The event was extended to three days for the first time, adding the Friday as a “warm up” for the weekend. German summer is a difficult thing this year, but, weather gods are Historic Car maniacs obviously. Rain occurred, but in the late afternoon only.
On Saturday a huge crowd of 20,000 visitors have been said to be present, a fabulous result for the organization and excessive demands for the beverage carts – already at noon one failed to supply cups whilst the other did fail to have beverage at all in stock-, however, that was something that did not really change on Sunday. Liquid intake was nevertheless relevant with no cloud in the sky with no shelter from the sun if one wanted to do what was intended – spotting cars.
The area is represented by roomy green space separated by high reeds and every open space was used by the enthusiasts to park their classic cars, some of them all in a tumble, some separated by cars of the same brand or car clubs. It’s a shame that Ferrari is only represented by a small number of stalwarts without any presence by the Factory of licensed dealers whilst other brands turn up with numerous cars.
However, once again the nickname “the Niederrhein Goodwood” was well preserved. It was somehow strange to honor Sir Stirling Moss with a 250 GT SWB Replica, a car that is said to have been put together by using a 250 GT PF Coupé chassis and a 250 GTE engine. However, the owner, who also owns the original car, #2845GT, quotes that parts of #2443GT, #2845GT and #1767GT have been used.
Now, enough of complaints as it is complaining on high level, into the cars being present:
Beside the “reed-finds” I will cover later, the cars inside the palace garden, representing the “Jewels in the Park”-Concours d’Elegance had some precious Cavallinos amongst. The German “Ferrari Model Club” presented two former Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips-cars, the 250 GT PF Coupé #1263GT. The car was said to have been destined to Chinietti, but Trips was able to get a hold on the car that was built in April of 1959. It was registered on plates MO 50988. The car still wears those plates today. It is finished in Grigio Fume MM16672 with Rosso 3171 interior. Trips sold the car to Bruno Bigi from Rome in May of 1960. In 2012 the car returned to a German owner.
The second car owned by the Count and being on display was #2361GT, a 250 GT PF Cabriolet Series II, built in April of 1961 in a Verde Pimlico MM 12040/plastico e pelle Rosso 3171 livery.
A second 250 GT PF Cabriolet, being a Series I car, was present, #0829GT. 0829 is the car that was owned by M. du Pont and crashed in June of 1959 during the Rallye National du Touquet. The car was brought to Scaglietti who recreated the car with a SWB California Spider body. I had the chance to talk to the owner of #0569GT, the 35th Boano low roof Coupé, being present already at this year’s FF60 celebrations in Spa. The car was delivered new to Jan de Vroom via Chinetti and raced on the Bahamas, obviously never painted except of wearing primer. When the car was restored by DK Engineering in the 1990s, it received its current and first livery of Rolls Royce Tungsten with a White met. roof. The desired colours would have been Celeste met. with an Avorio roof, but, #0829GT looks pretty.
A US-Version of the Daytona, #15747, livered in elegant Nocciola was the final Ferrari within the Park-display.
When I visited my first Schloss Dyck Classic Days, the second edition then, I recognized a silver 365 GTC. It was not until this weekend that I was able to identify the car by its Serial Number, it is #12063. The car was included in the races together with 275 GTB #06655, the beautiful 500 Mondial, 0536MDTR, and a 250 GTO-Replica, built on 330 GT 2+2 #6463GT.
In the paddock, the New Stratos could be found. The car was built by using F430 Scuderia #164168. Further historic cars parking on the infield have been 250 GTE #3701GT and another Daytona with S/N 16981 accompanied by a Straman-converted 400 i Automatic #30129 and #6767, a 330 GT 2+2.
In the fields the enthusiast group “Red on Tour” –thank you, Folks, for having us with you!- hosted the Ferrari display. Amongst the modern cars a total of four 246 Dinos and two 208 GT/4 plus an additional Daytona (#16417) have been the highlights. The most recent cars have been the Italia Spider #185788 and the California with Serial Number 189835.
What remains are those many impressions, tons of pictures of the 60 Ferraris being present and the pleasant anticipation of the 8th edition of the Schloss Dyck Classic Days!