124 the most bulletproof Mercedes ever made.

A Mercedes MB100 van, built in Spain, and an Audi 80, the last of its line before the A4 replaced it in the mid-1990s (1/2) — A Mercedes MB100 van, built in Spain, and an Audi 80, the last of its line before the A4 replaced it in the mid-1990s.

A Mercedes MB100 van, built in Spain, and an Audi 80, the last of its line before the A4 replaced it in the mid-1990s (2/2) — A Mercedes MB100 van, built in Spain, and an Audi 80, the last of its line before the A4 replaced it in the mid-1990s.

The Porsche crest: the prancing horse comes from the coat of arms of Stuttgart, the antlers and stripes from Württemberg — The Porsche crest: the prancing horse comes from the coat of arms of Stuttgart, the antlers and stripes from Württemberg. Legend says Ferry Porsche sketched it on a napkin over dinner in New York with importer Max Hoffman. The official story credits a contest and an in-house designer.

The BMW Z3, built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the roadster James Bond drove in GoldenEye in 1995 (1/2) — The BMW Z3, built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the roadster James Bond drove in GoldenEye in 1995. A no-nonsense cockpit: a big Z3 on the console, three climate knobs and a short shifter.

The BMW Z3, built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the roadster James Bond drove in GoldenEye in 1995 (2/2) — The BMW Z3, built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the roadster James Bond drove in GoldenEye in 1995. A no-nonsense cockpit: a big Z3 on the console, three climate knobs and a short shifter.

A first-generation Ford Capri, Europe’s Mustang — A first-generation Ford Capri, Europe’s Mustang. The yellow paint and matte-black hood nod to the sporty RS2600. The stickers come from a different rally, the Rooster Rally.

The Peugeot 203, the company’s first all-new car after World War II, built from 1948 to 1960 — The Peugeot 203, the company’s first all-new car after World War II, built from 1948 to 1960. The lion on the hood dates back to the 1800s, when the Peugeot family stamped it on their steel saw blades: teeth as strong as a lion’s.

A British Triumph with a suitcase on the rack and a dash full of round gauges (1/2) — A British Triumph with a suitcase on the rack and a dash full of round gauges. All you need for a road trip across half of Europe.

A British Triumph with a suitcase on the rack and a dash full of round gauges (2/2) — A British Triumph with a suitcase on the rack and a dash full of round gauges. All you need for a road trip across half of Europe.