The Frankfurt Motor Show is considered one of the most important not only in Europe but also in the world. We decided to recall the best models in the history Auto Show - cars, many of which later became a true legend
It might surprise you, but in fact, this motor runs in two cities: Frankfurt am Main, where on odd years exhibited cars and Hanover, where an even show trends of trucks. Moreover, originally IAA nothing to Frankfurt had! For the first time this exhibition was held in 1897 in Berlin at the Bristol, and it was shown as much as 8 "motorized carts." Nevertheless, the event was a resonant, because it was the first automobile exhibition in Europe!
Over time, the IAA is gaining popularity and managed to set records. In 1921, after the First World in the exhibition was attended by 67 manufacturers, and in 1939 the event was attended by 825,000 people. During World War II exhibition stopped their work, and actually just moved to Frankfurt in 1951, where he held to this day. But remain unchanged exhibits - cars, many of which have subsequently become true legends. We decided to recall the best models in the history of the IAA.
Volkswagen Käfer / Beetle
It's hard to meet someone, I have never heard of folksvagenovsky Beetle. This car was produced without major changes from 1938 to 2003 and became the absolute champion of motor longevity. But began his career VW Käfer, which was then called KdF-Wagen, is an Exhibition IAA, which is the spring of 1939 took place in Berlin. The car has been really popular: the simple rear-structure with 25-horsepower air-cooled engine provided him with the ultimate low cost to manufacture and maintain. Needless to say that the model adopted in the "hurray"?
Buy a novelty at hand was impossible - instead, it was necessary to purchase accounting book, in which every week a special brand of paste required nominal value 5 Reichsmark. After accumulating so 990 German marks had to get a new car. However, one should miss a payment and would have to start all over again (the invested funds is not compensated). Despite the tough conditions, not to mention the fact that the car at that time existed only in promises and handouts, the Germans reached for accounting books. By 1939 th 336,668 people deposited in the treasury of about 110 million Reichsmarks. None of them did not get his Volkswagen ... It was only in the 60s of the leadership of the German company has met "defrauded real estate investors" who get a discount on the purchase of a new car.
On the right picture you can see that same account book, or rather - the card where pasted special stamps for the purchase of "Beetle"
With various modifications Volkswagen Käfer produced in Mexico, Brazil, Australia and other countries up to 2003 (the last has become Mexico). The car left a lot of traces in motorsport, literature and cinema
BMW 507
In 1955, BMW unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show the new roadster called the 507. The model was a response to the manufacturer for Mercedes-Benz 300 SL with the famous dveryami- "gull-wing", which appeared a year earlier. Leave this step unattended Bavarians simply could not.
The car was equipped with a 3.2-liter V8, which, as the body was made of aluminum. Engine develops 150 hp power and was able to accelerate the car weighing 1330 kg to a 100 km / h in 8.8 seconds. For the first time for BMW, at the 507 th were installed front disc brakes. However, not only technique, but also the appearance, created by designer Albrecht Gёrttsem, deserves great attention.
This soldier in the photo - is none other than the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley. His 507 th he gained while serving in the US Army in Bad Nauheim.
It is not surprising that the BMW 507 has become popular among bohemians, as well as elite athletes. Alain Delon, Ursulla Andress, Toni Sailer, John Surtees, and even Elvis Presley - this is not a complete list of the owners of this roadster. A total of 252 were produced machines.
Renault 4
If you think that the dealers - it's always just supercars, luxury limousines and sports models, then you are mistaken. Already in the middle of the XX century, automakers understand how important it is to please the mass consumer. Especially actually it was 16 years after the war, when the first difficulties have been overcome, and the Europeans began to appear money on major purchases.
It is in these conditions on the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1961, it was featured Renault 4. Technically, the car was quite simple and unpretentious, and the concept proposed by the head of Renault, Pierre Dreyfus, involves the creation of "a car like jeans." Renault 4 was designed as a universal machine - for the city and for the village, for weekdays and for holidays, for work and for leisure. And while he was low! We guarantee this universality of long-stroke independent suspension, and four-cylinder engine capacity of 26 to 45 hp
Renault 4 has become one of the most popular French car in the world. In all there were more than 8 million vehicles, which were produced in 28 countries and sold in more than 100 countries.
