The 26th edition of the Techno-Classica classic car world fair is currently in the hot preparation phase until the opening on March 26, 2014.
Almost all the exhibitor spaces in the twenty halls and on the four outdoor areas of Messe Essen have already been booked. More than 1250 exhibitors from more than 30 nations have already booked.
More than 220 classic car clubs and interest groups will once again make Techno-Classica the world's largest club meeting place for the classic and modern classic car scene in 2014.
After Techno-Classica in Essen started 25 years ago as the first large, sophisticated classic car trade fair, it has set trends in the classic car scene every year and has become the most important meeting place and largest trading center for the international classic car scene.
World's largest history show
This year'sTechno-Classica will once again be the world's largest history show of German and international car manufacturers and will even beat last year's brand record - with 27 vehicle brands, more vehicle manufacturers will be presenting themselves than ever before. It is not just about entertaining the public and imparting historical knowledge. The focus is also on the credible presentation of brand values, in which tradition and company history play immensely important roles.
Zagato with factory stand
For the first time, the Italian design and coachbuilding company Zagato will be represented at Techno-Classica with an official works stand. Founded in 1919 in Rho near Milan as Carozzeria Zagato, the company is one of the oldest coachbuilders still in existence in Italy today.
To mark the 95th anniversary of the company, Techno-Classica organizer S.I.H.A. will be presenting legendary Zagato creations based on Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia etc. in Hall 6. - complemented by fascinating exhibits on the Zagato factory stand.
Maserati celebrates its 100th anniversary
For the first time, Maserati will also have an official works stand at Techno-Classica to mark the 100th anniversary of the brand with the trident - and will fascinate visitors with historic and new Maserati sports cars. At the same time, Techno-Classica organizer S.I.H.A. will be presenting a spectacular special show in Hall 6 entitled "100 Years of Maserati - La Tradizione Italiana Sportiva 1914 - 2014" - with Maserati highlights dressed by Zagato.
AC from Thuringia
The third of the Techno-Classica factory premieres is the originally British sports car brand AC. Since 2009, the brand rights have been held by AC Automotive in Straubenhardt, Baden-Württemberg, which is keeping the AC legend alive in Heyda, Thuringia, with hand-built AC Cobra Mk VI sports cars.
German engineering with GM V8 engines with up to 640 hp combine tradition and modernity. AC will be exhibiting at Techno-Classica for the first time in 2014 with a stand designed by AC Europa distributor Formula Automobiles.
Wide range of manufacturers represented
From A for AC to Z for Zagato, the automobile manufacturers will demonstrate the importance they attach to presenting their history to the international Techno-Classica audience with their mostly elaborately staged presence: As in previous years, German car manufacturers will be represented with large history stands, along with the most important international vehicle companies, and many manufacturers will be presenting entire model line-ups - also on individual historical themes - and juxtaposing current models with historical vehicles. Some companies have already announced initial information about their appearances - here in alphabetical order:
The theme of the Alfa Romeo factory stand in 2014 is "60 years of the Alfa Giulietta" - staged by some historical exhibits of the Alfa evergreen and supplemented by new models. The second highlight will be the sporty "Quadrifoglio Verde" model variants, of which this year's revised new model series will also be on display.
Audi looks back on "100 years of motorsport under the sign of the four rings" - and illustrates the exciting history of Audi, Horch, Auto Union, DKW and NSU motorsport with a total of eight historic racing sports cars and two racing motorcycles in Hall 7 on a good 700 square meters. The Audi Club International, the association of over 40 Audi clubs and clubs of the predecessor brands founded with factory support, will be presenting itself in Hall 7.1.
In Hall 7, Autostadt GmbH will be focusing on the "Turning Point at Volkswagen". The car experience world with the most visitors shows the transition from the air-cooled monoculture to model diversity in the 1970s with seven historically interesting pairings such as Golf 1 / Käfer 1302; Golf 1 Cabrio / Beetle 1303 Cabrio; Scirocco Group 2 / Racing or Rallye Beetle and Passat 1 Variant / Type 3 (VW 1500) or Type 4 (VW 411) Variant.
