Classic Car Rally: Creme21 Youngtimer Rally – Northern Germany
The Creme21 Youngtimer Rally—featuring classic cars from model series spanning the 1970s to the 1990s—covers a route of approximately 1,000 kilometers through Northern Germany from September 16 to 19
September 16–19: 4 days – 7 stages – 1,000 km on Germany’s most scenic back roads (Deutsch, English, Nederlands)
Northern Germany. The 25th Creme21 Youngtimer Rally kicks off in Basthorst on September 16. Enthusiasts in the "youngtimer" scene are already checking the engines of their now-historic automobiles from the 70s and 80s. With daily stages ranging from 200 to 350 km, current fuel prices might unfortunately pose an additional hurdle here, too. The vehicles registered for the Creme21 Youngtimer Rally hold either "youngtimer" status (20 years or older) or "classic car" status (30 years or older)—covering model series from between 1970 and 1990. The rally’s name pays tribute to the colorful automobiles that emerged during the era when the Creme 21 cosmetics line - with its bright orange packaging - first hit the market. Back then, vehicles were colorful and possessed distinctive, clearly recognizable design features - qualities we miss in today's SUV lineups, just as we miss the clear brand identities that once defined individual manufacturers. - Let’s wait and see which cars achieve "rally participant" status here in 20 years' time. - For now, let’s look forward to this week’s colorful, fantastic machines and the enthusiasts who cherished them early on as "garage gold"—lovingly maintaining them ever since—so that today, a vibrant car from "back in the day" often rolls past us in pristine condition!
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| Driving a VW Beetle Convertible to the rally in Hamburg; photo courtesy of the Helga Waess press archive |
Traditionally, the detailed route remains a surprise
(with the exception of selected meeting points and the start)
This much is known: It is a journey of discovery, traveling predominantly along quiet back roads.
- Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are designated driving days, covering daily stages of between 200 km and 350 km, while Sunday’s drive concludes around midday or early afternoon.
- The field sets off on Thursday, September 16, 2026, from Basthorst, near Hamburg.
- The initial legs of the journey include a drive to Rostock and a route along back roads through Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
- The route takes the convoy through Northern Germany and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to the Baltic coast.
- A highlight will be the stop at the Pütnitz Technology Museum on Friday, September 17, 2026 (from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.).
Volkswagen Classic Vehicles
Autostadt in Wolfsburg is participating in the Creme21 Youngtimer Rally alongside Volkswagen Classic, showcasing its rolling history. A special focus here is, among other things, the "50 Years of Golf GTI" anniversary.
Representing the sporty side of the Golf family at the Creme21 Youngtimer Rally is the 1989 Rallye Golf.
The Autostadt team is rounded out by
- an iconic classic—the Volkswagen Beetle 1303 "Yellow-Black Racer" (1973)—
- and a special Volkswagen commercial vehicle: a T3 Bulli "Doka" (1988).
The Creme21 Youngtimer Rally covers a route of around 1,000 kilometers through Northern Germany from September 16 to 19.
Participants can look forward to varied stages taking them through Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and along the Baltic coast.
