At the Albisgütli Classics, you could just casually drive a Monteverdi

Last weekend saw the third of four annual «Albisgütli Classics» take place. Hundreds of classic car enthusiasts gathered with their often rare automotive treasures, attracting countless visitors eager to admire them. There was much to see. Owners proudly presented their classics on the Albisgütli lawn. Yet a very special delicacy awaited discreetly in the background: a Monteverdi. streetwheelz1 was at the event and shares the impressions.

The Albisgütli in Zurich is a historic location. Built in 1887, this former shooting house with its surrounding grounds has long been a popular meeting point for very different circles: Regularly, important political events take place in the imposing festival hall with its impressive wooden architecture. The meadow, meanwhile, becomes particularly spectacular during the annual Knabenschiessen, a huge fair. The many flashing lights of the rides and food stalls lend the place a special magic at night. And the Albisgütli Classics, for its part, unfolds its very own charm as a classic car meeting, attracting yet another kind of audience.

So on Sunday, August 17, hundreds of classic cars arrived from 9 a.m. until the early afternoon. Already on the way up to the Albisgütli one could see, from a distance, the neatly lined-up cars displayed decoratively across the terraced terrain. The variety was wide: from British roadsters (MG, Triumph) to American classics (Chevrolet, Ford, Pontiac) and on to European coupés (such as Alfa Romeos or perhaps Fiat). To name just a few: Shelby Cobra 427 (1965–1967), Chevrolet Master Deluxe Business Coupe (1937–1939), Ford Fairlane 500 Victoria Hardtop Coupe 1957, and Triumph TR 250 (1967–1968).

But even this small list does not do the event justice. There were so many cars that it was practically impossible to see them all. New models kept arriving while others departed, a cheerful coming and going. Rarely did a parking space remain empty for long. The grounds at the foot of the Uetliberg were, in any case, fully occupied around the clock. The Uetliberg itself, incidentally, is a popular vantage point from which, with a bit of luck, one can see the sea of clouds above the city.

In the distance, music could be heard. A jazz duo performed while people, sitting in the shade of the trees, enjoyed the food on offer or turned their gaze to the cars.

One absolute highlight of the event was not loudly announced, yet stood out for its exclusivity. Next to a VW Golf Cabriolet and an Audi Quattro stood a blue Monteverdi High Speed 375 L. This car is cult. Monteverdi is one of the very few Swiss car brands that ever existed. To be allowed to drive such a car oneself is a privilege.

Monteverdi occupies a central place in Switzerland’s otherwise meagre automotive history and is undoubtedly regarded as the Swiss car. It was not the only attempt to establish a Swiss marque—think of Sbarro, Martini, Rinspeed, Enzmann 506, Microlino—but it is the only luxury and sports car brand that ever produced in notable numbers. Yet to reduce this car merely to national pride would be a waste. Monteverdi is a beauty, its elegant, sporty aesthetics reminiscent of a Maserati Khamsin or an Aston Martin DBS Vantage.

But at the Albisgütli Classics, this Monteverdi was not only there to be admired. Young visitors with a driver’s license had the chance to sit behind the wheel themselves and drive this special car. This privilege was offered by the platform «young4vintage», which originated from the «Swiss Historic Vehicle Federation». Its mission is to preserve historic cars and, above all, to make them accessible to younger generations.

It once again becomes clear: classic cars are not meant to sit in garages but to be enjoyed. Beauty is meant to be shared. And of course, it is not every day that one gets to drive a Monteverdi through Zurich. You truly have to be in the right place at the right time.

Enjoy the full experience of the Albisgütli Classics 2025 in this video:

Anyone who feels like visiting the event can do so on October 5, 2025, at the fourth edition of this year. Further information about the event can be found here:
https://www.albisguetli.ch/albisguetli-classics

Event Information from the Organizer:

• Organized by Remimag AG and supported by its main sponsor TCS (Touring Club Schweiz), the Albisgütli Classics regularly takes place at the historic Gasthaus Albisgütli at the foot of the Uetliberg.
• Vehicle access to the grounds is open from 9:00 AM until around 3:00 PM. The participation fee per vehicle is CHF 5.–
• On-site you will find various food stands, and the restaurant will serve a reduced but delightful menu.
• Admission remains free for visitors. Parking spaces are reserved exclusively for the exhibition of classic cars. We therefore recommend arriving by public transport. Those who still come by car are asked to use the public parking facilities around the Albisgütli.

About the place:

For those interested in the surroundings of the Albisgütli, here are two special impressions. You can get a glimpse of the traditional «Knabenschiessen» fair in this video:

And if you would like to experience the Uetliberg with its fascinating sea of clouds above Zurich, take a look here:

Written by cr