All good things come in threes. For a successful classic car meeting, you need unusual vehicles, interested fans and good weather. The weather meant well on the penultimate Sunday in October and attracted an estimated 10,000 visitors to the huge grounds of Möbel Hofmeister in Bietigheim-Bissingen.
The Retro-Messen GmbH team began setting up the presentation stage and sound system at eight o'clock. The first vehicles were on site long before the official start at 11:00 am. While the last meetings were rather Porsche- or Mercedes-heavy, this time countless VW Beetles made up the strongest vehicle fraction. The vehicles presented came in varying numbers from all over the world - there was plenty of variety.
Retro Fair brand ambassador Michael Gaedt was supported in the presentation and introduction of the vehicles by Thomas Plehn, who also has in-depth knowledge of classic cars and is now taking part for the second time. They presented individual vehicles of the participants on stage and provided interesting background information. The owners themselves were interviewed - in short: a varied event for everyone.
Variety was provided above all by those cars that you don't encounter at every classic car meeting. This included the Borgward BX-7 in two respects. Firstly, because at eight years old, it is still a little too young for such events. Secondly, because there are barely 20 examples of this model in Germany. In Bietigheim-Bissingen, it was a reminder of the failed attempt to revive the brand.
If the revival failed in another form, there would also have been a suitable vehicle on site: a Mercedes-Benz 200 from the W123 series, which was converted into a hearse in Italy and, with its large glass surfaces, offers significantly more insight than northern European examples. Also easy to see, but mostly without glass: the Mercedes-Benz 170 D as an "open police touring car" in typical fir green.
There was also a surprisingly large number of unusual vehicles from Eastern Europe. There was a Tatra 2-603 and three Volga 21s, as well as a WAS 21016 as a patrol car for the Soviet militia. A Trabant 601, on the other hand, would not be unusual - unless it has only covered 16,800 kilometers like the light blue example here.
After two to three hours, most visitors had seen enough - but by no means everything. The constant coming and going of the cars provided variety throughout the day.
