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The arrival of computer technology in the salon - a look back over 60 years of exhibition technology

Name: VW 1500 1963
Brand: VW

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Created on February 28, 2014

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

Archiv

103

The ceremonial unveiling of a special concept car by Pininfarina at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show

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Crowds of people on the show's visitor days - Geneva Motor Show 1957

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Morris Oxford (1952) - cutaway model shows the modern self-supporting body - attraction on the Nuffield stand

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VW Cabriolet (1954) - at the special show by VW and Porsche, the Porsche 550 RS Spyder can also be seen - Geneva Motor Show 1954

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Pegaso Z-102 (1952) - the V8 engine from the front

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Panhard Dyna (1954) - extraordinarily wide interior, interesting light alloy body - Geneva Motor Show 1954

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Austin A40 (1954) - truly a cutaway model demonstrating the clear and simple design - Geneva Motor Show 1954

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VW 1302 S at the Geneva Motor Show 1972 - Volkswagen shows progress and continuity in chassis development - left 1302 S from 1971, right Type 11 from 1934

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Mercedes Benz 220 (1961) - Mercedes Hall - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1961

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VW 1200 (1963) - the Beetle takes center stage - Volkswagen Hall at the IAA 1963

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VW 1500 (1961) - Vokswagen Hall designed by architect Franz Schroedter - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1961

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VW (1953) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1953 - VW Hall

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Austin Mini - the little runabout on display at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show, with the Traveller/Countryman on the left

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Austin Mini - The Mini and the Clubman side by side at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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Morris Mini Minor (1964) - as a mobile demonstration model - the engine and chassis are repeatedly shown by lifting - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Citroën DS (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - the ID and DS models, now six years old, are presented in Geneva in the style of the Italian Renaissance

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Citroën 2 CV 4x4 Sahara - the crawling duck with two engines at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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Austin 1100 (1964) - maximum interior space with modest exterior dimensions - clearly demonstrated - at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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Fiat 1300 (1964) - Presentation of braking technology - at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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NSU Prinz 1000 L (1964) - modeled on the Corvair, pretty limousine with good interior - presented floating - at the Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Rover 2000 (1964) - the British manufacturer's new flagship - at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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Rover 2000 (1964) - Training course in car technology - important organs can be viewed directly - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Rover 2000 (1964) - body skeleton is fitted with pre-painted and finished panels - at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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Peugeot 404 (1964) - the interior is made available for inspection without obstruction, whether engine or interior - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Renault R8 Major (1964) - like a mannequin on the catwalk - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Swisskart (1964) - Vive le Karting - Racing kart, displayed on a cake tray - behind it the Morgan stand - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Vauxhall Viva (1964) - smooth body lines, original chassis and standard drive - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Austin 1800 (1965) - attractive cutaway model on roto-model - Geneva Motor Show 1965

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Renault 16 (1965) - the family saloon attracts attention with capers, spinning wheels, flashing headlights and changes to the interior - Geneva Motor Show 1965

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Renault 16 (1965) - the presentation robot helps to satisfy the public's curiosity - Geneva Motor Show 1965

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VW 1500 (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - instructive cutaway model

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VW at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the VW stand showcases the Beetle heritage together with the former world champion Ford-T

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Reliant Scimitar (1967) - Chassis on the stand - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1967

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VW-Porsche 914 4 (1969) - the much-anticipated People's Porsche - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1969

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Ford Cortina 2000 GXL (1971) - Water fountains play around the Cotrina and its Taunus counterpart in the background - Geneva Motor Show 1971

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Ford (1971) - at the Ford stand at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, colorful plastic flowers climb up the Plexiglas panes

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Citroën GS (1971) - The car in the yellow tulip field at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show

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Fiat 131 Mirafiori (1975) - as a glass model - the generous space of the 124 successor can thus be shown particularly well - Geneva Motor Show 1975

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Mercedes-Benz 240 D 3.0 (1975) - with 80 hp the most powerful diesel passenger car at the time - Geneva Motor Show 1975

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Mini Clubman Estate (1975) - Impressive demonstration of spaciousness - Geneva Motor Show 1975

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Saab 99 (1975) - Solidity is written in capital letters and demonstrated accordingly - Geneva Motor Show 1975

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Opel Kadett E 1000 (1975) - Economy model for 8888 francs - Geneva Motor Show 1975

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Citroën CX (1975) - with uncompromising aerodynamics - Geneva Motor Show 1975

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The Citroën Karin concept car by Fiore on the futuristic Citroën stand at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show

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Impressions of the 1983 Geneva Motor Show - View of the Palexpo hall - Toyota stand in the foreground

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Renault 5 at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - cutaway model of the smart front-wheel drive R5

