For the industry, it is an absolute success, for car fans it is an event that is firmly established in the calendar as a highlight of the season: the Classic & Prestige Salon, which will once again open its doors this year as part of the Essen Motor Show. It will start with the preview and press day on November 29, 2024, which is popular with insiders. On this Friday, visitors can experience the 42nd Classic & Prestige Salon from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, the Essen Motor Show will then open regularly for all visitors. Until Sunday, December 8, 2024, enthusiasts can experience the entire exciting range of automotive passion here. In addition to classic cars, exhibitors will present numerous youngtimers, super sports cars and prestige automobiles.
17,000 square meters of classics
The Essen Motor Show has established itself as the largest annual motor show in Germany. It forms the framework for the Classic & Prestige Salon, which presents several hundred extraordinary exhibits on a generous 17,000 square meters of exhibition space in Halls 1 and 2, surprising even connoisseurs and experts with their diversity.
The Classic & Prestige Salon is backed by S.I.H.A., by far the most experienced organizer in the industry. As part of this year's Classic & Prestige Salon, S.I.H.A. will be exhibiting some legendary racing cars from historic rallying from the unique Belgian VGT Race & Rally Collectables collection. Among them is a Lancia Rally 037 in the colors of the works team that won the constructors' world championship title in 1983.
With Japanese neo-classics
Another highlight of the Classic & Prestige Salon is the Japan Mile. The younger audience in particular celebrates stars such as the Toyota GT86 Aero from 2015. The iconic sports car not only impresses visually with a Toyota Aero body kit and a Seibon carbon hood, but also with impressive Enkei Izumo 18-inch wheels. An ST XTA coilover suspension together with an SPR aluminum strut brace ensures uncompromising performance. The interior has also been consistently tuned with carbon parts and the steering wheel is upholstered in Alcantara. This passionately built coupé is well known in the tuning scene. It will be available for photos at the press conference.
A Nissan GTR R35 also makes an impressive appearance on the Japan Mile at the Classic & Prestige Salon. Thanks to a conversion of the engine by MPS Engineering, the sports car built in 2015 has a massive output of 880 hp. The Tofugarage is bringing along almost a dozen extremely tuned vehicles. The tuning experts focus on Japanese icons such as the Nissan Skyline and 350Z. The fact that some BMWs, including an E36 M3, will also be there is due to a shared passion - drifting.
The classics of tomorrow
Young and mature classics will also be on show to the Classic & Prestige Salon audience. Organizer S.I.H.A. will be showing a Ferrari 296 and a Ferrari SF 90, while TROY Automotive will be bringing a Ferrari 512 BBi and one of only 48 Bentley Continental GT - The Le Mans Collection built to Essen. Visitors to the S.I.H.A. stand will also be able to experience one of the extremely rare and equally sporty Morgan Plus 8 GTRs. Morgan only built nine examples of this model in early 2022. The engine used by the manufacturer in Malvern Link, England, was a BMW V8 with 375 hp.
Among other things, a Ferrari Portofino from 2019 will be on display at the large Janßen Classics stand, a desirable sports car with excellent prospects of becoming a great classic. The legendary SGS Styling Garage with its founder Chris Hahn will provide highlights of a special kind. With over 40 years of experience, it is now regarded as the acknowledged restoration specialist for tuning vehicles, especially those based on Mercedes-Benz. Styling Garage has announced five exhibits for the Classic & Prestige Salon. Automobile Reller and Autohaus Bettenworth have a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé and a Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series from their portfolio.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the BMW M3 GT Coupé, Clubsport Automobile will be exhibiting an example of this model, of which only 356 were built.
Emotional cars from Italy
Of course, classic car fans will not miss out either. Under the motto "Meet the Italians", automotive rarities from the home of truly emotional automobiles will be on display at a large joint stand, including a Lancia Fulvia Rally 1300 HF, a Fiat Abarth 1000 TC and a rare Simca 1000 Bertone Coupé.
Ford Mustang specialist Langwerden Carparc, on the other hand, is presenting an exceptionally rare K-Code High Performance model with just 17,000 miles, while C.O.G. Classics is showcasing an elegant BMW 327 Coupé from 1939. The Technik Museum Sinsheim is recalling a legendary duel from the 1970s and 1980s with exhibits from its current special show "Fascination Tuning: VW vs Opel". The public's great emotional interest in the two eternal rivals will also be demonstrated at the Classic & Prestige Salon.
The fact that global enthusiasm for classic cars remains at a high level is also confirmed by the market observer Classic-Analytics in its latest interim report (see attachment for details): By November 2024, the value of the ten most expensive classic cars that changed hands this year added up to over 117 million dollars (equivalent to around 110 million euros).
Every year, the wide and varied range of cars on display at the Classic & Prestige Salon inspires car fans of all kinds and is regarded as the top meeting place for the scene. Whether young newcomers, experienced collectors or enthusiastic aficionados: a visit guarantees fascinating hours, many surprising insights into current trends and countless opportunities to exchange ideas with professionals.
A foretaste of the last Techno Classica Essen
Last but not least, the Classic & Prestige Salon also offers the ideal opportunity to enjoy a first taste of the upcoming world fair for classic automobiles - the 35th Techno Classica Essen. From April 9 to 13, 2025, it will be the destination for all car aficionados on over 120,000 square meters.
Further information on the Essen Motor Show can be found on the event website.
