Thursday 22nd March 2012

Techno Classica: overview

You'll have seen Dan's blogging from the Techno Classica show; here's the full story from Essen and why you should go

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The Techno Classica show in Essen has long been a rite of passage for classic car fans from across Europe, not least Brits. And though you might think of it as an event for tweedy car collectors and restoration fans, there's actually plenty to keep a PHer interested.

'Youngtimers' a growing part of Essen show

Specifically, there is the German appetite for what they refer to as 'youngtimers', the post-1981 cars many of us here enjoy. And, local tastes being what they are, this means old Mercs, BMWs, Porsches and a smattering of Audis, VWs and others.

There's serious support from the big German brands too, all of them tying up grassroots club displays with pukka, corporate sponsorship and glitzy motor show stands. If you ever needed evidence of how much the Germans love their cars, Techno Classica is it. And it's a broad church, with silver-haired millionaires in shooting jackets laying down six-figure sums on Gullwings at one end and stands of guys laying out a van full of old BMW indicator lenses and random window seals on a table at the other.

You won't go far without tripping over a 911

It's a big show mind, the sprawling Essen Messe a serious test of stamina and shoe leather. Sausage and/or beer-based sustenance is never far away though, providing opportunity to refuel, catch breath and partake in that other Techno Classica tradition: mullet spotting. Truly, there are some spectacular examples out there.

It's not about tyre-kicking either. Iif you're serious about buying a car or simply looking for a few bits to tidy up your pride and joy and have the time to indulge in rifling through boxes of old bits this is the place to come.

Amid the glitzy stands there are areas set aside for private car sales, the courtyards in the show grounds thriving trading areas with constant wheeling and dealing. There's a definite Essen tax, however, so bargains are few and far between. That said, if you're after something like an E30 M3, rare Alpina or similar German-market rarity there's more choice than you'd get back home. A good example would be the 964 RS - we saw a couple of very good ones for less than 80,000 euros which, while hardly a bargain, is competitive with what they're going for back home.

Looking for that last widget?

Getting there is easy enough too - it's 250 or so miles from Calais and Dusseldorf airport is in easy reach and serviced by various budget airlines. The show runs until Sunday and is open every day from 9am until 6pm - full info here. Tickets are 20 euros apiece. And if you're driving out it's not a million miles out of the route to divert past acertain German racetrack either...

More in-depth stories from the bigger Essen stands to follow shortly - stay tuned!

 

 

[dave stew]

I'd love to go to this. I used to go to a trade show in Hannover (CeBit) and it was on very grand scale.

Did you spot any Ascona/Manta 400s there out of interest?

[LotusOmega375D]

I'm so decrepit, I remember going to a couple of the first ones in about 1989 - 1991. It was an enormous show even then. Strangely this year a rival organisation is putting on another big classic show down in Stuttgart at the same time.

[arkenphel]

Lord, I must go next year....

[typezerora]

arkenphel said:

Lord, I must go next year....

My sentiments as well, amazing amazing machinery

[typezerora]

If I had any influence I would vote to get shows like this done more regularly and have children and young people attend to learn the history of automotive cars and see what real engineering is (not the plastic fantastic mass produced crap you get now).

[WhiffofCastrol R]

Nice to see a SD1 in the first picture, gotta go there one day!

[si_xsi]

that Alpina is stunning, i would love to have that in my fantasy collection!

[Utterpiffle]

Ahhh, that came around quick. I live not 20 miles from this show, and only ever made it once. Must try harder...

Of course, if you are over you could also go here http://www.remise.de/ and this place is also rather amazing http://en.landschaftspark.de/startseite

[VladD]

The Countach is absolutely glorious. The more time passes, the better I think the earlier cars look compared to the newer ones. I'm starting to think the same about the Lotus Esprit too.

[Ray Singh]

That, mien Herr is a thing of absolute beauty.
Why dont they make cars like this any more. Its so classy, it hurts...



I'm off to scour ebay for Merc E300s.

Correction -> 300E s

Edited by Ray Singh on Thursday 22 March 19:43

[pSyCoSiS]

This seems like heaven to me!

What a car that E28 is, and those W124s... Oh my!

[bobberz]

VladD said:

The Countach is absolutely glorious. The more time passes, the better I think the earlier cars look compared to the newer ones. I'm starting to think the same about the Lotus Esprit too.

Same goes for the DeTomaso Pantera; the early "Pre-L" version just looks so much cleaner without all the plastic arch-extensions, wings, and other adornments.

I must go to Essen someday.

What's the Jagermeister car in the top pic? A Mk1 Fiesta, or maybe a FIAT?

[ureile]

bobberz said:

Same goes for the DeTomaso Pantera; the early "Pre-L" version just looks so much cleaner without all the plastic arch-extensions, wings, and other adornments.

I must go to Essen someday.

What's the Jagermeister car in the top pic? A Mk1 Fiesta, or maybe a FIAT?

I´d say, it´s a racing version of a Fiat 127.

[Blue Oval84]

Ray Singh said:

That, mien Herr is a thing of absolute beauty.
Why dont they make cars like this any more. Its so classy, it hurts...



I'm off to scour ebay for Merc E300s.

Correction -> 300E s

Edited by Ray Singh on Thursday 22 March 19:43

You're not getting one if I beat you to it!!

Honestly I saw that picture and a little bit of wee came out!

[iva cosworth]

Watch this space

I am working till midday Saturday.

Driving straight to Dover.

Calais to Essen.

Going to the show on Sunday.

Ferry home Sunday night.

[anonymous-user]

VladD said:

The Countach is absolutely glorious. The more time passes, the better I think the earlier cars look compared to the newer ones. I'm starting to think the same about the Lotus Esprit too.

I came to post exactly the same thing. The laters ones really were a dogs breakfast, that is absolutely amazing.

[tbid]

iva cosworth said:

Watch this space

I am working till midday Saturday.

Driving straight to Dover.

Calais to Essen.

Going to the show on Sunday.

Ferry home Sunday night.

Be sure to pop by stand 269 hall 3!

[ClassicMercs]

Very nice. But it could be bettered.

A full collection of all four 124 variants - in matching colours - the ultra rare E36's would be maybe hoping for too much.

[ram17]

Wow!! To have eye candy (as well as performance) like this in one spot and being able to buy it if your pocketbook can handle it, is so sweet. I'm on the other side of the pond and the closest we have to this is auctions. Count your blessings guys and gals and thanks to Pistonheads I get to at least see what I'm missing. Thanks guys and keep up the good work. Keep the shiny side up.

[Twoshoe]

Ray Singh said:

That, mien Herr is a thing of absolute beauty.
Why dont they make cars like this any more. Its so classy, it hurts...



I'm off to scour ebay for Merc E300s.

Correction -> 300E s

Edited by Ray Singh on Thursday 22 March 19:43

Actually, you were right first time - they are Exxx not xxxE as they are facelift 124s. However, they won't be 300s (if 6-cyl petrol); 280 or 320 by this stage.

Er, I'll get my coat...