Porsche 901/911
Unsophisticated motorist name Porsche 901 might not say anything. But that's the name we could aspirate. The fact that this is what was to be called legendary 911-I model! However, after the presentation it revealed that since 1920, Peugeot secured the rights to all the numerical designation of cars with zero in the middle. In a Porsche decided not to quarrel with the French, but simply change one number to another. So a new name - Porsche 911.
First the Porsche 911, in the creation of which the most active part took the Ferry Porsche, son of Ferdinand Porsche (the founder of the company died back in 1951), had a length of 4290 mm (the new Porsche 911 has from the nose to the tail of 4491 mm), rear-wheel drive and rear-engined layout. The weakest engine at the time was a 2.0-liter unit which gave out 170 hp By modern standards - it is nonsense, but in the early '60s it was a good figure. In addition, customers can choose the Porsche 911 and other engines - the most powerful was a 3.3-liter supercharged, 300 hp
First the Porsche 911 produced already 25 years old, just received five model generations, gathered a lot of fans around the world, and included in the list of this legend of the automotive world. But all this would be impossible without the presentation at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963.
Honda S500
In 1965, at the Frankfurt Motor Show was shown the car that literally became a new milestone in the history of the Japanese company Honda. We are talking about a roadster S500. The uniqueness of the situation was in two moments. Firstly, Honda S500 became the first production car of the Japanese manufacturer. And it was the passenger car for a long time remained a cherished dream of the founder Soichiro Honda! And let the model was introduced in 1963, the first public debut was in 1965 in Frankfurt.
The second feature is that the Honda S500 became the first Japanese car in the history of the Frankfurt Trade Fair. As for the technical nuances, the Honda S500 was equipped with a 0.5-liter 44-horsepower four-cylinder engine, which is paired with a four-speed transmission, the transmission of torque to the rear wheels.
It is worth noting that even then the European and American car makers have begun to understand that the Japanese vehicles should be treated much more serious than previously thought. But for Honda is Frankfurt was an opportunity to move to a qualitatively new level.
Volkswagen Passat
By today's standards, Passat B1, shown in 1973 in Frankfurt, does not look very interesting. However, the appearance of this model, created the great Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro, and from a technical point of view, the model was very modern for the early '70s. Initially, the car is four-cylinder petrol engines of 1.3 (55 hp) and 1.5 liter (75 hp), which are also used in the Audi 80. Transmissions were two 4-step "mechanics" and 3 -step "automatic". In addition, Passat B1 was the first Volkswagen models with front engine.
At the time-to-market Volkswagen Passat worth a little more than 9,000 German marks. For comparison, the average car in 9400 while the cost brands, and therefore the price of VW Passat were quite a moderate.
While the main advantages Passat B1 was in another - this model has conquered more room in the cabin (for machines those years) and a very attractive price. Yes, forty years ago, Volkswagen did offer "a lot of car for less money." It is not surprising that in the year Volkswagen Passat became the best selling car in Germany.
But Volkswagen has recently celebrated 40 years since its launch Passat. It is a pity that this time the concept, planted the first Passat, changed. And now it is - one of the most expensive models of the segment.
BMW 3 Series
In 1975, BMW introduced a car that became heir innovative for its time, BMW 2002. It is about the BMW 3 Series. But only the usual four-door "sedan" did not yet exist, since the first generation of "treshki" offered only in Tudor and convertible body styles - the latter was set up by the body Baur studio and produced a fine series. In those years, the world has experienced the oil crisis (ruined, by the way, coupe BMW 2002 Turbo), so the compact car with a small engine was favorably received by the public. The range of engines included petrol units of 1.6 - 2.3 liters and output from 75 to 143 forces. Engines aggregated with the "mechanics" of the steps 4 and 5 or 3-speed "automatic".
