Over the past 30 years, Techno-Classica Essen has cemented its importance as the number one international classic and collector car fair with more than 1250 exhibitors from over 30 nations. It offers a comprehensive picture of the international classic car scene. At the 31st edition from April 10 to 14, 2019, more than 20 automobile brands will present exquisite exhibits on their factory stands, most of which will be on display exclusively at Techno-Classica Essen. They make the world's leading automotive trade fair the largest history forum of the international automotive industry. With their mostly spectacular appearances, the manufacturers demonstrate the importance they attach to the Essen classic car fair. Visitors appreciate this: in 2018, over 180,000 of them flocked to the fully occupied exhibition halls at Essen's Grugapark.
With regular model upgrades, the Techno Classic has maintained and even expanded its pioneering role - while remaining the original. The recipe for success: always presenting the latest from the international scene to visitors from over 40 nations. This year, the leading trade fair for the classic car scene is once again increasing its appeal with a number of new features. The redesign and new layout of the Essen fair, for example, allows the organizer S.I.H.A. to arrange the full programme in twelve halls in an even clearer, more clearly structured and thus more visitor-friendly way than in the halls previously used, which were sometimes labyrinthine. The entire exhibitor arrangement was reorganized - with care being taken to retain traditional structures wherever possible.
The car trade has remained the same with around 2700 classic cars. The vehicles on offer, many of them from renowned professionals, will take up a large amount of space - from fine Rolls-Royces and pre-war rarities such as Isotta-Fraschini to supercharged cars from the 500 K and 540 K series from Mercedes-Benz to Ferrari, Maserati, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz models.Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche and Lamborghini sports cars as well as prestige cars from the post-war period - everything that makes a collector's heart beat faster.
Program for newcomers
However, Techno-Classica Essen also has attractive offers for newcomers to the scene: More than 30 percent of the cars on sale are affordable "plug and play" youngtimers. The crème de la crème of international classic car dealers will be meeting in Essen with suppliers of utility classics and private sellers. The latter can mainly be found on the four outdoor areas.
In its anniversary year, the S.I.H.A. has paid particular attention to allowing the most attractive young classics to be sold on the 110,000 square meters of exhibition space. One of the traditions cultivated at Techno-Classica Essen is a Concours d'Elégance, in which an international jury of experts and trade journalists selects the most beautiful, elegant and attractive classic cars from dealers and chooses "the Best of Show".
There will also be a "Club Grand Prix", in which the most attractive club presentations will be honored with large cash prizes for the club coffers.
Special show - Tour de France Automobile Legends
For the anniversary exhibition, the organizer is once again offering a world-class special show; this year under the slogan "Tour de France Automobile Legends". The stage tour, which was held intermittently from 1899 to 1986, is even regarded as the model for the Tour de France for bicycles, which has been held since 1904. It strengthened its leading position in international motorsport in the 1960s through the participation of renowned automobile manufacturers with their sports prototypes such as the Ford GT 40 or Ferrari 512 M.
In 1992, the Tour de France was revived as a racing event for historic racing cars and has since been held annually as the Tour Auto (since 2009 "Tour Auto Optic 2000"). Around the "Palais de l'Automobile" in the center of the trade fair in the new Hall 5, the S.I.H.A. presents some of the most legendary heroes of the road race, which is sometimes fought out on closed-off race tracks. They include, for example, a Ferrari 250 Tour de France, a Porsche 356 A 1500 GS Carrera, a Deutsch-Bonnet HBR 5, a Jaguar Mk II in racing version or a Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta (SWB) - classics that are traded in collector circles today, in some cases for sums in the double-digit million euro range
Youngtimer auction
In addition to the traditional auction by the renowned English auction house Coys in Essen, the world's leading classic car auction house RM Sotheby's is holding a spectacular classic car auction in Germany for the first time. The auctioneer, based in Blenheim, Ontario/Canada, has chosen Techno-Classica Essen as the appropriate venue for the auction premiere.
In addition to a selection of attractive classics, a collection of 80 exceptionally well-preserved Young Classics from premium brands such as BMW, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Rolls-Royce with the simple slogan "The Youngtimer Collection" will go under the hammer. In total, RM Sotheby's will present around 150 objects of desire.
Many other highlights
The traditional highlights of the world fair include the appearances of top restorers, suppliers, car literature suppliers, spare parts dealers, accessories sellers, watch and technology dealers, artists and gallery owners, publishers and, last but not least, car model suppliers. They present an unrivaled range of products in terms of quality and quantity. Exhibitors from North and South America, and increasingly also from Asia and the Far East, present their offerings.
Past and future: the five-day trade fair offers everything, but really everything, to do with classic and modern classics - from April 10 to 14, 2019, many celebrities from film and television, stars from the past and present of motorsport and also the most important decision-makers from the classic car scene will meet there. The attractive and fascinating range of exhibits makes Techno-Classica Essen a first-class automotive infotainment event for the whole family, a world exhibition of the automobile. Exhibitors and visitors have one thing in common: a passion for classic automobiles - this passion is also the fuel for the organizer S.I.H.A. to reinvent Techno-Classica Essen every year while preserving the 30-year tradition.
Further information about the fair can be found here. Tickets can be pre-ordered here.
