More than 20 automobile manufacturers will be presenting themselves with elaborately designed stands at Techno-Classica Essen from March 21 to 25, 2018. Some manufacturers are shrouded in silence until shortly before the trade fair opens and are treating their appearances almost like state secrets - but there is already some preliminary news. However, initial information has already leaked out ...
Audi puts the Audi 100 (Type C1), presented in 1968, at the center of the brand presentation. The large front-wheel drive car was not only the first production car designed with a computer-calculated body, but also the first post-war Audi in the upper mid-size class and helped the Audi brand achieve its commercial breakthrough. The Ingolstadt-based company is also presenting one of the legendary Auto Union Type D Grand Prix racing cars of the type that caused a sensation in 1938 with its V12 mid-engine. Also on display from the motorcycle section are the DKW ULD 250 racing machine, considered unbeatable at the time (1937-1939), and a DKW RM 350, used from 1952 to 1956 under its nickname "Singing Saw" as a works machine in the German Motorcycle Championship and in the World Championship. There is also another anniversary to celebrate: the brand, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, is commemorating the superior victory of the Audi 200 Quattro in the TransAm series with Hurley Haywood 30 years ago. As is tradition, the Audi clubs will once again present themselves in Hall 7.1 in 2018 under the aegis of the ACI (Audi Club International).
The Autostadt in Wolfsburg presents the history of a highly topical subject: with around ten exhibits equipped with different drive sources (petrol engine, electric drive, steam engine, fuel cell, etc.), the Autostadt in Wolfsburg illustrates the history of a highly topical subject.With around ten exhibits equipped with different drive sources (petrol engine, electric motor, steam engine, fuel cell, etc.), the world's most popular car destination with over 2.2 million visitors a year illustrates how the search for the optimum drive for motor vehicles runs through the history of the automobile. The Autostadt is still keeping quiet about the vehicles that will be presented in the elaborately designed infotainment show in Hall 7.
BMW fascinates visitors in Hall 14 with no less than three large-scale anniversary celebrations: at this year's Techno-Classica Essen, the Bavarians are commemorating 50 years of the "Large Coupé" (E9 series). A total of 30,546 of the elegant six-cylinder two-door models without a B-pillar were built between 1968 and 1975, from the 2.5 CS to the 2800 CS to the 3.0 CLS - incidentally with bodies from Karmann in Osnabrück. The white and blue brand is also celebrating its second 50th birthday in style: the internally named E3 saloon series of the 2500, 2800, 3.0 and 3.3 models was produced from 1968 to 1977 - and is now regarded as the forerunner of the seven-series. Around 220,000 units left the factory halls in Munich.
The Bavarians' third anniversary: 40 years of the BMW M1, the mid-engine sports car with the internal designation E26, which can be considered the Bavarian brand's first modern super sports car. The angularly styled bodywork by Giorgio Giugiaro was manufactured by Baur in Stuttgart. It was powered by a four-valve, six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 3.5 liters, which produced 277 hp in the production version built from 1978 to 1981 and between 470 hp (naturally aspirated engine) and 850 hp (turbo engine) in the racing versions.
Traditionally, the clubs will once again play one of the main roles on the large BMW stand this year, and BMW is also planning to offer insights into the restoration workshop and the BMW Group Classic vehicle hall.
Mercedes-Benz is using the presentation of the new generation of the G-Class to look back on the almost 40-year history of the constantly evolving off-road classic. The brand-new vehicle is already being presented on the large Mercedes-Benz Classic stand before it arrives at dealers in Germany - surrounded by five exhibits from the model's history. These include four variants of the 460 model series offered from 1979 to 1991, while an example of the 463 model series introduced in 1990 builds a bridge to the modern era.
The second major Mercedes-Benz theme in Hall 1 has the motto "Motorsport - Jubilee Year of the Champions" and begins in 1938, when Rudolf Caracciola won the European Championship corresponding to today's F1 World Championship with the Mercedes-Benz W 154 three-liter Grand Prix racing car - for the third time since the championship was held in 1935. Also spectacular is the speed record of 432.7 km/h set by Caracciola in 1938, which stood for almost 80 years and is attractively presented on the stand with record-breaking car models. One of the original W 154 Silver Arrows with almost 500 hp will fascinate the public in Essen. It will be accompanied by the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-13, in which Mika Häkkinen won his first world championship title in 1998, and the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-23, which helped reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton to win the world championship in just his second Formula 1 season - the first of a total of four titles that the top driver has won to date.
Mercedes-Benz also has a tradition of presenting the brand clubs recognized by the factory, the museum and the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center with Service & Parts. The vehicle dealership "All Time Stars" (http://alltime-stars.com/), founded by Mercedes-Benz Classic, will be presenting itself for the third time at Techno-Classica Essen. The large Mercedes-Benz infotainment show in Hall 1 will be rounded off by the appearance of the Classic partners.
Porsche is continuing the anniversary series at Techno-Classica Essen 2018 - with a new stand concept on an area of around 1,500 square meters and the themes "30 years of the Porsche 964" and "70 years of Porsche sports cars". The Porsche Museum is contributing three historic sports cars and a cutaway model of a 964, which was presented under the sales designation 911 at the end of 1988.
