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Automotive Lifestyle
VINTAGE: Germany’s Giant Techno Classica
Car collectors and manufacturers pack Essen exhibition center with hundreds of classic race cars and interesting vintage vehicles.
A Mercedes-Benz 300SL Competition Coupe and an alloy 300SL share the podium to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 300SL. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)
The Messe in Essen is one of the largest exhibition centers we have ever visited, yet its dozen-plus halls still provide too little space to house all the exhibits of the annual Techno Classica show.
In stark contrast with the Essen Motor Show held in the fall, which in recent years struggled to fill all the halls, the Techno Classica also manages to attract many of the major manufacturers. These usually divide their allocated space between cars from their own collections and those supplied by private collections and clubs. Much of the remaining space is shared by dealers, clubs and traders of all kinds of classic-car related items, ranging from spare parts to clothing and books.
Previously a set fixture on any enthusiast's calendar, the Techno Classica has seen a very serious rival pop up in recent years: the Stuttgart Retro Classics. Held during the same weekend and in the backyard of two of Germany's main manufacturers, this looked like a serious threat.
Fortunately the manufacturers have more than enough interesting machines in their collection to spread over two shows and all of the major dealers once again picked the Techno Classica. We also ventured to Essen and worked our way through the packed halls to pick out the highlights that made it into our 140-shot gallery.
60 years of Mercedes-Benz SL
Traditionally, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is one of the most popular cars during the Techno Classica. This year, their presence was stronger still as Mercedes-Benz celebrated the 60th anniversary of the original 300SL competition car. Already fitted with the legendary Gullwing doors, it brought Mercedes-Benz back into racing and took a debut victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The production version followed in 1954 and it remains one of the most iconic designs. So much so that Mercedes-Benz have patented the design, and on the morning of the opening day announced that, backed by a court order, they had destroyed a replica body. This news had not reached one of the dealers, who had brought a replica to Essen. It remains to be seen, however, how actively the German manufacturer will track down these replicas; perhaps they just wanted to put a marker down.
In addition to the early SLs, Mercedes-Benz showed most of the subsequent generations including the recently introduced R231 model. Among them was also the SL500 originally owned by Princess Diana. This was the first foreign car owned by a British Royal, and following public outcry, the dark-red roadster was soon after taking delivery returned to Germany.
The other manufacturers
Among the most impressive displays at this year's Techno Classica was the hall filled by the members of the Volkswagen Audi Group. Porsche marked the 40th anniversary of the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 with a display that included the Targa Florio-winning RSR and the spectacular Turbo version that was such an extreme development that it had to be raced in the prototype class.
In stark contrast with the Essen Motor Show held in the fall, which in recent years struggled to fill all the halls, the Techno Classica also manages to attract many of the major manufacturers. These usually divide their allocated space between cars from their own collections and those supplied by private collections and clubs. Much of the remaining space is shared by dealers, clubs and traders of all kinds of classic-car related items, ranging from spare parts to clothing and books.
Previously a set fixture on any enthusiast's calendar, the Techno Classica has seen a very serious rival pop up in recent years: the Stuttgart Retro Classics. Held during the same weekend and in the backyard of two of Germany's main manufacturers, this looked like a serious threat.
Fortunately the manufacturers have more than enough interesting machines in their collection to spread over two shows and all of the major dealers once again picked the Techno Classica. We also ventured to Essen and worked our way through the packed halls to pick out the highlights that made it into our 140-shot gallery.
60 years of Mercedes-Benz SL
Traditionally, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is one of the most popular cars during the Techno Classica. This year, their presence was stronger still as Mercedes-Benz celebrated the 60th anniversary of the original 300SL competition car. Already fitted with the legendary Gullwing doors, it brought Mercedes-Benz back into racing and took a debut victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The production version followed in 1954 and it remains one of the most iconic designs. So much so that Mercedes-Benz have patented the design, and on the morning of the opening day announced that, backed by a court order, they had destroyed a replica body. This news had not reached one of the dealers, who had brought a replica to Essen. It remains to be seen, however, how actively the German manufacturer will track down these replicas; perhaps they just wanted to put a marker down.
In addition to the early SLs, Mercedes-Benz showed most of the subsequent generations including the recently introduced R231 model. Among them was also the SL500 originally owned by Princess Diana. This was the first foreign car owned by a British Royal, and following public outcry, the dark-red roadster was soon after taking delivery returned to Germany.
The other manufacturers
Among the most impressive displays at this year's Techno Classica was the hall filled by the members of the Volkswagen Audi Group. Porsche marked the 40th anniversary of the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 with a display that included the Targa Florio-winning RSR and the spectacular Turbo version that was such an extreme development that it had to be raced in the prototype class.
Lamborghini 50th Anniversary Parade
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