Techno Classica in Essen celebrated its 30th birthday on April 10-14, 2019, meaning it took place for the 31st time. Over 190,000 visitors made the pilgrimage through the 12 exhibition halls to admire 2,700 cars for sale (as well as many other unsaleable examples) and to track down the spring trends of 2019 with their own eyes.
And they got to see a lot, as manufacturers, dealers, clubs and other suppliers had spared no effort in bringing and presenting attractive cars.
International greatness
1250 exhibitors from over 30 nations had set up their stands by midday on Wednesday, giving the event a truly international flair. Of course, German suppliers dominated, but the Dutch, British, French, Belgians, Austrians, Swiss and Italians were also represented, as well as many other countries, even from Africa, Japan and North and South America.
In addition to dealers, clubs and specialists, the car manufacturers' stands are typical of the Techno Classica, with over a dozen of them making an official presence, so to speak.
Mid-engine finest hour
The Daimler-Benz stand with six mid-engined sports cars was certainly a highlight of the fair.
In 1969, the Mercedes-Benz C111 with a three-disc Wankel engine (280 hp at 7000 rpm) was presented for the first time at the IAA. At the time, 260 km/h and 5 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h sprint were clearly dream car values, the metallic orange paintwork and the body made of glass fiber-reinforced plastic were just as innovative as the three-disc Wankel engine installed in front of the rear axle.
However, the first C111 had already been preceded in 1966 by a sports car study called the SLX, which certainly had similarities with the later C111, but did not make it beyond a 1:1 scale wind tunnel model.
In 1970, the thoroughly revised C111-II with a four-disc Wankel engine (350 hp at 7000 rpm, top speed 300 km/h) was closer to series production and suitable for everyday use.
Although many Mercedes customers would have been only too happy to open their wallets and place an order, the C111-II also remained a prototype.
In 1976 came the next C111, called the II D. Instead of the now abandoned Wankel engine, it was now powered by a five-cylinder diesel engine with turbocharger and 190 hp, which enabled it to set 16 world records on the high-speed track in Nardo.
Then the color orange came to an end, but not the C111. The aerodynamically perfected C111-III with turbodiesel (230 hp) set further world records in April 1978, including 321.9 km/h over 500 km.
And the following year, the rounder and more optimized C111-IV with V8 petrol engine (500 hp) set a new world circuit record of 403.978 km/h.
Only once before have all six cars been seen together, in a special exhibition at the Museum-Museum, but now almost 200,000 visitors have been able to admire the rare mid-engined cars.
From Amelia Island to Essen
A 300 SL with a very special history also attracted a lot of interest at the Mercedes stand. The gullwing was delivered to Miami in 1954 and then used for ten years in everyday life and on racetracks. It was then decommissioned and forgotten, so to speak. It was completely preserved, even the tires are from the original equipment (Englebert). Chassis number 43 was only prepared once for repainting.
But it was never painted again. The 300 SL was offered as an "All Time Star" as shown and, according to SIHA, was actually sold during the Techno Classica.
Of course, not all Mercedes-Benz exhibits were mentioned, so the comparison of a Mercedes Simplex with 40 hp from 1903 and an EQC from 2019 was certainly an interesting thing.
BMW records
The BMW presence, which was somewhat smaller than in previous years, was dedicated to records and victories that have repeatedly caused a stir and enhanced the reputation of the Bavarian motor works for 100 years. It started with flight records, but soon there were also records and competition victories on the road.
The BMW V12 LMR from 1999 was a reminder of this, as was the supercharged BMW 500 with which Georg Meier won the TT.
Of course, 60 years of the Mini was also a major topic; as is well known, BMW once took over Rover and inherited the Mini in the process. The original Mini, conceived by the Greek Issigonis, also provided the DNA for today's BMW Mini.
World champion Alfa Romeo
The star of the FCA stand was certainly the Alfetta 159, in which Juan Manuel Fangio once became world champion in 1951.
The very first F1 race was won by an Alfa Romeo and, as is well known, the 1000th Grand Prix took place on the Techno Classica weekend.
In addition to the Alfetta from 1951, a Brabham BT45B Alfa Romeo from 1977 was also on display. The 12-cylinder engine produced 510 hp at 12,000 rpm, which made the monoposto around 350 km/h fast.
With two Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione from the new century, FCA also exhibited neo-classics that could even be purchased.
Also for sale is the Abarth tuning kit for the Fiat Nuova 500, which is now available again.
Volkswagen-wide
The Volkswagen Group certainly had the most extensive presence in Essen, with the Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda brands as well as the Autostadt represented in a colorful and diverse way.
Under the theme "Tuning - Refining - Styling", not only two VW Beetles in different performance levels were on display, but also a Volkswagen Golf Rallye and a Golf Country from 1989 and 1990, both still youngtimers, but certainly something special.
Records were also a topic at Volkswagen, but rather those of a more unusual kind. Whether it was a Golf with 50 hp that made it from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego or an aerodynamic single-seater that managed 1491 kilometers with one liter of diesel almost 37 years ago, there were interesting vehicles to see.
At Skoda, the focus was on the 60th anniversary of the Octavia, but modern variants were not on display in the spirit of the trade fair.
At Seat, an 850 Sport Spider and two variants of the Seat 1430 were on display, all cars that are somehow familiar (from Fiat) but have hardly ever been seen as Seat cars in this country.
Finally, Audi presented its stand under the heading "space miracle" and presented estate variants of well-known models as well as minibuses that you don't see every day.
