Shanghai Motor Show, Curbside Classic Edition
In Shanghai, you can see the latest cars, and the cars of the future with no future. You also can see a tiny bit of the past.
Citroen brought two classics.
The Traction Avant was popular with French gangsters, and also with the German Gestapo for the short years it could safely ride around Paris in a car. The car went into the annals as the Gangster Citroen.
This is a Citroen halftrack. In 1931, seven of them followed the Silk Road from Beirut to Beijing, a trip that took them a year and a half. Seven other halftracks left Tianjin on the Yellow Sea to meet them.
The expedition is lovingly documented at the show.
The competition at Renault brought one of their classics. I forgot to write down what it was and can’t look smart. Any ideas?
And a classic from America. The 1967 Camaro, Official Pace Car of the Indy 500.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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That's a Renault Viva Grand Sport. Introduced in 1934, 4L straight six engine, with a rumble seat behind the convertible top.
Interesting that you feature a Traction Avant. I am going on a road trip in mine this week. I will leave home in Dublin, Ireland and join fellow enthusiasts for a tour of Holland. I expect to travel about 1200 miles between Thursday and the following Tuesday. Wish me luck.