The classic car fair in Friedrichshafen has always been a little different from other events of this kind. On the one hand, it takes place in the blissful month of May, and on the other hand, the aim is to offer entertainment for the whole family.
However, Motorworld Classics Bodensee also had to reinvent itself after two trade fairs were canceled due to coronavirus. The omens were better, as was the weather. It was only sporadically wet on Friday, but more often on Saturday, with drier weather only arriving on Sunday. And the weather is essential for the Friedrichshafen trade fair, because on the one hand visitors' classic cars are allowed to park between the halls and thus enrich the exhibition, so to speak, and on the other hand the demo drives behind the A halls form an important part of the overall offer.
However, the public was not deterred by the changeable weather between 6 and 8 May 2022, with 31,300 visitors counted by the exhibition organization over the three days. On Friday, the exhibition seemed even more airy, and the halls filled up considerably more at the weekend.
More space for clubs
The eleven exhibition halls in Friedrichshafen were also more crowded in the past. The relatively small number of dealers was striking. The Mercedes-Benz, Audi/NSU, Porsche and BMW clubs stepped into the breach, making good use of the generously allocated space and bringing many exciting vehicles to Lake Constance.
At the Audi and NSU clubs, for example, the entire spectrum from the small NSU Prinz and the NSU Ro 80 to the Audi 100, TT and A8 could be viewed. Each car was well explained on information boards, so that visitors could learn something about each one.
At the Mercedes-Benz clubs, visitors were surprised to come across a Monteverdi Tiara, but of course this supposed "oversight" was immediately clarified on closer inspection, as the Swiss Monteverdi is actually a W126 S-Class.
There was also an old cab, a rare estate car and various other models from the Stuttgart-based manufacturer's portfolio on display.
In the BMW clubs, the focus was on the very small BMW Isetta, 600 and 700, as well as the very large ones, e.g. the BMW 502 or the 850i Coupé. The Z1 Club exhibited a red and a yellow sports car with the famous retractable doors.
At Porsche, we were struck by the four 928s, which showed how the sports car, which was actually positioned as a 911 replacement, changed over the years.
And of course there was no shortage of Volkswagens and Opels in the club environment. An Opel Kadett A Coupé and a Kadett B Caravan were on display in beautiful pastel colors, while two VW Sciroccos showed what the famous coupé from Wolfsburg looked like when Giugiaro was still responsible for style.
Other club stands provided a splash of color, such as that of the Citroën Veterans Club, which displayed two Traction Avants in very different conditions.
A pair of RS 2600 twins demonstrated their enthusiasm for the Ford Capri.
At the Glass Club, which kept some distance from BMW, a red coupé and a green saloon were on display. And for those who are more interested in larger vehicles, there were two Unimogs.
Clear range of classic cars for sale
Of course, the range of vehicles on sale at the trade fair on Lake Constance cannot be compared with Retro Classics or Techno Classica, but those who were looking could certainly find special and interesting classics.
At the dealerships, it was more the more popular cars from the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL to the Porsche 911 and the VW Beetle Cabriolet that were waiting for new owners.
In the private market in the halls, there were some rarities for sale. For example, we came across a rare Simca 8 Coupé from 1952, an Opel Kadett D from 1983 and a Lloyd Bus LT 500 from 1955.
Those who did not primarily want to buy, but simply wanted to look, could also see interesting exhibits from some professional exhibitors. Several museums were present with beautiful exhibits, restorers and specialists showed examples of their work. And some events and product suppliers also put a beautiful classic on their stands.
Mention should also be made of the stand where the trade fair operators and organizers themselves displayed their own classic cars, demonstrating their closeness to the subject.
Roaring engines behind the halls
The engines behind the halls began to roar again and again and soon a stream of spectators began to gather on the 1.6-kilometre-long demo race track to watch sports and racing cars on their fast laps in various fields.
The offerings ranged from racing motorcycles to Nascar cars. The brute American LaFrance and other cars with large-volume cylinders also did their laps.
In between, there were drifting demonstrations in which a BMW E28 and an Opel Commodore Caravan upgraded with a V8, among others, gave rubber.
Pre-war sports cars and post-war touring cars also attracted a lot of attention.
And between the demo laps, visitors were able to view the vehicles in the dry halls and exchange experiences with one or two owners.
Parts and other
Of course, a classic car show is not just about cars and motorcycles, but also about the parts needed to keep them running. With the advent of the internet, the parts trade has become less important, but even in Friedrichshafen, visitors could be seen proudly walking away with a tail light or a bumper.
Between the spare parts, there was of course also sales literature and magazines from back then or all kinds of Krimskams that still look good in the garage. In any case, the display led to many spontaneous purchases, which are not so easy to come by online.
Those who finally got hungry were able to enjoy the wide range of food on offer in and between the halls, and there was also plenty to quench their thirst.
Overall, Motorworld Classics Bodensee felt a little more airy than previous editions, as many exhibitors had canceled for a variety of reasons. From a spectator's perspective, this was not necessarily a disadvantage, as the clubs provided a variety of beautiful stands and the trade fair in Friedrichshafen has always been a family event that is all about the overall experience.
The picture gallery accompanying this report offers a virtual tour of the trade fair with almost 200 photos .
