Final Report 29th Techno-Classica Essen 2017 the Global Automobile Fair. Over 185,000 Visitors: International Community of the Classic Vehicle Scene Congregated in Essen Once Again. Around 1,250 Exhibitors, More Than 200 Clubs and 2,700 Collectors' Automobiles Available to Purchase
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GMF news - World Trade Fair Guide. Turin, April 15, 2017 – It is unassailably the global classic vehicle fair with the highest number of visitors anywhere in the world and THE meeting place of the international classic vehicle community: With over 185,000 visitors, Techno-Classica Essen consolidated its position as the number one amongst the international classic vehicle fairs. And, with its unrivalled high proportion of sold vintage vehicles, young classics as well as connoisseurs' and collectors' automobiles, it is the most significant global trading place for classic vehicles.
"Techno-Classica Essen is the most important classic vehicle fair for us," Otto Ferdinand Wachs, Managing Director of the Autostadt in Wolfsburg, put it in a nutshell: "At no other automobile exhibition do we reach as many people with petrol in their blood as in Essen." With classic vehicles which they otherwise tend to keep under lock and key, the 27 classic vehicle departments of the most renowned international car manufacturers fascinated the visitors to the fair who streamed to Essen from more than 81 nations. In this respect, they looked in the rear-view mirror - and forwards, too: For example, Jaguar Land Rover revealed concrete plans for the Britons' new classic vehicle centre in Germany - in Essen, the fair capital of the vintage vehicle scene. Till Beckmann, Classic Vehicle Director for Germany: "Techno-Classica Essen is the ideal podium for this news." Other manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW also used the global fair in order to build a bridge into the modern era.
Uwe Mertin, Managing Director of Opel Classic: "Only those people who are familiar with the history can explain the future. Therefore, we presented the Insignia in Essen as a German premiere together with classic vehicles from past generations such as Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat.
" The Rüsselsheim-based company had also contributed to the special show entitled "Under Electricity - The History of Electromobility": i.e. an Ampera-e which, together with two electric cars from 1881 and 1915, a petrol-driven vehicle from 1910 as well as a steam-driven car from 1919, offered an exciting trip into the automobile past. Heiner Rössler, one of the exhibit lenders and the initiator of the Car Museum Mile: "I was amazed by how many of the visitors to the fair we reached with this exciting subject."
In any case, the extended special show programme of the fair organiser, S.I.H.A., proved to be a smash hit: Seven victorious Formula 1 cars and one racing car from the Grand Prix races in Monte Carlo from 1952 to 1960 from "Monaco Grand Prix - The Golden Fifties" amazed experts and laypeople alike. The star of the super show was the Maserati 250 F from 1957 - for over 20 years, it had not been possible to see Juan Manuel Fangio's victorious car in public. The third special show featured a just as brave as intrepid woman: Shortly before Techno-Classica Essen, Heidi Hetzer, a veteran on the classic vehicle scene, had returned to Germany from a trip around the world lasting 960 days with her Hudson Eight from 1927. The nearly 80-year-old Berliner told the visitors to the fair about her trip live in front of her still dusty "Hudo".
Heidi and Hudo: This duo exemplifies the enthusiasm and the commitment which make Techno-Classica Essen stand out from many other events of this kind: It is the global fair of automobile passion. And it causes even celebrities to free up more than just one day in their jam-packed diaries. "On three days, I really do indulge in my favourite hobby at Techno-Classica once again," confessed the television chef Horst Lichter. And the rock legend and vintage vehicle enthusiast Peter Kraus also enjoyed Techno-Classica. Not only he as a regular guest at the leading fair once again discovered a lot of exceptional rarities in Essen. This year, the international jury for the Concours d'Elégance was once again spoilt for choice with countless outstanding vehicles. They awarded 33 marks of distinction in total - the Best of Show title went to a fantastically beautiful Alfa Romeo 3000 Superflow IV with Pininfarina bodywork from 1960.
The car came to Essen from England specifically for this event - one of around 2,700 classic vehicles which were on sale and made the fair the world's largest trading house for classic vehicles. Techno-Classica was shown to be a trend barometer here, too. Experts had previously stated that the market for collectors' automobiles was on a downturn after a hectic boom in the last four to five years. Nevertheless, the professional dealers such as Eberhard Thiesen reported very good sales results. And Bernhard Kerkloh, Managing Director of Movendi in Düsseldorf, belied those people who, before the fair, were expecting a slump in the classic vehicle market: "As in the years before, we have sold nine cars." According to the general findings, the market has calmed down once again and has become more predictable once again. Marius Brune, Managing Director of the market observer Classic Data, stated: "Good classic vehicles with traceable histories continue to achieve good prices." Two examples illustrated the role of Techno-Classica as the classic vehicle fair with the highest sales: A Fiat 8V as a unique vehicle with Vignale bodywork from 1953 brought a price in the range of one million, just like a Bugatti 57 SC with Gangloff bodywork from 1938. A BMW Z1 Alpina youngtimer had already been sold for a fabulous figure of Euro 165,000 in the first hour after the opening of the fair. At the end of the fair, a conspicuously high number of "Sold" signs had also been hung on classic vehicles which were intended to be used and were located in the price range up to Euro 100,000. "According to our estimates, more than 40 percent of the offered collectors' vehicles found new owners at Techno-Classica Essen," said Stefan P. Eck from S.I.H.A.
However, it is not only the collectors' vehicles which make the "World Show for Vintage, Classic & Prestige Automobiles, Motorsport, Motorcycles, Spare Parts, Restoration and World Club Meeting" so unique. No matter whether model cars, art, car literature, classic vehicle services or spare parts: All the visitors found what they were looking for in Essen. For example, an enthusiast from Israel finally found a long-searched-for replacement for the shattered glass cover of the refrigerator compartment in the rear central armrest of his Mercedes 560 S coupé.
It is the lifeblood for vintage vehicles and car history with which both exhibitors and visitors make Techno-Classica Essen the number one. The around 200 club booths manned by people who worked in honorary capacities and presented themselves and their commitment in Essen are also examples of this. Every year, S.I.H.A. as the organiser acknowledges their commitment with prizes for the most imaginative presentations. In 2017, the Dortmund Vintage Vehicle Friends were able to grab the first place and thus a considerable sum for the club coffers - with an original scene bearing the ambiguous and cheeky motto of "Chateau Booze". There is a reason for the great commitment of the clubs. "At no other fair do we reach such an international public as in Essen," according to Dr. Martin Röder, Member of the Board of the Mercedes-Benz Interest Association. He reduced the role of Techno-Classica Essen for all the classic vehicle enthusiasts to a brief common denominator: "You meet up in Essen - and belong to the group."
Captions:
BMW Z1
This BMW Z1 Alpina youngtimer had already been sold for a fabulous figure of Euro 165,000 in the first hour after the opening of the fair.
Bugatti 57 SC Gangloff
This Bugatti 57 SC with Gangloff bodywork from 1938 changed hands for a price in the seven-figure Euro range.
Fiat 8V
This Fiat 8V as a unique vehicle with Vignale bodywork from 1953 brought a price in the range of one million.
Picture TCE_2017_Halle 3:
It is unassailably the global classic vehicle fair with the highest number of visitors anywhere in the world and THE meeting place of the international classic vehicle community: With over 185,000 visitors, Techno-Classica Essen consolidated its position as the number one amongst the international classic vehicle fairs.
Photographs: Messe Essen / S.I.H.A.
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