Glorious early summer weather with temperatures of over 30 degrees actually attracted visitors to the outdoor pools rather than the exhibition halls in Lucerne. But of course, Swiss classic car and youngtimer enthusiasts did not miss the opportunity to find out what was on offer at the Swiss Classic World on May 27 and 28, 2017. And they were not disappointed!
Diverse and high-quality offerings
Trade fair organizer Bernd Link had put together an entertaining and informative range of 207 exhibitors with great skill and sensitivity.
Three special shows, many dealers, generous club presentations and always surprising suppliers ensured that no visitor was bored.
The drink of yesteryear
The high temperatures also made the halls increasingly warm, so it was easy to get thirsty. Of course, an extensive range of restaurants ensured that nobody had to stay thirsty or hungry. But there was also a variety of drinks on offer at the stands. At the Mythen Classics stand, for example, "Vivi Cola" was served.
This rang a bell in the back of many people's minds, as Vivi Cola was once as much a part of Switzerland as Emmental cheese. It was Mineralquelle Eglisau that launched the drink on the market in 1938, long before Coke was widely available in this country. In the 1940s to 1960s, the "energy drink" from Eglisau took off and became the epitome of stimulating refreshment, supported by creative advertising campaigns and television commercials as well as sports sponsorship. Then came Coca Cola and Vivi Cola disappeared until Christian Forrer from Eglisau relaunched the drink in June 2010. And what is it like, the new Vivi Cola? It's delicious, especially when it's as chilled as it was at the Mythen Classics stand. And it goes with the classic car like the whitewall tires.
The stories of today
Anyone wandering from stand to stand and looking to talk to the exhibitors was able to hear many stories from today, whether it was about insurance mishaps, failed repairs, barn finds or upcoming auction offers.
Thanks to the spacious halls, visitors hardly ever felt stressed and the stand personnel usually found time for a quick chat. However, some of the dealers tried to park too many cars in the limited space available - sometimes less would be more!
Anyone interested in a particular vehicle found expert advice and largely grounded prices on the spot. Of course, hardly any cars were really cheap at this top-class trade fair, but the price-value ratio was right in most cases, at least according to those who were on the lookout.
Monteverdi history in six models
Six vehicles from Peter Monteverdi's oeuvre were on display in a special show right next to the main stage. They promoted the new exhibition and road traffic hall of the Lucerne Museum of Transport.
Important models were represented, from the early Monteverdi High Speed and the Hai to the Safari off-road vehicle and the Formula 1.
100 years of Tüscher
The Swiss Car Register organized a special show for the trade fair to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the coachbuilder Tüscher.
On display were two S.S. Jaguars, a Delahaye and a Plymouth, all from the pre-war years.
Sauber's sports car
Long before Peter Sauber entered Formula 1, he built sports car prototypes, which he labeled C1, C2, C3, and so on. The racing cars inherited the "C" from Sauber's wife Christine.
Not all of these sports cars correspond to today's aesthetics, but the Sauber C5 with the Artos livery is probably one of the most beautiful Group 6 sports cars ever built. In addition to the C5, a particularly rare C6 and a C9 with rare black AEG paintwork were also on display.
Entertainment inside and outside
There was constant activity both in the halls and between and in front of the halls. Clubs and interest groups had announced their attendance and displayed their cars in front of the gates.
On Sunday morning, for example, the Graber friends drove in and showed an extensive selection of the work of the Wichtrach coachbuilder Hermann Graber, from a pre-war Mercedes-Benz to the well-known Alvis convertibles and coupés.
Insight into restoration projects
As at other trade fairs, not only the dealers were represented with their highly polished classics, but also the restorers' guild, who were happy to provide an insight into their work. For example, visitors were able to inspect a stripped Jaguar body or a Nash Healey that is still waiting for its complete restoration.
Specialists for a wide range of services and products relating to the rebuilding of an old car offered their expertise and so you could not only buy a few things, but also learn a lot if you took the time to do so.
While the restorer tries to restore a car to its former glory, there is also a trend in the other direction. The company Autone showed how to turn a vehicle in mint condition into a barn find.
Impressive range of classic cars
However, not everyone wants to restore a car themselves, the majority are still looking for a ready-to-drive classic car and the many dealers had an impressive variety to offer.
Whether Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (2x), BMW Isetta, FMR Tiger 500, Tatra, Simca Plein Ciel, Alfa Romeo Giulila, Amilcar, Cadillac, Fiberfab Banshee, VW Beetle or Opel Lotus Omega - there was a car somewhere for almost everyone that made them dream.
Satisfied exhibitors and visitors
Those who wandered through the three halls on Sunday afternoon were met with predominantly satisfied faces. Many dealers were able to report that they had sold vehicles, or at least that they had had productive discussions with the potential to close deals.
The visitors were also very satisfied with what was on offer. There is hardly another classic car show where you can find more high-quality cars to look at (and buy) in such a small space.
Fair organizer Bernd Link was optimistic on Sunday lunchtime that he would break the 10,000 visitor mark. The final count was 10,300. However, the growth was not comprehensible to all observers. According to some exhibitors, the crowds slowed down noticeably on Saturday afternoon in particular. In addition to the bathing weather, the choice of dates, which clashed with the bridge-raising weekend, may have had a dampening effect on the crowds.
However, Thomas Valko from Emil Frey Classics said that the quality of the visitors was more important than the sheer quantity, and most exhibitors agreed that they were dealing with a solvent and interesting target audience in Lucerne.
In any case, hardly anyone is reluctant to pitch their tents in Lucerne again in 2017, when the fifth Swiss Classic World will be held.
