Classic Car Shows Around Europe

[T50GSW]

Hi everyone,

Hopefully you guys will have some good suggestions for me. I'm thinking about taking my father-in-law to a big classic car show at some point in the near future as a surprise, he is doing a huge favour by helping his daughter and myself get onto the property ladder and seeing as he loves classic cars, as do I, I thought this would be a good idea for a gift to show my appreciation.

I saw the PistonHeads news story about Villa D'Este earlier today and this is kind of what inspired the idea. I have looked into the show but from what i could see on their website, the public days are limited in what is available. One day says its purely about motorbikes, which doesn't do anything for either of us, and the day reserved for cars talks about watching the presentations of trophies. Does anyone know if it is possible to just go to the show like you would a normal car show, or is it a very exclusive event? Or maybe their website just doesn't describe the event accurately and isn't doing a good job of selling the event?

Failing that, has anyone got any other suggestions for events going on? I like the idea of going to one abroad but I'm not too clued up what events there are. I would prefer it to be classic cars as we've had multiple discussions in the past about how newer cars just don't really evoke the same emotions for either of us compared to older models. He has a classic 1970's 911 Clubsport that he's owned for nearly thirty years and absolutely adores, so classic cars would be the way forward if I can arrange it.

Thanks in advance

[Bazooka Joe]

If Porsche and classics are his thing then perhaps Techno Classica Essen would be good. You'd have to wait to March/ April 2019 and food in italy would be better!!!!

[dibblecorse]

Or book to go to the Silverstone Classic, some really good hospitality days and excellent access to all the cars .... also as he is providing a leg up onto the property ladder would he appreciate you spending a chunk of change on a classic car jolly ???

[Pericoloso]

Bazooka Joe said:

If Porsche and classics are his thing then perhaps Techno Classica Essen would be good. You'd have to wait to March/ April 2019 and food in italy would be better!!!!

Auto d'Epoca in Padua is in October.
Never been,not sure how big it is and unlikely to be as big as TC Essen.

At least Essen is an easy drive from Calais,about 250 miles,one night in hotel,a day at the show,drive home.

[T50GSW]

thanks for the suggestions, i'll look into both of them.

dibblecorse said:

Or book to go to the Silverstone Classic, some really good hospitality days and excellent access to all the cars .... also as he is providing a leg up onto the property ladder would he appreciate you spending a chunk of change on a classic car jolly ???

I appreciate where you're coming from Dibble, and I see the point. However, this was just an idea I had to show my appreciation for what he's doing for my partner and I, and I would put the money aside for it on top of paying him back. I thought it might be a nice idea seeing as we're both car fans but until I met his daughter, he never really had anyone he could even talk to about car related stuff, so most of the time if he wanted to go to something he either had to go alone or not at all. And as far as i'm aware he's only ever gone to local car shows which can be quite limited in numbers and variations of what shows up, so I wanted to take him to a major one where he could really enjoy it and be himself without worrying that people weren't interested.

[leyorkie]

Le Mans Classic in July
3 days of Classic action on the track and 15,000 cars on display

[Mishima]

We've been to Villa d'Este a couple of times (or more correctly Villa Erba which is next door and the poor people can see the same cars for about 15 Euros) the last time being 2 years ago. Yes, the trophies were presented on the Sunday but it was at the end of the day and in front of a grandstand full of people with a commentary by Simon Kidston. In the meantime the cars are there all day
There were only about 100 cars there but they are of such quality and rarity and the surroundings are so beautiful, with seaplanes and Rivas on the lake.
It's a treat just wandering round the car park - we parked among a Swiss Silver Cloud convertible, an F40 and a Lancia Aurelia Spyder.
All in all, an enchanted place.
Check that it's going to be the same format next year. See the Concorso Villa d'este website and see lots of highlights on YouTube.
Another one I like the look of is the show at Chantilly but I haven't been.
Yet another is the Mille Miglia - if you want to see 450 rare pre-1957 cars roll past in front of you one by one then go to Brescia on the day before it starts. After that you can see them on the route at any point you like. We've just got back from this year's event and it was really good.
Check the programme etc on the MIlle Miglia site and see YouTube.

[e600]

A jolly good dose of Goodwood Revival?

[Pericoloso]

As above ,why didn't I mention the Mille Miglia ?..... ,which I also have just got back from.

If the weather is good ,it is just the BEST thing ever !

[sim16v]

I've organised numerous trips to a few overseas classic shows, and always add a "little extra" in to the trip.

The Essen Techno Classica is always great, and is big enough to spend a couple of days there.

You can also take in the Classic Remise in Dusseldorf, and if you want to travel a bit further, there are some great museums in Holland and Germany.

I included AMG and Porsche factory tours on my last trip.

There are also some fantastic classic events at the Nurburgring, so you get to see the cars performing as well!

Milan Autoclassica is also fantastic, the last one I attended had an amazing auction comprising a collection seized by the government!

We also drove down to Turin for the museums and spotting some of the Italian Job locations, and then toured around Lake Como whilst listening to Matt Monro!

I don't know where you are in the country, but you can usually get very cheap flights to most of the places.