Classic Road-trip For Classic Cars

The Sixth "Hamburg-Berlin Classic" 2013 rally for vintage and classic cars organized by "Auto Bild Klassik" magazine, was joined by three of BMW Group Classic's: a 1981 Mini Clubman Estate, a Riley Elf, first registered in 1969 and a Mini-Wildgoose "Brent" Super V.E.B, one of the few surviving Mini-based campers, developed in the 1960's. The “Hamburg-Berlin Classic” which was held from 19 to 21 September 2013 under a name that is familiar in vintage car circles, even though this time the rally was taking an east-west route. It was the first time that the Olympic Stadium in Berlin was used as the starting point for the three classic Minis and around 180 other vehicles from almost 100 years of automotive history.

OneShift Editorial Team

01 Oct 2013

Most of the route covered quiet secondary roads through Mecklenburg-Pomerania. The Fleesensee region, Müritz National Park, the state capital Schwerin, the Lauenburg lakes and the banks of the Elbe provided the backdrop for this veteran rally. During the event, the competitors were tested in special tasks to be completed against the clock. At the closing event in the Fish Auction Hall at Hamburg Harbour the winners in all categories were named, including the team with the most original car and the best-dressed competitors.

The trio nominated for the “Hamburg-Berlin Classic” demonstrate only a fraction of the various incarnations of the classic Mini during its long and varied life. The Mini Clubman Estate was built between 1969 and 1981 as an estate version of the new model variant, which was longer than the original by 11cm and which had a different front section. One of the last of this type of vehicle ever produced took part in the “Hamburg-Berlin Classic”, featuring silver paintwork and a 1.0 litre four-cylinder engine with 29 kW/39 HP.

The Riley Elf is unmistakably a Mini, while also having a character all of its own. This model was introduced in 1961 as a more elite version of the classic Mini and extended the range of the Riley marque, which also belonged to the British Motor Corporation (BMC).

The British trio is completed by the Mini Wildgoose. Using the classic Minivan as a basis, British coachbuilders in the 1960s set about creating a camper van for adventurers who wanted to push to the limits of the principle of the creative use of space that characterized Mini. Wildgoose Ltd. in Worthing produced about 60 of the small camper between 1963 and 1968, only about 10 of which are estimated still to survive today.

The Mini Wildgoose has room for four people to travel and sleep and, among other features, has a two-ring gas hob, a sink and an electrically powered telescopic roof that offers a surprising amount of headroom in the living quarters. A modest tempo is guaranteed by the 850 cc four-cylinder engine with 25 kW/34 HP, enabling this bird to reach maximum speeds of 116 km/h.

Credits: Oneshift News Team