Who, for example, has ever seen an Audi Foxwagon as it was offered in the USA?
Porsche has also made more grandiose appearances in Essen, but perhaps a more modest presence would suit the VW-Porsche 914, which was also shown as an eight-cylinder 914 S - with a sliding roof.
In addition, restoration objects were presented in varying degrees of completion.
Citroën anniversary
Citroën is one of the brands celebrating its 100th birthday in 2019. For this reason, a cross-section of the history of the brand founded by André Citroën was naturally brought to Essen.
The highlight here was certainly the replica Citroën DS from the Fantomas films. Although it was not allowed to fly in the hall in Essen, the folded-up wings still made a big impression, as did the two pre-war Citroën models.
Capri birthday
A first-generation Ford Capri on display in Essen was 50 years old. But the model series as a whole is also half a century old, reason enough to show some special Capris at the Techno Classica.
As always in recent years, the factory and clubs worked together and were able to come up with an interesting selection that included a Zakspeed Turbo, a South African Perana V8 and a gullwing Capri from the tuner scene.
Even the ancestors and descendants of the Ford Capri were remembered, with a Consul Capri and a Mercury Capri Turbo rounding off the Capri theme.
Volvo limousines
Sedans were the theme at Volvo, as the new S60 was premiered at the same time. Among others, a pre-war Volvo PV4, a 164 and the rare aerodynamic sedan PV36 "Carioca" from 1935 were on display.
At Jaguar, the E-Type was presented as an electric car, an appearance that aroused ambivalent emotions, although Jaguar asserted that the technology (from the I-Pace) could be scaled back. Jaguar also celebrated 60 years of the mK2 and 30 years of the Land Rover Discovery.
Estate cars from Opel
Once again, Opel was represented by the clubs and they took on the topic of station wagons. On display were a Rekord C and a Kadett B Caravan, as well as a one-off Diplomat B station wagon, the likes of which have hardly ever been seen before.
Of course, other brands were also represented on a smaller scale, such as the Peugeot presence with two 504 Coupés for the 50th anniversary.
The cars of the Tour de France
As every year, Techno-Classica organizer SIHA also organized a special show in 2019, this time on the legendary Tour de France, which was one of the fastest car road races of the last century.
It was mostly driven with fast GT vehicles, but sometimes also with almost thoroughbred racing cars. Examples of this were a Jaguar C-Type, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, a Ferrari 250 GT TdF (Tour de France), a Ferrari 250 GT SWB, a Porsche 550 Spyder and an Aston Martin DB2 works car around the SIHA pavilion.
To round things off, a Peugeot 203 support vehicle was also integrated into the special show.
Rarities scavenger hunt
The special shows and factory presentations alone would be reason enough to travel to Essen. For some, however, it is the hidden treasures to be discovered at Techno Classica that make the trade fair so special.
From special bodies, such as a Delahaye 135 MS with Ghia-Aigle bodywork or a Siata Daina with Farina convertible bodywork, or rare racing cars such as the Panhard X86 or the Porsche 907 Langheck, to rare pre-war vehicles such as a DeDion-Bouton with V8 engine from 1913, if you were looking, you would find it.
The discovery of an unrestored Avion-Voisin chassis of the type C12 from 1930, which has never been fitted with a body, was certainly also surprising.
This naturally raises a number of philosophical questions.
Club entertainment
220 clubs and interest groups paid their respects in Essen. It almost goes without saying that this resulted in multi-layered, sometimes funny, sometimes thought-provoking performances.
Whether Borgward was sent to the moon (or into space), a Hansa 2000 was shown in a harbor pub (and awarded a prize) or the children built dad's first car (Fiat 600), there was plenty to smile about and look at.
Sometimes it's not the exotic cars that put a smile on visitors' faces, but the former bread-and-butter cars like a first-generation Fiat Panda, which stood there like new in completely restored condition and reminded us of the "great car".
The auction in the basement
RM/Sotheby's was represented for the first time in Essen with its own auction . The entire Hall 1A was dedicated to the auction, which brought over 200 cars under the hammer. And they were successful, some even fetching record prices.
From a spectator's point of view, the hall was somewhat less interesting due to the unfortunate lighting and the crowds, but this obviously did not deter the bidders from going for it.
Trading at a high level
The prices of the 2,700 cars traded in Essen were certainly at a high level, but they did not deter buyers. Gallery Aaldering already reported nine classic cars sold in the six-figure euro range on Saturday evening and other dealers were also able to put up "Sold" signs early on.
Behind the scenes, however, one or two specialists complained about visitors unwilling to buy and less demand than in other years.
Elegance always wins
A restored Aston Martin DB5 Convertible received the "Best of Show" award from an international jury of experts and journalists.
But the selection was certainly difficult, because who could deny the elegance of the Ermini 357 Mille Miglia from 1955 or the numerous special bodies by Chapron or Pininfarina?
The numerous 300 SLs on display, whether as roadsters or gullwing doors, are still among the most beautiful cars ever built.
Worry lines?
Beautiful cars, happy and numerous visitors, what more could you want? Well, even at the press conference at the beginning, it was clear that the industry has worry lines on its forehead. A lack of young talent is an issue, as are environmental protection movements and bans.
Fortunately, there are associations such as Deuvet, which bundle the interests of classic car owners and now also represent the youngtimer faction.
Even more beautiful next year
The 32nd Techno Classica, which will take place from March 25 to 29, 2020, has already been advertised. It will then benefit from five new/modernized halls. Most of this year's visitors will certainly be back again next year.
