Techno Classica 2017: The World’s Leading Collector Automobile Show

by Marcel Hundscheid / Speed-O-Graphica.com

The 29th edition of Techno Classica was six days of pure passion, presenting over 2500 vintage cars and featuring 1250 exhibitors from 30 different countries along with 220 clubs and presentations of more than 20 brands of the motor vehicle industry. Click through, and enjoy this widescreen gallery of the event.

S.I.H.A. hosted the 29th edition of Techno Classica in Essen, featuring Classic & Prestige Automobiles, Motor Sport, Motorcycles, Spare Parts, Restoration and World Club Meeting.

The exhibition was presented in no less than 14 halls with presentations of more than 20 brands of the vehicle industry. A special exhibition was presented in hall 6, featuring Formula 1 race cars of the Monaco Grand Prix during the golden era of the ’50s. A special exhibition saw 135 years cars with electric drive from 1882 until 2017.

Every year the automobile manufacturers of the world put on presentations to a scale and quality of no other classic event worldwide. With their shows they reach more than 200,000 visitors and amongst the more than 2500 cars the following highlights could be seen.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles presented, amongst others, the Abarth brand including a Fiat Abarth 750 GT Coupé Zagato Double Bubble of the first series from the year 1956, developed on the basis of the platform of the Fiat 600.

Another element of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles heritage was presented by Alfa Romeo. This area featured a Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider Corto Mille Miglia (1st place at Mille Miglia in 1933), Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Lungo Touring (1st place at Mille Miglia 1947), and an Alfa Romeo RL SS Mille Miglia (7th and 9th place at Mille Miglia in 1927).

Audi tradition celebrated three anniversaries including 60 years of the Wankel engine, 50 years of NSU TTS and 50 years of NSU Ro 80. The Ro 80 was a 4-door, front-engined sedan, equipped with a 995 cc twin rotor Wankel-engine generating 113 bhp. During the ten-year production run from 1967 until 1977, 37,398 cars were manufactured.

Opel enthusiast, and a manufacturer of fine vehicles himself, 83 year old Erich Bitter was present at Techno Classica with his company Bitter Automotive. Amongst the highlights were two Bitter CDs from 1973 and 1983. The Bitter CD was built on the basis of the Opel Diplomat B, while the Bitter SC used the basis of a Opel Senator A. Between 1973 and 1979 Bitter manufactured 395 Bitter CDs.

The Ferrari factory exhibition was presented by Eberlein Ferrari Kassel from Germany, the company which holds the honour of the Ferrari Classiche Certification Centre title. The company was present with a very nice selection Ferraris including a 308 GT Vetroresina, a special Dino 246 GT equipped with extended mud wings, as well as a 365 GTB/4 Daytona.

Back in 2015 Lamborghini established their classic division PoloStorico. Just like in 2016 Lamborghini Polo Storico was present with a beautiful restored P400 SV Miura. In fact it was the second P400 SV which was completely restored. The restoration took 20 months to bring the car back to its original state. (body, engine, interior, mechanic and electric components).

Mercedes-Benz Classic was present with some rare historic vehicles, such as a Mercedes-Simplex 40 PS from 1903, a Mercedes-Benz 540 K Streamliner from 1938, the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR known as “Uhlenhaut Coupé” from the 1955 season, the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 which Ayrton Senna drove when he won the Nürburgring opening race in 1984.

Opel showed some prestigious models including an Opel Admiral A, Diplomat B, Admiral from 1938, the two-millionth Kapitän as well as a Kapitän from 1952 and a Commodore A GS.

Porsche themed their presentation around 40 years of the Porsche 928, including three classic automobiles from the Porsche museum: a Porsche 928S close-to-production racing car from 1983, the Porsche 928 study P.E.S. Type 960 from 1980 and a Porsche 928S four-seater from 1984.

In addition, Porsche was present with their Porsche Classic factory restoration featuring a completely restored Porsche 911 S from 1966, a restored body shell of a Porsche 911 Turbo from 1975 and a Porsche 356B 2000 GS Carrera 2 convertible under complete restoration.

Skoda presented numerous highlights from its eventful history, such as the prototype 935 Dynamic and the 130 RS Rally. Further highlights included the Skoda Popular Sport Monte Carlo coupé from 1937, a popular Sport Monte Carlo convertible from 1938, a Rapid ‘Autobahn’ (Dalnice) from 1940, a 130 RS prototype streamliner from 1978 as well as a Favorit notchback prototype from 1986.

Visitors of Volkswagen were treated to four themes around VW history, including The World of the Classic Volkswagen Vehicles, Volkswagen Classic, Volkswagen Historic Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Classic Parts. Highlights included an experimental electric Golf from 1976, a Beetle 1302 ‘Theo Decker’ and the oldest registered VW van (T1 box wagon).

Techno Classic proved once again to be a one of kind and a must see event. We’re already eagerly awaiting the 2018 edition of the world’s leading classic motor show. Enjoy these stunning pictures made by Marcel Hundscheid from Speed-O-Graphica.

Images by Marcel Hundscheid of Speed-O-Graphica