Essen Techno Classica 2014 Car Show

Essen Techno Classica 2014 Car Show Photos and Stories.

The centrepiece of the worldwide classic car market. An Automotive Show, 2014-03-27 - 2014-03-30, Messe Essen, Germany

Photos and story provided by by Joachim Gruchot Contact Photographer for Information.

Essen Techno Classica 2014 Car Show

Essen Techno-Classica Confirmed Its Pole Position

Around 190,000 Classic Vehicle Fans Streamed into Messe Essen - Number of Visitors Stable

The Sector is Booming - Techno-Classica is the Number-One Trading Centre

Techno-Classica at Messe Essen is the centrepiece of the worldwide classic car market. In 2014, the premier global fair for classic vehicles once again confirmed this reputation in an impressive way: Around 190,000 automobile enthusiasts streamed into the fair halls and on to the outdoor site. That corresponded to the high level in the previous year, in spite of the strikes in the local transport and the warm weather. The range offered by the around 1,250 exhibitors and dealers was more diverse this year than ever before: 27 makes from the international vehicle industry presented themselves to the public from all over the world; around 2,500 vehicles were on sale. The dealers registered very good transactions throughout. Niche vehicles which have not been in the spotlight in recent years were also popular this year, e.g. Lancias from the 60s or Maseratis from the 50s to 70s.

Techno-Classica at Messe Essen is the world's largest trading centre for classic automobiles. In this respect, the organisers and the exhibitors are profiting from a boom for collectors' automobiles: According to the German Oldtimer Index, the prices of historic motor vehicles have risen by 8.1 percent in the last year - this figure was still 4.2 percent in 2012. "Historic automobiles are currently one of the safest investments. And one of the most beautiful because numerous design classics can be found amongst the vehicles. Of course, there is also the passion for technology and past epochs," according to Anton Leon Franssen, Managing Director of the organiser of the fair, S.I.H.A. Ausstellungen Promotion GmbH.

Manufacturers and Component Suppliers Presented Themselves in a Higher Quality Than Ever Before

In 2014, even visitors who have been coming for many years were amazed when walking through the halls: The large automobile manufacturers, particularly Daimler and the Volkswagen group of companies, presented themselves in a more ambitious and more extravagant form than ever before. "The high-quality appearances at the fair are showing the even higher status of Techno-Classica in the industry and amongst the public," said Eduard Michel Franssen from S.I.H.A. Ausstellungen Promotion GmbH. The companies which caused a sensation included Daimler AG which, on its large stand, presented 36 racing cars on three storeys. The biggest European automobile manufacturer Volkswagen once again used the complete Hall 7 in order to display its makes.

"Already in the last few years, the component supply firms in the car industry have also discovered the market for classics as a lucrative line of business to an increasing extent. The exhibitors at Techno-Classica include renowned firms such as Bosch, ZF, Glasurit and Vredestein which find their target groups here," continued Eduard Michel Franssen. Almost 40 percent of the exhibitors at Techno-Classica come to Messe Essen from abroad, including dealers from North and South America and even China. Apart from English, the languages probably spoken most often on the fair stands were Dutch, Spanish, Italian, French and German.

Numerous exhibitors used Techno-Classica 2014 at Messe Essen in order to celebrate an anniversary with a zero, including 120 Years of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, 110 Years of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and 90 Years of BMW Motorsport. Furthermore, two exclusive special shows were dedicated to the subjects of "95 Years of Zagato" and "100 Years of Maserati - La Tradizione Italiana Sportiva 1914-2014" featuring Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati sports cars with Zagato bodywork. At Techno-Classica 2014, the British manufacturer Caterham presented the new Caterham Seven 165 in Germany for the first time. Moreover, the English classic vehicle dealer and auctioneer Coys organised a successful auction with high-quality collectors' automobiles on the Saturday of the fair.

Best of Show: Lancia Asturia 4th Series Pinin Farina Cabriolet from 1939

This year as well, the "Global Fair for Oldtimers, Classic & Prestige Automobiles, Motorsport, Motorcycles, Spare Parts and Restoration - World Meeting Place for Clubs" was a large Concours d'Elegance for ultra high-quality historic vehicles. An international jury once again crowned the "Best of Show" in 2014. The choice was made in favour of a Lancia Asturia 4th Series Pinin Farina Cabriolet from 1939 on the stand of Lukas Hüni AG. Because of its low weight of approx. 1,250 kilogrammes and a V8 engine, the elegant car was convincing in those days with impressive performance and high comfort at the same time.