Even then the car began commercially available in four-door and station wagon modification, got a sports modification "M", was replaced by six generations and has become one of the most popular BMW's world. But the beginning of this long road was laid exactly at the Auto Show in Frankfurt.
Ferrari F40
Mid-80s - it is not the most glorious era in the history of the "Prancing colt" from Maranello. Firstly, in Formula 1, "red" thoroughly pushed a secondary role guys from McLaren, Brabham and Williams. Add another to the Porsche 959, which two years ago literally trampled into the mud masthead at the moment Ferrari 288GTO.
In Maranello it was obliged to defend the honor of Ferrari. That is why at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1987, the company introduced the Ferrari F40, that is, without exaggeration, has become one of the greatest supercars in the world.
Italians decided to dispense with such "nonsense" as the power-assisted steering and brakes, ABS and a pro at all out of the question. In the manufacture of the body was aluminum, Kevlar and other composite materials previously used except on racing cars of Formula 1. It was all done with a single purpose - to create the fastest supercar.
And they succeeded! Ferrari F40 weighed as a feather - only 1100 kg curb weight. And thanks to bore 2.9-liter V8, advocated a 478 hp, the car was able to accelerate to 320 km / h top speed. And so what this car was the appearance of ...
Ferrari F40 has become one of the most successful supercars in automotive history. Not surprisingly, no one stopped and the price of the machine 400 000 dollars - according to rumors, some overpaid four times more just to buy F40. By the way, this model was the last created during the life of Enzo Ferrari.
Hyundai
Unexpectedly, at the IAA in 1991, European producers are faced with a dangerous rival - Hyundai. The Koreans came to Europe with big ambitions and even suggested an original slogan: "At 10% cheaper and 10% better than the Japanese."
In 1991, Hyundai showed not just one model, and a whole line! Hatchback Pony, are equipped with motors in volume from 1.2 to 1.6 liters, I had to fight for car buyers "golf-class», Lantra 1.5-liter Mitsubishi - for those who needed a mid-size sedan, Hyundai Sonata was is designed for business people, well, the two-door Scoupe (also known as S Coupe) with a 1.5-liter 115-horsepower engine is an alternative for those looking for a low-priced sports car.
Not to say that Hyundai cars immediately earned itself the honor and respect in Europe. And the first steps in the Old World began much earlier - in the mid-seventies. Nevertheless, public attention Frankfurt 1991 has been guaranteed. And if before the phrase "Korean cars" is perceived more as a joke, but now manufacturers have realized that the market has a new strong player.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
In the fall of 1997 at the Frankfurt Motor Show it was indeed a landmark event: was featured Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Seest case to a premium brand produced a car length is only 3.6 meters wide and 1.7 meters? At the same time it was used an unusual design double floor called "sandwich" that ensures the safety of small cars. But that's not all! It is this CD was the first front wheel drive Mercedes-Benz.
Unusual for that time the vehicle was equipped at the time of launch engines ranging from 60 to 102 hp You will not believe, but interest in the compact was very good. Trouble at the Mercedes-Benz A-Class began later, when journalists of the Swedish edition Teknikens Värld held a "moose test", during which the vehicle overturned. At first, the company denied the problem, but then had a service campaign, on the model appeared ESP, has been reduced ground clearance, retuned suspension and tires are replaced.
However, it did not affect the popularity of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Europeans appreciate the opportunity to conveniently parked in the narrow streets and low fuel consumption. Between 1997 and 2004 it sold 1.1 million such vehicles.
Of course, the above-mentioned vehicles - are not the only stars, earned him recognition at the IAA. There was another Porsche 959, was almost unnoticed by the concept of the future Smart, was completely aluminum Audi 300 and Opel Tigra, was Lamborghini Murcielago, and Mercedes-Benz SLR. So nice to once again recall that automotive history is decided right before our eyes. The exhibition opens in Frankfurt tomorrow.
