Salzburg is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is famous for this and, of course, for Mozartkugeln and other sweets. But Salzburg also has a classic car fair, the Classic Expo. And it is bigger and more diverse than some might expect.
Generously laid out
The classic car fair filled no fewer than ten halls for its 15th anniversary on October 18-20, 2019, plus the inner courtyard, which was used as the starting point for the Salt & Oil Rally.
While Halls 3 to 6 were primarily used for private sales, Hall 2 was dedicated to the clubs, Hall 9 to the Dorotheum auction, Halls 7 and 8 to the parts market, Hall 2 to the clubs and Hall 10 to the dealers and special shows. Hall 1 also featured the special "Bella Italia" theme.
Over 1000 cars
Spread across the ten halls, there were more than (estimated) 1000 cars to admire.
Although vehicles with a star or Porsche emblem were certainly more strongly represented than other brands, there was no sign of uniformity, not least thanks to the clubs and private sellers.
For example, visitors could admire a rare Ford Eifel convertible, a rarely seen Siata-Ford 208 S or a magnificent Steyr 220 Cabriolet.
The prices asked were mostly on an earthly level, with EUR 9500 for a first-hand VW Golf 1 or EUR 9900 for a Fiat 128 3P Sport Special Coupé, you can't really complain.
The clubs also showed beautiful cars, such as the Lotus Club Austria with a nice selection of Lotus sports and racing cars or the Ford clubs with a Taunus armada, three generations of Ford Capri and the Mustangs from America.
Clearly arranged special shows
There were a total of three special shows to admire in Salzburg.
60 years of Steyr-Puch Haflinger, 60 years of Mini and 100 years of Zagato were celebrated.
Interesting exhibits of the three brands/manufacturers were shown in a manageable number and were particularly reminiscent of the sixties.
Weather-sensitive
The number of visitors changed completely from day to day. On Friday it was rather quiet, on Saturday the crowds streamed through the halls and on Sunday many classic car enthusiasts preferred to enjoy the warm weather (over 20 degrees) outside.
It is likely that the number of visitors was lower than in previous years (e.g. 2018: 26,000 visitors), but the organizer has yet to confirm this.
Sociable atmosphere
As you would expect in Austria, the atmosphere in the halls was convivial. Various catering options invited visitors to sit together and "chat", although the individual bistros reported early on Friday that only a small selection of food was still available. It didn't quite feel like Austrian hospitality.
Successful Dorotheum auction
Dorotheum also auctioned 66 vehicles, including a Vespa and a Harley, worth EUR 5.4 million at the fair in Salzburg on Saturday afternoon. On average, the vehicles were 51 years old and were valued at EUR 81,100.
Not quite a third of the lots were offered without a reserve price. On average, around 95 percent of the median estimate was offered.
EUR 5.12 million was raised in the sale, with only four cars being left standing. With a sales rate of 94%, the result is certainly impressive.
The most expensive car was a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, but high prices were also achieved by a Gräf & Stift from 1922 and a Lancia 037 Rallye from 1983.
A BMW 327 Sport convertible, a Bitter CD, a Mercedes-Benz 230 SL and an Auburn 8-88 Roadster were left standing.
Offered and Sold Vehicles
The following table lists all offered and sold vehicles with estimated prices, highest bids, and sale prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid on the auction day. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | EUR Est from | EUR Est to | EUR SP | CHF SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vespa 125 | 1951 | 7000 | 10'000 | 10'120 | 11'132 | +19.06%
|
V |
| 2 | Volkswagen Golf 1.1 GL | 1979 | 8000 | 12'000 | 7820 | 8602 | -21.8%
|
V |
| 3 | Porsche 924 | 1985 | 10'000 | 15'000 | 11'040 | 12'144 | -11.68%
|
V |
| 4 | Nissan Figaro | 1992 | 8000 | 12'000 | 7820 | 8602 | -21.8%
|
V |
| 5 | Jaguar XJ-S V12 H. E. | 1981 | 10'000 | 15'000 | 8050 | 8855 | -35.6%
|
V |
| 6 | Lancia Beta HPE 1600 | 1977 | 8000 | 12'000 | 8280 | 9108 | -17.2%
|
V |
| 7 | Alfa Romeo 1300 Junior Zagato | 1971 | 16'000 | 24'000 | 21'850 | 24'035 | +9.25%
|
V |
Möchten Sie alle Auktions-Ergebnisse sehen?
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
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