Show Report - Käfernarren 2022

Aside from the internationally known shows in Germany, such as Bad Camberg, Hessisch Olderdorf and the MaiKäfer treffen, there are still plenty of smaller shows to visit throughout the season. One such is the three day long Käfernarren show, which takes place on the same Ascension Day bank holiday long weekend every year (though thanks to Covid, not for the last two years), at Schwabs Country Inn, outside of Bad Rappenau, near Heilbronn. The venue is actually a horse ranch, with a pub/restaurant and obviously plenty of fields for camping.

As the name suggests, the organisers – the Käfernarren (Käfer means Beetle in German) - are a VW club, though despite this, the show is actually open to any marque of classic, which gives some nice variety. Aside from cars to look at and people to chat with, there were various autojumble bits and pieces for sale from a crankshaft to a pair of twin carbs (I valiantly resisted). I was only there on the Saturday and was told that Thursday had been a little busier, due to the better weather, but it looked as full as ever to me, with a steady flow of cars coming in and out. 

A Standard model Beetle (aka Sparkäfer), a Buggy, a Karmann Ghia and a Porsche 914, sharing space on the camp grounds.

Camper vans on the field came in a range of shapes and sizes, showing that if you're prepared to look beyond VW camper vans as your camping wheels, then there are indeed other possibilities. I can’t remember the last time I saw a Fiat 900 van, but here were two of them, in perfect condition.

Another rarely seen van was this East German Barkas along with one of many T3s (seen here with the French resistance). The blue Bay Window with matching caravan was super clean.

And also some very unusual campers, in the shape of a Borgward truck and even a couple of huge converted fire trucks.

The Opel and Citroen guys put up a strong showing too. There was a super clean Manta and I haven’t seen an Ami Super for many years. The owner said there aren’t more than about 10 left in Germany.

Since Neckarsulm is just a few miles down the road and was the home town of NSU, before it was rolled into Audi (there’s still a huge Audi factory at Neckarsulm), it was no surprise to see an NSU 1200 and even a couple of NSU Quickly 1950s mopeds turn up.

Being predominantly a VW show, naturally there were plenty of Beetles, in different styles, from Cal Lookers, to full on customs and most things inbetween.

This '60 ragtop Beetle was pristine and featured a Judson supercharger. That's a German Army VW Type 183 Iltis (Polecat) parked behind it.

Also some very nice water cooled cars showed up. A lovely Mk1 Scirocco among others.

Thomson (the shows organiser) brought along his recently acquired Bianco SS. Not a kit car, but a factory built Brazilian car, with Beetle underpinnings and a 3.0 litre Porsche flat six. More on this one later. 

Evening entertainment was provided by a couple of different bands – The ‘Eight Armed Bandits’ were a highlight for me.

So if you’re in the area next year, then do drop by – you won’t be disappointed - and best of all it’s free to get in.

Words & Pics: James D