A TASTE OF DEUTSCHLAND

Inspired by a couple of renowned German VW events, the So-Cal Vintage Treffen attracted 200 of the oldest and most rare VWs stateside

- Stephan Szantai

Every couple of years, Germany hosts a car show solely dedicated to the early production, stock VWs, either in Hessisch Oldendorf or Bad Camberg – the two meets alternate. Visitors travel from all over the planet to witness the mayhem; in fact, ‘Hessisch’ and ‘Camberg’ should be on any enthusiast’s bucket list. They have in turn both inspired event promoters worldwide to organise their own versions of such vintage-oriented get-togethers. Over on the West Coast of the USA, the Kimball family (the folks behind the Bug-In) created the So-Cal Vintage Treffen in 2007. It has since become a can’t-miss happening for the fans of early German metal.

The venue of choice, the Phoenix Club, is a German cultural centre and therefore lends itself perfectly to such an event. It resides in the city of Anaheim, Orange County – better known for being at the heart of the California Look movement since its inception. The crowd can enjoy a taste of the Fatherland courtesy of a popular Biergarten and a restaurant serving popular German dishes, along with a large marquee dubbed ‘The Festhalle’ which is usually put to good use for Oktoberfest. Grass expanses lend themselves ideally to car shows, too.