Retro Classics will take place for the 23rd time in Stuttgart from April 25 to 28, 2024. And in addition to a huge range of vehicles on sale, it also presents bizarre and rare items:
The wild horse from Dearborn - 60 years of the Ford Mustang
Until 1964, a Mustang was a North American wild horse, which was to change abruptly from April / May of the same year: The Ford Motor Company under the leadership of Lido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca and Henry Ford II presented the Ford Mustang at the New York World's Fair, which became a huge success from day one and played a major role in ensuring that from then on a Mustang was not immediately associated with the wild horse of the same name, but with a sports car made by Ford.
In the very first year, over 400,000 Ford Mustangs were sold in the hardtop coupé, convertible and fastback coupé variants, giving the Ford brand a young and sporty image. The evolution of the "pony car" from 1964 to the 1980s can be followed at the stand of the First Mustang Club of Germany e.V. in Hall 3, Stand B38.
Cars for storm and wind from the island
Cars from the island" were once known for their sportiness, racing success, engineering skills and luxury. Unfortunately, much of this has not survived today and makes enthusiasts look back wistfully on the glorious past, which will be best achieved in the traditional "British Corner" in Hall 7 at Retro Classics, where British cars from Austin, the most famous British car manufacturer, will be on display on over 900 m².British vehicles from Austin, Triumph, MG, Morris, Rover, Jaguar, Lotus, TVR and Morgan will be presented by various brand and type clubs over 900 m².
At the club stands in the British Corner, visitors can immerse themselves in the world of robust roadsters, opulent luxury saloons and ingenious small cars "from the island".
70 years of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
It is also known by its unofficial type designation "W 198", but it is much more familiar and world-famous as the "Gullwing": The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, as it rolled straight from the racetracks of this world to the dealers in 1954. Second place at the Mille Miglia, a double victory at Le Mans, a quadruple victory at the Nürburgring and the heroic 1st place at the Mexican Carrera. First place in the Mexican Carrera Panamericana, where the team was unstoppable even by a vulture, were all part of the successful legacy of its predecessor, the W 194, which provided the visual and technical basis for the W 198, which made its debut at the International Motor Sports Show in New York in February 1954.
The gullwing doors were by no means a design gimmick, but a necessity, as the (racing-derived) tubular frame did not allow a lower entrance, which also meant that the steering wheel could be folded down.
In April, these icons of automotive engineering and milestones in automotive history can be viewed more closely in Hall 5 at the stand of Mercedes-Benz Classic and associated clubs.
Bitter - Westphalia from Baden-Württemberg
Like his company of the same name, Erich Bitter came from Schwelm in Westphalia. However, his first creation, the legendary Bitter CD, is a true Swabian and Stuttgart native at the same time, as it was manufactured 395 times in its entirety by the renowned Stuttgart coachbuilder Baur in Stuttgart-Berg.
Although the body of the successor model SC came from Italy, the breathtakingly elegant convertible was built on the Alb by none other than Horst Keinath in Dettingen / Erms.
And there are two more Bitter models that were created in Baden-Württemberg - you can discover them in Hall 3 on Stand E32.
You can find out more about Retro Classics Stuttgart on the event's website.