Traditionally, the BMW Group occupies the entire Hall 12 with the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands - and organizes the presentation with over 20 automobiles with the help of the clubs, which also stage themselves and their achievements there. BMW will be focusing on two major themes: with "90 years of titles and championships", the Munich-based company will be commemorating its long and successful racing tradition, and under the heading of "lightweight construction", the white and blue brand will be presenting fascinating examples of lightweight automobiles.
"Ford Coupé and Cabriolet" is the motto of the Ford stand in Hall 3, which will once again be designed in close cooperation with the Ford brand clubs this year. And Ford will be celebrating the anniversary of "50 years of the Ford Mustang" with an anticipated four exhibits.
Mercedes-Benz is continuing the tradition of particularly spectacular historical presentations at Techno-Classica this year under the title "Magical Moments - 120 Years of Motorsport". On the huge 4,800 square meter factory area in Hall 1, the brand with the three-pointed star will be showing a total of 13 Grand Prix cars (including Indy Cars), eight racing and touring sports cars, six DTM cars, five rally cars and four special vehicles - from race transporters to F1 safety cars.
In addition, all 17 official German Mercedes-Benz clubs (with the exception of the off-road vehicle club), the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center and several Mercedes-Benz Classic partner companies will be exhibiting. MINI, a brand of the Rover Group acquired by BMW in 1994, has been building the new, modern MINI since 2001, thus continuing the tradition of the classic car. At this year's Techno-Classica, the new MINI brand is commemorating one of the greatest successes of the "old" Mini - its sensational victory at the Monte Carlo Rally 50 years ago.
"110 years of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars" is the motto of the Rolls-Royce brand, which is part of the BMW Group, at Techno-Classica. The company is still keeping quiet about the exhibits on show in Hall 12 - but this year, too, fascinating automobiles with the "Flying Lady" on the radiator will be on display.
The Czech car brand Škoda, which has been part of the Volkswagen Group since 1991, will commemorate the 119-year eventful history of vehicle construction in Mladá Boleslav with a total of around 12 large exhibits on its stand, which is traditionally housed in VW Group Hall 7. The motto: Milestones in Škoda's history. It is also a tradition for Škoda Germany to make its stand in Essen available to the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav and the Škoda Oldtimer IG e. V.
"Volvo at Speed" - this is the generic term under which Volvo Personvagnar AB is presenting its stand at this year's Techno-Classica. Half a dozen Volvo racing cars will fascinate Techno-Classica visitors in Hall 3. The exhibits are expected to include the PV 544, which won the 1965 Safari Rally in Africa, the Volvo Amazon winning car from the Acropolis Rally as a recreation, an 850 Estate from the British Touring Car Championship and the winning car from the 2013 Swedish Touring Car Championship, a Volvo S60 from the Polestar works team.
Traditionally, many classic car clubs and interest groups also use the Techno-Classica to present themselves and their services to the expected 190,000 visitors. With over 220 presentations, they make the "World Fair for Classic Cars, Classic & Prestige Automobiles, Motorsport, Motorcycles, Spare Parts and Restoration - World Club Meeting" the world's largest classic car club forum. Many of them have been there since the first fair in 1989, such as the "VW Type 3 Liebhaber" or the Borgward IG.
Will there be a new visitor record?
People meet at Techno-Classica - since the first, then two-day trade fair 25 years ago, visitor numbers have risen steadily and become increasingly international. The initial 30,000 became over 190,000 visitors in 2013. The organizers expect another increase for the upcoming Techno-Classica.
A must for the classic car industry
The vibrant classic car world fair has also become more attractive for exhibitors from year to year - in 1989, the 250 exhibitors were spread across six exhibition halls, but now all the space in the 20 halls and the outdoor area is almost fully booked by over 1,250 exhibitors. And they are also becoming more and more international: specialist dealers now come not only from all over Europe, but also from overseas - exhibitors from North and South America and even China present their products. Around 2,500 high-quality collector cars will be for sale - more than anywhere else.
In addition, Techno-Classica will feature more restorers, suppliers, car literature providers, spare parts dealers, accessories sellers, watch and technology dealers, artists and gallery owners and, last but not least, car model suppliers than any other classic car show in the world. At the five-day trade fair, everything, but really everything to do with classic and modern classics can be seen, so the classic car scene will meet again at Techno-Classica from March 26 (preview, press and trade visitor day) to March 30, 2014.
Further information can be found on the Techno-Classica website.
