Germany Part 17 - Nice Cars: Porsche Classic (1959 to 1969)

A. Porsche 754 T7 - The predecessor before the 911 (Year 1959)



A history of 754 T7

B. Porsche 911 2.0 Coupe - The first generation of 911 (Year 1964)

A history of first generation of 911 2.0 Coupe

In Singapore, someone tried to sell a 1967 Porsche 911 2.0 Coupe for S$250,000 (equivalent to about US$182,000 or 164,000 Euro).

C. Porsche 912 Coupe (Year 1967)

Germany Part 16 - Quote of the Month

"Pain - a matter of nerves."

 

(Source: Deutsche Museum)

I wonder what pleasure is.

Germany Part 15 - A Collection of Nice Cars

In this trip, I have seen many cars. Some of the cars are well designed and would stand the test of time.

BMW

E36 Coupe



BMW E36 Coupe - Doesn't like green though and not the saloon

Z3 M Roadster

BMW Z3 M Roadster

The Z3 Interior

840Ci

The 840Ci. Prefer another colour

Mercedes

500SL

1988 Mercedes 500SL

Lamborghini Gallardo

German Police, but I would like it black

Audi TT

2015 Audi TT S

Interior of the TT S - Sporty and Modern

Germany Part 14 - Rotary Engine

Rotary Engine from Deutsche Museum, Munich

A photo of a rotary engine showing the coolant jacket in green, spark plugs shown in blue and rotor (the triangular shape core). The rotor will spin around the combustion chamber which will turn the rotor shaft.

Car with rotary engine includes the Mazda RX 8 and RX 7.

Germany Part 13 - Porsche 911 Turbo S (991 version)



Porsche 911 Turbo 2 - One of the most powerful 911

A very sexy rear with the curves and lines

Engine: 3.8 litre / 6 Cylinder Boxer
Power: 560 PS / 412 kw / 552 bhp
All wheel drive / 7 speed dual clutch sequential transimission
Official 0 to 100 km/hr in 3.1 seconds
Top Speed: 318 km/hr
Selling Price in Germany approx. 198,000 Euro

Germany Part 12 - Interesting Painting

Arnulf Rainer

This is not a flat panel LCD television but it looks like one.

This is not an opening on a wall but it looks like one.

It is an art piece by Arnulf Rainer displayed at Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich. The whole painting is painted black except at the top left hand corner where there is a shade of brown. It was painted around year 1955.

As they said "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder."

Germany Part 11 - Messerschmitt ME 163 Komet



Schematic Diagram from Deutsche Museum

 

Engine Propulsion Walter WHK 109-509A

Designed by Alexandra Lippisch
Top speed: 959 km/hr

Engine type: Walter HWK 109-509 A
The motor served as an auxiliary take-off propulsion system for airplanes as well as a powerful propulsion system for military aircraft.
Production of the 109-509 motor began in August 1944 with the A1 version. The motor was used for military aircraft, such as the Bachem Ba349 "Natter" and the Messerschmitt ME 163, as well as the DFS228 experimental high altitude plane.
The rocket motor could only fired for a few minutes due to its high fuel consumption. On the ME 163, for example, it could only be fired for approximately 7 minutes.
The motor was designed to permit the aircraft to climb to a high altitude in a matter of minutes to intercept enemy aircraft, defend ground installations, and to glide back to the ground.
The motor ran on diamide hydrate (C-fuel) and hydrogen peroxide (T-fuel). The mixing of these 2 substances produces an intense reaction. For this reason, the utmost diligence and care was required during refueling. Numerous and often fatal accidents occurred at landing when the remaining fuel in the tanks exploded.
Approximately 500 Walter HWK 109-509 rocket motors were built for aircraft.
Thrust (adjustable): 0.1 to 15.7 KN
Fuel consumption: Max 7.5 kg/sec
Total motor length: 2.53m
Total weight: 175 kg
(Source: Deutsche Museum)

You can see the letter "C" and "T" on the underside of the aircraft indicating the fuel types.

While reading on test pilots of ME 163, I came across a female test pilot by the name of Hanna Reitsch who had successfully flown the ME 163. Reading her story in wiki is fascinating. She and fellow comrade Ritter von Greim were in the Fuhrerbunker on the last days of the World War 2. Hitler gave von Greim and Reitsch capsules of poison for committing suicide. Reading her views, I could sense her honor, discipline and love for her motherland (Deutschland). I could also sense that in the people of the second axis of power, the Japanese, the same honor and duty to serve the Emperor. That honor drove ordinary citizens towards patriotism and eventually to sacrifice themselves in the war.  Japanese had the kamikaze and reading wiki, one could also see that Reitsch had proposed a similar idea of Operation Suicide to Hitler in 1944.

