Relaunched in 2021, the historic Kilometre Lancé race, the Alpine 1000, kicked off the festivities of St. Moritz International Motor Week on the runway at Engadin Airport.
The spotlight was on speed, with spectacular vehicles that had left their mark on their era in terms of the speeds they reached coming together to show that they were still as fit as ever. An opportunity to see some absolutely incredible machines.
Without doubt the most astonishing of the day, the C-16 Streamliner by Glen Billqvist with its twin Buick in-line 8-cylinder engines. Inspired by the Mercedes W154/M154 with which Caracciola set a 1 kilometer speed record in 1939: 20.56 seconds with an average speed of 175.097 km/h. The day after the record, he reached 398 km/h, covering the kilometer in 9.04 seconds. Glen wasn't quite as fast, but he was able to demonstrate the full velocity of his impressive creation.
In its wake, another automotive monument: the first automobile to bear the name of Porsche with the Type 64 from 1938. It is undoubtedly the faithful and magnificent replica of Barbach whose immat' is a nice nod to that of the first prototype of the 3 built.
Ferdinand Porsche this prototype on a VW base at the very rear of what will be the future Porschestarting with the 356 with a Cx of 0.385, 50 Beetle hp for 525 kg of aluminum, it can reach 160 km/h!
Another speed icon, the Jaguar XK120 MDU524 has enabled Jaguar to hold the record for the fastest production car in 1953, reaching a speed of 275.9 km/h in Belgium at the hands of in-house test driver Norman Dewis.
Production car, well almost, the British always know how to interpret the rules: the cabriolet windscreen XK120 has given way to a fully enclosed cockpit, topped only by a bubble to shelter the rider's head and provide minimal air resistance!
A little earlier in the history of the automobile, before seeking speed through finesse, the solution was to provide a vehicle with more power. Thus, in 1909 Carl Benz installs a 4-cylinder, 21,504 cm3 (yes, 21 liters!) engine in what is now called the Blitzen Benzthe Benz Eclairwhich enabled Victor Hémery to become the first man to exceed 200 km/h, a speed never before achieved on water, in the air or on land! What an adventurer...
Mercedes had also brought this Roadster 300SL proudly displaying his skated race number from the 1961 Freiburg-Schauinsland climb.
Porsche for its part, rolled a sublime 904 GTS
And two 959s, much to our delight as they are becoming increasingly rare on the roads...
As for the propeller brand, it was represented by two Batmobiles - what could be better than the Batmobiles? 3.0 CSL to illustrate speed?
Another rarity in St Moritz is a De Tomaso P72not just because of its color, but also and above all because it's the very last one produced!
A few impressive pre-war models also joined the party, giving you an idea of what it was like to be a pioneer of the mobile car!
But you don't have to be overpowered to enjoy this Alpine 1000 😉
You didn't even need to have 4 wheels, as several motorcycles and a few planes took part in this festival of speed under changing and uncertain weather conditions, adding a little magic to this sublime setting.
The St Moritz Automobile Week is not over, stay tuned Matthieu will have more great things to share with us in the days to come!
Photo credit @ Matthieu Bourgeois The Little Spotters.
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