Hardly anyone would have dared to predict a few days in advance that October 26, 2014 would once again bring such warm temperatures and sunshine. However, the classic car fans reacted quickly and pulled their classics out of the garage instead of their everyday cars and drove them to St. Gallen.
Just 20 minutes after the doors opened, the parking spaces reserved for the old cars between the halls were taken. The St. Gallen classic car fair has hardly ever seen such a rush, and the exhibition is celebrating its tenth edition.
Record attendance
The 2014 exhibition in the Olma halls is likely to have attracted a good 5500 visitors, so it's no wonder that the Hürlimanns were pleased with the steady stream of classic car enthusiasts.
Anniversary
For the tenth anniversary, many clubs were encouraged to show their vehicles and visitors were able to admire several Citroëns, Trabants and other classics on club stands that you don't see every day.
The Alfa Romeo Museum also had a few rarities scattered around, starting with the RL Targa Florio from 1923, a 1900 Sport Spider from 1954, the Tipo 8C Monza from 1931 and the GT Junior Zagato.
Performance demonstration
Of course, the classic car industry did not miss the opportunity to benefit from the hoped-for influx of visitors and at the same time demonstrate what they are capable of. Want some examples? The Classic Car Connection showed a 1960 TVR Grantura that is nearing the end of its restoration.
Goodtimer presented a beautiful Jaguar E-Type as well as other classic cars and matching accessories.
Josef Wagner presented the chassis of an Amilcar racing car that once averaged 200 km/h at Brooklands, powered by an almost dainty one-liter in-line six-cylinder engine with supercharger.
The Touring Garage showed two of its most popular classics in the current range, namely a Mercedes Benz 230 SL and a Volvo 123 GT.
And of course parts. Photo and literature seekers also had plenty of opportunity to rummage for trophies.
Public traffic as an attraction
For once, however, the visitors who arrived in classic cars almost stole the show from the exhibitors. Temperatures above 15 degrees attracted many classic cars that would have long since gone into hibernation in other years.
And so, on the open-air site, visitors could see former everyday cars such as the Ford Taunus or the Fiat 500, exotic cars such as the Maserati Indy or the De Tomaso Pantera, but also exotic cars such as two Kübelwagens or almost thoroughbred racing cars. One of the oldest cars that found its way to the Olma halls was over 100 years old, a Talbot from 1912.
Bratwurst or sandwich in hand, the classic car enthusiasts made a pilgrimage back and forth between the halls, discussing the one or other car that passed by or was parked, and bumping into friends or acquaintances again and again. What a wonderful end to the 2014 classic car season ...
For those who were unable to be there, we recommend taking a look at the picture gallery with around 50 impressions.