The Japanese had also tried to copy the ME 163. Mitsubishi had used the plans from ME 163 to develop the J8M Shusui plane.

When I was a young boy, around 9 to 10 years old, I was amazed by both ME 163 and ME 262 from the boxes of model planes.  I recalled I bought a model plane of the ME 163, although at that time, I did not know the history behind these planes. It was an awesome experience to see these planes in real life after all these years.

Germany Part 10 - BMW Isetta 1955 to 1962

Isetta at Verkehrszentrum

Isetta at BMW Welt



Entrance is via the front



Isetta at BMW Museum

The Isetta at Verkehrszentrum is the most original, worn out and used.  It reflects the true condition of a car that is 60 years old.

The Isetta at BMW Welt is the most refurbished unit with new colours and distinctive wheels.

The Isetta at BMW Museum is modified with a different window panels, a back rack for storage and silver chrome trim across its body.

Original Specification
Engine: Single Cylinder 4 stroke engine
Displacement: 245 cm3
Power: 8.8 kw (12 hp)
Speed: 80 km/hr
(Source: Deutsche Museum Verkehrszentrum)

According to BMW Museum, by early 1960s, more than 160,000 units of Isetta were manufactured.

Germany Part 9 - Beers

In my short stay of a week, I have drank beers from 2 restaurants. Both are in Munich Marienplatz.

1) Augustiner - Founded in year 1328. Cost less than 4 euro.

2) Hacker-Pschorr - Cost less than 5 Euro

 

Both were equally smooth and good.
Germany is famous for it beer production.

Germany Part 8 - Nice Car Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing

Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

Looking at the large car sill next to the driver seat, it will be interesting to see how the driver enters the car. The central rear mirror is placed on the dashboard and the instrument panel looks good.

Germany Part 7 - Food

The food I had eaten in Germany:-

Schweinshaxe (Pork Knuckle about 20 Euro including beer)

German Bratwurst (My favourite, 4 Euro)

















German Pretzels (seasoned with salt) and Cakes

Subway (3.99 Euro)

Pizza

Germany Part 6 - A tale of Banana

Viktualienmarkt, Munich

I bought this 4 pieces of bananas in Viktualienmarkt in Munich. It cost me about 4.5 Euro, which is equivalent to S$6.75 (at 1.5 exchange rate). In Singapore, the 4 pieces of bananas would probably cost S$1.50. In other words, it was 4.5 times more expensive in Germany than in Singapore. I bought it out of mistake because the display sign was in German and it showed 2 Euro. I realized that it was possibly 2 Euro per unit weight. (maybe 2 euro per 100 gram).

With this expensive bananas, I started to think about some facts about Germany. In Germany, the consumption tax (value added tax) is 19% except for certain products.

The minimum wage in Germany is 1473 Euro (as at Jan 2015). The average gross and net salaries are 2977 and 1889 Euro respectively (as at 2013 from wikipedia). The income tax rate for a person earning 100,000 Euro annually is about 42% (after deductions and relief).

A typical meal consisting of fast food including drinks is between 4 Euro to 10 Euro. I had a Subway burger with drink for 3.99 Euro (promotion).

It appears that the cost of living in Germany is not low. However, I am sure that there are ways in which the locals can save through experience. Example, through purchase in supermarket. Even for their trains for transport, there are cheaper means for locals. For Arts museum visits, if one purchases ticket on Sunday, the ticket will only be 1 Euro.

Germany is the most powerful economic country in Europe. It did it through its industry, well known products and an efficient labour force.

Lastly, it could be that banana was a off season fruit and that Viktualienmarkt is a tourist market.

Germany Part 5 - Energy and Environment

S-Bahn showing an outside temperature of 33 degree celsius

In summer, Germany ambient temperature can go up to 33-34 degree Celsius. It is considered hot but fortunately the humidity is low, hence the skin will tend to cool faster as perspiration evaporates. There was report linking higher ambient temperature to carbon emission.

The Deutsche Museum Verkehrszentrum has 1 interesting display that shows the impact of technology on carbon emission. It shows a comparison of the distance that Man can travel against the quantum of carbon dioxide emitted from the technology. The highest being travelling by airplane and the second highest being by car.

I did notice that there were wind mills and solar panels installed at the country side. I also read that the amount of power generated in Germany through Green technology had supplied more than adequate needs of the country to the extend that electricity was exported over to neighbouring countries.

While the automotive industry had previously been producing cars with high capacity hence higher carbon emission, recently there was attempt to make hybrid green car. Eg BMW i series and the Audi A3-e tron. And before the hybrid cars, BMW had created the hydrogen fuel car. With the current fuel price, it is hard to see how these 2 green car can be successful. It is good effort thought as lesser carbon emission with lead to better environment.

BMW hydrogen fuel car

BMW i8