With around 220 registered classic vehicle clubs, Techno-Classica 2014 was once again the world's biggest forum for classic vehicle clubs. S.I.H.A. Ausstellungen Promotion GmbH encourages the participating clubs with prize money for the most imaginatively designed stands. This year, the Club Grand Prix went to the interest association called T2 Friends of the VW Bus 1967-1979 whose appearance bore the motto of "Organ Donors in the Bus Clinic". Stefan P. Eck from S.I.H.A. Ausstellungen Promotion GmbH honoured the commitment of the interest assocations: "Apart from all the transactions, pulsating passion is the driving force behind Techno-Classica - that is proven, above all, by the exhibiting clubs and associations."

In 2015, Techno-Classica will be open at Messe Essen on April 16 - 19. The Happy View Day and the Preview will already take place as from 2 p.m. on April 15.

1974 - 2014, celebrating 40 Years Porsche Turbo

Bugatti Veyron at trade fair stand of Volkswagen

Bentley, also part of Volkswagen in these days did have had the past and present Racecars on Display.

Porsche 917/30, the Legend. The Mark Donohue car at Porsche.

Last Years winner of the 24h of Le Mans, Audi R18 e-tron.

Audi R8R LM-P car of 1999, this car is Chassis No.205, driven at Sebring by Michele Alboreto, Rinaldo Capello and Stefan Johansson in 1999. Finished in third place overall.

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Audi LMP R8R on the left, Audi R18 e-tron on the right. 14 Years in between...

A vintage Audi of 1919, the Audi 14/35 bhp, Type C "Alpine Victor"

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Volkswagen Scirocco Group2 Racecar of 1975

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Volkswagen Classic presented some unique VW Beetle Racecars from the past, this is the Mille Miglia Version of a 1956 built Beetle.

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Volkswagen 1200 Export "Herbie". The Beetle everyone knows from the Hollywood Movies.

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A Replica of the Volkswagen 1302 S Rallye Car "Salzburg". End of the 1960s Porsche Austria built up its own Motorsport Division and used the Beetle for participation in Motorsport

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the New Beetle RSI of the early 2000.

New Beetle E-Bugster, Study of a full electric car (2012)

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Lamborghini 350 GT, presented by Volkswagen Autostadt

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Lamborghini Jalpa, presented by Volkswagen Autostadt

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Cars for sale ... 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS on the right, 1962 Porsche 356B 1600S T6 Coupe on the left

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Maserati A6G200 Frua Spider, VIN 2182

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ex Brun Racing Porsche 962C, 4th Place in Le Mans 24h 1984,2nd Place in Le Mans 24h 1986 and 1987. Car in this Livery was driven by Larrauri, Pareja and Gouhier. SOLD !!!

Ford GT40 P/1109, Car with great History

a closer Look ... Ford GT4

Display card Ford GT40

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Ferrari 225S Vignale Berlinetta sn-0152EL 1952

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BMW Motorsport presented the BMW V12LMR car of 1999. This car won the 24h Race of Le Mans, for the first time for BMW!

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The legendary BMW 3.0 CSL Coupe of Chris Amon and Hans-Joachim Stuck

Porsche 908 Coupe shorttail, for sale. POA!

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Citroen DS "Le Dandy" (1965)

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1969 Porsche 917K - Car on Display is one of the first Factory cars in 1969! Car was driven at the 1000 KM of Spa-Francorchamps and 1000 KM at the Nurburgring. Was used as Test car for the 24h of Le Mans as well.

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The Man with Love for Porsche. Magnus Walker visited the Techno Classica Tade Fair as Guest of Porsche. A Gentleman!

Mercedes-Benz presented Cars from a long History of Motorsport. On Display Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR of 1955, Winner of the Sportcar Championship same Year.

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Bentley ...

Bentley ...

Lancia Appia GTE Zagato of 1957

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again a look back into Mercedes-Benz Race History. Mercedes Grand Prix Racecar of 1914.

from past to present. Factory Five '33 Hot Rod