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Mini Metro (1981) - The importance of the cw value is demonstrated by 51 projectors with digital control on a large screen measuring 2.5 x 9 meters

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Porsche 911 SC 3.0 Cabrio (1982) - the open-top 911 was the centerpiece of the Porsche stand

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Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 4x4 (1983) - the 320 hp mid-engine rally car is still in the prototype stage - at the 1983 Geneva Motor Show

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Mercedes-Benz 380 SEC (1982) - at the 1982 Geneva Motor Show - particularly economical V8 engines power the new prestige coupés

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Austin Maestro (1983) - BL's latest product can be admired as an interesting cutaway model - at the 1983 Geneva Motor Show

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Citroën BX - next to a Citroën Traction Avant - celebrating 50 years of front-wheel drive and 100 years of the French car - at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show

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Chevrolet Corvette - 5.7-liter V8 engine with dual central injection - at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show

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Seat - without cars in Geneva, but the modern engines developed with Porsche undoubtedly have a future - at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show

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VW Passat Variant Tetra - estate version with four-wheel drive available from the fall, necessitating a completely redesigned rear axle - at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show

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Land Rover 90 (1985) - with new chassis - Geneva Motor Show 1985

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Mercedes-Benz 300E (1985) - the new Type 124 replacing the W 123 - Geneva Motor Show 1985

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Seat Ibiza (1985) - the engines were developed by Porsche - attractive cutaway model - Geneva Motor Show 1985

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Elaborately designed information stand for the catalytic converter - Geneva Motor Show 1985

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Is the technology (from Toyota) so complicated that you have to bang your hands over your head? - Geneva Motor Show 1985

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Demonstration of BMW catalytic converter technology - Geneva Motor Show 1985

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Presentation of a Peugeot study in front of running water at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show

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Presentation of the new BMW Five at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show

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Presentation of a hybrid Ferrari prototype in an eye-catching color scheme at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show

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Toyota Prius at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show

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Presentation of a small Toyota in spacious surroundings at the Geneva Motor Show 2011

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Presentation of safety technology at the Geneva Motor Show 2011

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Huge video walls at the Geneva Motor Show 2012

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Playing with light and colors at the Geneva Motor Show 2012

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Toyota's past and future at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show

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McLaren also likes to quote itself - as seen at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show

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The girls are simply part of it - Peugeot at the Geneva Motor Show 2013

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Quite quirky and therefore quite striking - seen at the Geneva Motor Show 2013

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Presentation of the Mercedes Benz A45 AMG in front of a giant video screen at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show

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Consistent color concept at the presentation of the Peugeot 208 GTI at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show

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Wrapped cars to attract attention at the Geneva Motor Show 2013

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Modern display technology to show the Opel Adam in its best light - at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show

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Subaru also presents the technology of the Forrester model with a cutaway model - at the Geneva Motor Show 2014

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Morgan shows the design of its current base model in an impressive cutaway model - at the Geneva Motor Show 2014

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Morgan shows the design of its current base model on a cutaway model - at the Geneva Motor Show 2014

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Alfa Romeo 1900 Sport Spider - you don't know where to look - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Citroën DS - the goddess is still admired today - at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show

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Bentley Mansory - Tires aside - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Ford Mustang - a legend is renewed - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Infinity QX30 Concept - beautifully presented - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Land Rover Defender - with more lights - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Opel - Light cult track with attention value - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Skoda - charming presentation of the Superb - at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show

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Peugeot 2008 - great stand design from the French - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Peugeot Exalt - perfect staging - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Quant F Concept - with gullwing doors - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Renault Espace - they still exist, the cutaway models - at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

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Smart Fourtwo - foam model shows the structure under the body - at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show

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Summary

It is not only the technology of cars that has changed over the last 60 years, but also the presentation of the latest vehicles at motor shows around the world. What once began with a simple line-up of new cars is now a first-class multimedia spectacle where nothing is left to chance. This article looks back on over 60 years of exhibition technology and shows many examples in 75 historical and current illustrations.

This article contains the following chapters

Little space and a focus on the essentials
Stone hills and castles
Flowers and water features
First steps into the multimedia age
Brave new world
More information

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Of course, the cars take center stage, but when you walk through a car showroom these days, you are more likely to notice the many monitors, multimedia information and touchpads. This was different 50 and more years ago. Not only did the exhibitors in the 1950s have less space available, they also had no intention of distracting the spectators' attention from the essentials, i.e. the cars. So they stood there, lined up like in a large parking lot, barely illuminated and labeled. Exhibitors with a larger budget were happy to show the technically interested public a cutaway model that could demonstrate the technology even better. And here and there, an engine or other technical component was exhibited on its own.

Welcome to Zwischengas!