Geneva 2018: Le Retour du Futur
REVIEW The most beautiful design studies and concept cars were always presented at the Geneva Motor Show (until March 18). The exhibition "Le Retour du Futur" shows some of the examples from back then. The journey back in time to the Geneva past starts with two Alfa Romeo 6C2300. Both vehicles were in Geneva in 1938, the one Alfa on the stand of the Carrosserie [...]
The time travel into the Geneva past starts with two Alfa Romeo 6C2300. Both vehicles were in Geneva in 1938, one Alfa on the stand of Carrosserie Worblaufen, the other at Fritz Ramseier & Cie. Right next to each other the 1956 two Swiss small cars, the Soletta and the Belcar. Neither of them went into series production, but they show what unusual ideas designers came up with in the 1950s.
Knowledgeable and interested audience in Geneva
The fact that the Italian design studios liked to present their work and ideas on Lake Geneva was not only due to the proximity of Turin and Milan. The Salon always attracted an interested, knowledgeable (and often financially strong) international audience that appreciated the concept cars and one-offs. And so the Lamborghini Marzal (1967), the Lancia Sibilio (1978), the Maserati Birdcage 75th (2008) - the "Le Retour du Futur "presented their world premieres. Once these studies often disappeared in the cellars of the manufacturers - today we know about their value for history. That is why it is important that they are shown again.
The three Bizzarrini are witnesses of automotive history
Another circle is formed by the three Bizzarrini as witnesses of automotive history. The big star is certainly the Manta from 1968 - exactly 50 years ago, it was Giorgetto Giugiaro's first work for his young company ItalDesign. In Geneva, the Manta was only on display for the company's 40th anniversary, but it will be reunited with its base, the Bizzarrini P538. The trio is rounded off by the Ghepardo, which was presented in Geneva in 2005 and should have marked the rebirth of the legendary Italian brand.
The special exhibition "Le Retour du Futur", which is really worth seeing, was organized by the Swiss Car Register and the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne in cooperation with the Geneva International Motor Show; the expert Urs Paul Ramseier was responsible.
PETER RUCH
