The annual Retro Classics Stuttgart took place from March 10 to 13, 2011 and invited fans of classic cars (as well as motorcycle enthusiasts and those interested in old agricultural machinery and trucks) to a showcase of manufacturers, dealers, service providers and clubs.
Exhibitors and record attendance
On 105,000 m2, 1,308 exhibitors - 120 more than last year - showcased everything that interests classic car enthusiasts. And this target segment also appears to be growing healthily in Germany. Since 2005, the number of H license plates has increased by 37%, 188,360 cars with the coveted H license plate are on German roads and are now also considered to be safer than average. According to GTÜ, every 4th car in the age group 20 to 29 years has defects, while this is only the case for every 9th classic car over 30 years old. Interest in classic cars is growing and the stock is growing at a rate of 10% per year. In 2011, around 66,000 visitors came to Retro Classic and marveled at the 3,200 vehicles on display, which was also a record.
BMW Classic with "the new class"
BMW Classic was at Retro Classics for the first time and, in addition to the "new class", also presented a look back at the Baur convertibles on its 1,900 m2 stand. In addition, three Isettas closed the gap to the beginning of motorization in the 50s and 60s. On the large stand, the BMW clubs also presented an overview of BMW's work in the form of beautiful vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz in design fever
Mercedes-Benz ("Future needs origin") showed the activities of its design department on a Mercedes 500 K, on the Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupé presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961 and on a current study. Of course, the obligatory Gullwing was also on show, as well as a display of some lesser-known racing cars from the company's 125-year history.
Porsche Classic with partially restored 911 T and 25 years of Porsche Exclusive
Porsche celebrated 25 years of its Exclusive department and brought a unique Porsche 959 in a special color combination to the exhibition hall. Another highlight was the partially restored 911 T Coupé from 1973, which will be raffled off to members of the Porsche Club of America this summer.
Bosch celebrates its 125-year history
Bosch celebrated its own anniversary with a racing car show with the slogan "Technology for life". On November 15, 1986, Robert Bosch opened the "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering" in Suttgart and from there developed into a global supplier of automotive components, backed by thousands of patents. The classic car segment is now a significant line of business for Bosch and the company has around 40,000 parts for older cars on offer.
Colorful dinosaur exhibition
The special exhibition of vehicles equipped with Dino engines was probably unique. All users of the 2.0 and 2.4-liter Dino engines, as well as their successors, were lined up in a circle. The vehicles(Dino 206 GT, 246 GT/GTS, Dino 308 GT/4, Lancia Stratos, Fiat Dino Coupé and Spider) impressed not only with their shapes and technology, but especially with the color combinations typical of the time, which are difficult to describe.
The range and the dealers' stands
As every year, the dealers were also represented with large stands and offered highlights from their range. Among others, the newly resurrected Mirbach was in Stuttgart with new management, appearance, range and program. The stand with 26 vehicles included a 1930 Mercedes SSK, Harald Ertl's modified BMW M1 and a colorful array of Porsche 356s. But other dealers were also not to be outdone and brought rare and interesting vehicles to the trade fair.
Marreyt Classics presented a Jaguar XK 120 converted by M.R. Tomlinson, the MRT Jaguar. The car had been converted into a racing car with a tubular frame chassis in 1953, fitted with suspensions similar to the Jaguar D-Type and completed with an RGS fiberglass body. With race participations at Silverstone, Greenham Common, Prescott Hill, Goodwood, etc., it also had an interesting history. The Oldtimer-Galerie Toffen parked a Delahaye, a barn find, on their stand.
The Mercedes-Benz 770K, also known as the "big Mercedes", was the attraction at Axel Schütte's stand. If you want to be chauffeured like Pope Pius XI or Emperor Hirohito, this is the place to go, provided you have the necessary change.
But there were also more popular offers, even if some of the prices showed healthy self-confidence. Want an example? Porsche 914, 2-liter, 4-cylinder, 33,900 km, from first ownership in unrestored excellent condition for almost 40,000 euros.
Restorers, service providers and accessory suppliers
The smaller service providers and suppliers from the classic car scene were also exciting. Here, visitors were able to gain an insight into the work of these specialists and, for example, follow the progressive restoration of a Dodge Charger using three examples. Some suppliers deliberately showed not only finished examples, but also "work in progress ".
Clubs with a broad presence
As always, the clubs were an important attraction at Retro Classic. Beautiful vehicles were presented, with the Peugeot pre-war register in particular showcasing exceptional vehicles.
The automobile as a cultural asset
At a special exhibition on the theme of the automobile as a cultural asset, vehicles from different countries and eras were brought together in beautiful overall compositions in the gallery of Hall 1.
Paul Pietsch turns 100 years old
The 100th birthday of Paul Pietsch was also (pre-)celebrated. The gifted racing driver is not only an integral part of automotive history because of his many racing successes, but also because of his journalistic achievements, not least with the founding and management of the magazine "Das Auto", which later became "Auto Motor und Sport".
Vehicle exchange for private individuals and dealers
More than 300 vehicles were waiting for new owners in Hall 6, some of which even had to wait outside due to lack of space. There was everything from the VW Beetle to the BMW 3.0 CSL (Batmobile), the Porsche 993, the Opel Kadett A, Mercedes 190 SL, 280 SL, 500 SL and a fully equipped hearse. Youngtimers and oldtimers stood peacefully side by side, a Matra Murena from 1982 next to a Jaguar E-Type. This hall was almost a museum in itself.
Lanke's classic car auction with a wide range on offer
The big Lankes auction took place on Saturday. The offerings ranged from rare pre-war Alfa Romeos to youngtimers such as three Lancia Delta Integrale. According to Hein-Dieter Lankes, 30% of the vehicles were sold, which he considered a success and spurred him on to return.
Retro Classics as a central meeting place for the classic car scene
"Retro Classics has proven to be the central meeting place for the classic car scene in southern Germany and now radiates far beyond the borders of Germany," said Ulrich Herrmann, organizer of Retro Classics. Visitors came not only from the neighboring federal states, but also from abroad, thus shaping the increasingly international appearance.
