Two years ago, "Retro Classics" in Stuttgart was one of the last trade fairs that was able to take place before the pandemic. After the almost obligatory break in 2021, the self-proclaimed "trade fair for driving culture" could now take place again from April 21 to 24, 2022.
Four trade fairs for the price of one
The public must have missed the event last year, because with 80,000 visitors over four days, around a third more tickets were sold than in 2020. However, many a classic car fan who started their tour on the "wrong" side rubbed their eyes in amazement when they were greeted by young vegetables instead of old sheet metal. Of the ten exhibition halls, only five were occupied by "Retro Classics". Halls 2 and 4 were home to "Der Markt des guten Geschmacks" - a trade fair for "Slow Food" - which focused on regional and sustainable food. Hall 6 was reserved for the "Garden" trade fair, whose name is relatively self-explanatory. Hall 8 contained the "i-MobIlity" trade fair, which focused solely on electromobility in all its forms. Hall 9 was not used this year.
Those who started on the "right" side found a large number of international classic car dealers in Hall 1. Due to their location, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche dominated the range. It felt like you could choose any model in any color with any engine, just like at the dealers in the past. The only difference was that you no longer had quite as much freedom as back then when it came to optional extras. Porsche celebrated the 40th anniversary of Group C at its stand and had five 956s and 962s on display.
As usual, the surrounding gallery housed the private vehicle vendors, who this year once again presented a highly varied range, from the first-generation Ford Transit flatbed truck to the BMW 635 CSi. Particularly beautiful was an unwelded Citroën DS 19 in the color "Bleu Angora", which was only offered in 1968. However, at 43,990 euros, the light blue first paint job car also wanted to be well paid for. Not far away, the first of 13 Piecha convertibles based on the Opel Calibra was looking for a new owner for 18,500 euros.
Low average age - but not among the visitors
However, certain perspectives sometimes made you forget that you were at a classic car trade fair. Two thirds of the "Special Mustang Show" in Hall 1 consisted of new cars, which were allowed to occupy the front row. The classics, such as a wonderfully original 1969 Cobra Jet in "Silver Jade" and a 1980 Mustang Turbo with a red crocheted interior, were relegated to the second row under the gallery. In general, the proportion of brand-new cars and "young used cars" felt higher than ever before. Lamborghini Urus and Mercedes-AMG GT shared the stands with Miura and 450 SLC. In the atrium, where two years ago visitors were greeted by an impressive collection of 40 predominantly historic Gulf racing cars, there was now an Alfa Romeo and Jeep dealership, which had parked two classic cars alongside 17 new cars. In Hall 5 "Neo Classics", modern cars were deliberately presented as "classics of the future".
The 100th anniversary of Moto Guzzi was also celebrated in Hall 5. The anniversary would actually have been due last year, but as the trade fair was canceled, the celebrations were postponed by a year without further ado. However, the wait was definitely worth it for fans of Italian two-wheelers. Over 70 machines covered almost the entire Guzzi range of a century, crowned by historic racing machines and the matching Fiat 1100 Familiare as a racing transporter. Lino Tonti's masterpiece, the V7 Sport, was the focal point of the special show with a total of ten examples in both frame colors (red and black).
More variety away from the big dealers
Cars away from the mass market, such as the Mitsubishi Sapporo and Goggomobil Dart, were only rarely for sale and were mostly to be found on the stands of the brand clubs in Halls 5 and 7, which were lovingly decorated as usual. Also unusual and therefore pleasing was the special show of historic coaches in Hall 3 with some bizarre vehicles such as the Citroën N 350 with a Heuliez body. BMW did not miss the opportunity to poach in the territory of its Swabian competitor and exhibited not only classic cars but also the latest models from its current range in Hall 7.
Hall 10 was the sales area for dealers and cars outside the high-price segment - or for cars with the right price tag but the wrong emblem, such as the Opel Diplomat V8 Coupé for 230,000 euros. This means that the Tunisian beige bruiser, which was only built 347 times by Karmann, was more expensive than the viper green Porsche 911 T next to it. Nevertheless, one or two observers may have inadvertently guessed one too many zeros.
A few rows behind it, a very well-maintained, partially restored Renault 9 GTX with just 51,000 kilometers on the clock was waiting for a new owner. He only had to have 6,200 euros on him to be able to drive home in the dark blue sedan from 1984. Prospective buyers got an even better deal with a Fiat Tipo for 5900 euros. The small Italian with the large Borbet wheels had covered just 21,000 kilometers.
Few parts, lots of accessories
In the other half of Hall 10, automobilia, old and new model cars and other collector's items were on sale. Apart from the two Stuttgart house brands, the range of spare parts was rather modest. Anyone who needed bits and pieces for their Renault 4 came away empty-handed. But there was everything else that belongs to the classic car hobby today: acrylic paintings of Porsche classics, likenesses of Steve McQueen, sofas and lots of clothing with Gulf or Martini decor.
Organizers and exhibitors were satisfied with this year's Retro Classics. A date for next year has not yet been set. Retro Classics Bavaria in Nuremberg will take place from December 1 to 4, 2022.