Also planned at Porsche Classic: the Porsche Classic Parts Explorer will be presented on the subject of original parts, as well as the new VTS app ("Porsche Classic Vehicle Tracking System") as GPS-controlled theft protection and around 200 classic spare parts as examples. The Porsche Classic factory restoration is expected to show a completely restored Porsche 959 and a body-in-white in progress. This ensemble will be complemented by a total of 13 Porsche Classic partners from seven countries who will be exhibiting vehicles for sale and highlighting their range of services. Finally, the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur will use a vehicle to provide information on the customization options for Porsche models. Last but not least, anyone visiting the Porsche stand in Hall 7 on Thursday or Friday will have the chance to meet Porsche legend and collector Magnus Walker at an autograph session.
Seat is dedicating Hall 7 to the topic of "Restoration" and is using a SEAT 600 in two states of aggregation to show what the Spanish car manufacturer's factory restoration department is capable of in the "SEAT Coches Históricos" area in the Zona Franca in Barcelona: A very aged SEAT 600 as a delivery van demonstrates how dilapidated the classics can be before restoration begins. Another 600 - as a saloon - illustrates what the Coches Históricos department can turn such a wreck into in around 1,500 hours of work: a perfect SEAT 600 as delivered. Finally, a restored SEAT 600 Formichetta illustrates how fascinating these revived cars can be - especially when they have such special bodywork and could have helped with one or two breakdowns as a Service Mobil at the time ...
Volvo traditionally presents an exquisite range of Swedish classics at Techno-Classica Essen - and is maintaining this tradition again this year with some very special rarities from the P 1800 / P 1800 ES series. These are expected to include an 1800 ES prototype, which was created in 1968 as a one-off by Italian coachbuilder Pietro Frua, an unrestored 1800 ES with extremely low mileage, a "Volvoville" as one of only 30 factory convertibles of the 1800 produced and an early 1961 P 1800 barn find. To top it all off, the Swedes are presenting two 1800 S: one from the estate of Håkan Samuelsson, President and Managing Director of Volvo Cars, and another that played a special role as a television star and will be on public display for the first time at Techno-Classica Essen following its restoration by Volvo Cars Heritage. The Swedes are not yet revealing which P 1800 S it is - in any case, the car will cause quite a stir ...
The clubs at Techno-Classica 2018
The clubs are one of the important cornerstones of the classic car world fair and provide exciting infotainment with their often amazingly elaborately designed stands - here are a few examples:
- The Oldtimer-Freunde Essen - always good for spectacular surprises - are placing their stand with a vintage camper van and several classic cars in Hall 2 under the (still) enigmatic motto "Nail Studio".
- The Alt-Opel IG will be flying the Opel flag in Hall 2 under the slogan "Exotics in the Opel range" and will be showing some rarities from Rüsselsheim.
- The Carl F. Borgward IG is thematically following the Sixty Six route and is planning a real eye-catcher.
- From the Goggomobil to the Glas V8: the Glas Automobile Club will be showcasing the full range of the Glas model program.
- "TR der 6te - 50 Jahre ist's her" is the slogan under which the TR Register Germany is celebrating the 50th birthday of the TR 6.
- The Abarth IG draws attention to the fact that it has been enriching Techno-Classica Essen with its stand since the very beginning.
- "Motorsport and small cars" is the simple motto of the British Car Trophy, under which the racing fans present three racing minis.
- The Alfaclub will be presenting several anniversary cars: Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina (1978), 164 (1988), 33 (1983)and the Arna (1983).
- The Citroën-Maserati-Club will draw attention to the technical finesse of Citroën vehicles with Maserati engines with three models from the SM series - including a one-off Targa version.
- The IFA Kollektiv Rheinland wants to draw attention to its cars - Trabant Tramp, Trabant saloon, Trabant estate and a trailer - with the theme "FKK - East German nudist culture".
- "The dead live longer" is the title of MINI Register Germany's presentation in Hall 8.1.
- The Morris Minor Register will be demonstrating how traveling and mobile living with the Morris Minor is possible with two Morris classics and a Dethleffs camper in Hall 8.1.
- A Unimog 411 with an open cab has to undergo a TÜV inspection at the Unimog Veterans Club.
- The Trabant-Stammtisch Velbert has subjected the 601 to a moose test and is presenting the campaign in Hall 8.1.
- The "SuperPanda Club and Forum" is presenting a Fiat Panda 141 A 1000 under the motto "Long-distance rally to Mongolia".
- "They only come around once," says the Fiat Rarities Club and will be showing automotive solitaires such as a Fiat 1100 Boano Coupé, a Fiat 2500 SS Moretti Spider and a Fiat Topolino Weinsberg Roadster with special bodywork by Gläser.
What is hidden behind the sometimes succinct-sounding slogans of the clubs are often depictions that make you smile, leave lasting impressions or details from automotive history that surprise even connoisseurs of the scene...
Techno-Classica Essen is divided into the following exhibition areas:
- Special exhibition 95 years of Le Mans
- Automotive industry
- Motorcycle industry
- Car mechanics
- Trade Center
- Prestige Automobiles
- Classic Motorsport
- Restoration
- Spare parts, tools and maintenance products
- Clubs and IGs
- Youngtimers and tuning
- Historic commercial vehicles
- Boats and airplanes
- Model cars
- Literature
- Associations and museums
- Services and products
- Watches and clocks
- Accessories, clothing and lifestyle
- art
- Automobilia
Further information can be found on the website.
