FOR GENERATIONS American automobiles have been a huge part of Max Bertschinger's family
in Switzerland. Now living in Bäretswil, a small village in the Swiss Highlands near the city
Zurich, Max operates a classic car company and has vivid memories of U.S. cars owned by his
family.
By Tom Smith
Based on a story by Max Bertschinger
After the Pontiac came a black Plymouth 1939 P8 four-door sedan, which was used in the
family business of security material manufacturing of products like safes and bank counters –
Max’s company actually did business with Paul Guilden, the Stetson Hat trademark owner in
New York. Outfitted with a "massive steel roof rack", the Plymouth transported heavy-duty
secure doors and window frames. "A 3.3 liter six-cylinder engine operated below the hood. My
father later 'inherited' this Plymouth and [my] grandfather went to a Pontiac," wrote Max.
Max said his grandfather's passion for cars was
handed down to his father who owned a 1953
Plymouth Cranbrook four-door and then, after a
catastrophic collision with a Volkswagen that
injured his father, a Belvedere. Still later, his
father bought a Ford Customline Country Sedan
from '54. "The entire family always drove away
on Sundays in this fantastic car - called 'Spring'
within the family - and I, as a small youngster,
was then usually at the far end in the cargo
area, sitting on the small folding jump seat and
looked and waved to the cars following behind."
Max's father's next buy, however, proved
somewhat different, though not entirely, from
cruisable sedans and whether or not he was
aware of its versatility. Max reports that his dad
was "immediately fascinated" at the Geneva
Motor Show of March 1964. There he saw a
Kaiser Jeep Wagoneer. "Its width, its height and
its length were impressive. And certainly its
distinctive front with its mighty, chrome grill in
the center."
Max calls the Wagoneer "the
ancestor of today's SUV" and notes
that its release in 1963 was seven
years before the Range Rover was
made available by Land Rover.
"Power steering and an all-wheel
drive were pioneering at that time.
No slope was too steep and no snow
was too high with the speed
reduction." Max said, "Our Wagoneer
had a manual three-gear shift. The
steering was power-assisted,
however, not the brakes. Braking
and operating the clutch were hard
work and a lengthier trip went
quickly 'to the bone'. A six-cylinder
OHC engine of the Tornado model
with a displacement of 3.8 liters
operated under the huge, heavy
hood."
These features soon found use among Max's family. Two years before the Wagoneer's
purchase, the temperature of the Swiss lowlands was below freezing consecutively from
November to March and Max remembers Switzerland's Lake Zurich, which was safely frozen
over. "The surface of the ice was covered by sausage and chestnut stands and there were
specifically cleaned areas in many places where ice hockey could be played.
He fondly recalls other drivers half
frozen, stuck in the snow who had
difficulty even with snow chains,
while the Wagoneer just switched
to all-wheel drive in heated comfort.
If this wasn't enough torque the
Jeep could be shifted into
speed-reduced all-wheel drive.
"When using the speed reduction,
one was able to conquer the
steepest hills on uneven terrain at
full throttle or... deep snow without
spinning the wheels. However,
maximum speed was then limited to
40 km/h.
Max feels the four-wheel
capabilities of the '64 Wagoneer
weren't fully realized. The shift lever
on the tranny column was "remotely
positioned" and required a good
deal of effort and more than a single
attempt to successfully switch into
all-wheel drive. "...The idle speed
had to be selected and the (foot)
hand brake customary in American
vehicles had to be pressed or the
brake and clutch pedal had to be
pressed simultaneously (which was
simply impossible with short legs).
Then you pulled the said lever,
which - depending on the position of
the wheels - could only be moved
after several jolts."
"...Using the Jeep...
everything was quickly
flattened."
At 59 years old, Max can remember
American automobiles since he was very
young. His grandfather, who referred to
any United States produced car as an
“American”, first purchased a 1933
Pontiac Straight Eight Coupe. "This
Pontiac had a convertible structure that
deviated from the series design, called
'Victoria', with two doors and five to six
seats," He writes. "It was powered by the
newly developed eight cylinder in-line
engine with a 3.8 liter displacement and
77 hp.
"The ancestor of
today's SUV"
As an apprentice at his family's
shop, Max was responsible for
helping to clear snow which piled
into "mountains", as he describes.
"When it had to be [cleared] faster
at times, it was accomplished using
the Jeep and everything was
quickly flattened."
After the '64 though, Max's family bought a
new Wagoneer at the beginning of 1976 -
that model lasted them twelve years. Now a
days Max, in the Zurich highlands, collects
classic cars like his Afla Romeo’s. Jeepless
for ten years, Max finally bought a Grand
Cherokee 5.2 LTD, which along with the
Grand Wagoneer he calls the “’bedrock’ of
the Jeep models”.
“And despite the many changes in
ownership (Willys, Kaiser, AMC, Chrysler)
and the influence by Daimler and finally
Fiat, the Jeep remained what it has always
been: The SUV…” He also had a 4.7 Limited
Grand Cherokee, but then moved to the
highlands and started his classic
automobile business. At this point he was
without a vehicle and, “only one brand was
suitable – how could it be otherwise,” he
said. “The Jeep Cherokee 3.7 V6 Limited
was exactly the right one!”
The Pontiac Straight Eight was
specially designed as a convertible
which seated five.
Max's family tests the new Wagoneer at
Gotthard Pass, Switzerland.
The '76 featuring a new grill.
Grand Cherokee 5.2 LTD.
Max's latest 3.7 Limited Cherokee tows a classic Alfa
Romeo.
Max's
father
enjoys a
last
cigarette
before
they head
out.
An aged photo of the '64 Wagoneer
with Gladiator grill.
Max with an Alfa Romeo.
A just as sporty Alfa Romeo A12
Autocarri used for transport.
Max speaks in front of
the A12.
This licsence plate (also on the '76
Wagoneer) was approved for several
cars.
1954 Belvedere Sedan.