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Between the 5th and 15th of March, the 85th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show was held, one of the biggest events on the automotive scene; specifically, it is one of the five most important worldwide and possibly the largest in Europe. The figures are grandiose, especially for Spaniards who are not used to events of such magnitude - without taking football into account, of course.
During the eleven days of 2015 that the contest lasted, the number of visitors was almost 700.000 people! coming from all corners of the globe. Its headquarters, the Palexpo Exhibition Center (next to the airport), has 110.000 square meters of exhibition space where about 900 cars were exhibited, of which 130 were presented for the first time.
Pilgrimage site
I already know that this post is about classic vehicles and that it is very likely that I am getting into a garden, but if you ever have the opportunity to visit this show I assure you that you are going to love it. It's another world, it has nothing to do with the best fairs or shows that we find in our country, not only because of the interest that can arouse seeing practically the entire offer of current vehicles, which many of us may not care about, if not because of the fact of having the opportunity to admire some specimens that are difficult to see on the street.
We are talking about exclusive models of Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, BMW, Bentley, etc., and others so special that we will normally only contemplate in photographs, such as Pagani, McLaren, Bugatti, Koenigsegg, GTA Spano, unique prototypes or design exercises that will never go into production and that will rarely leave their factories, as well as racing units that can hardly be admired outside their natural habitat. But in addition, all this wrapped in gift paper, with a decoration, a glamor and a paraphernalia that make it a wonderful show, without a doubt a Mecca for motor enthusiasts.
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Classics as claim
Linking with the issue at hand, which is none other than the older models, we have to say that yes, that in Geneva there was also a presence of classic cars. Not many this year, really, but enough to be able to write a good article because, in addition, each of them had a special story.
In the center of the Alfa Romeo stand we discovered a beautiful specimen brought from the Arese museum, the 1900 1954 Sport Spider dressed in a beautiful Bertone bodywork. It is a supercar of the time, a mix between a street car and a competition car that did not go beyond the prototype phase. It has an engine derived from the 1900 saloon, a 4-cylinder in line of 1997cc and 138 hp that allows it to reach 220 km / h of top speed. He was one of the stars of the room.
Bordward, a former German manufacturer of cars, trucks, motorcycles and even helicopters that ceased operations in 1963, used the Geneva window to advertise with great fanfare his return as a car producer premium. As they still had nothing new to show, they brought a magnificent unit of their most emblematic model, the Isabella, in an elegant 1957 coupe version. This car houses a 4cc 1.493-cylinder engine with 75hp of maximum power.
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As you have surely read or heard, the PSA group has separated its current DS models from the Citroën brand, with the aim of giving them a more distinguished image and away from their most popular versions. For this, nothing better than to recall the 60 years of the Citroen DS and ID saga -which were manufactured between 1955 and 1975- by presenting a DS21 Pallas from the last series in the spectacular stand (of the best of the show). metallic blue color than the new DS5, supposedly its current heir.
In the pavilion attached to the show, where the complementary automobile industries such as manufacturers of tires, tools, exhaust pipes and others are exhibited, we find a myth of sports car racing, a splendid reconstruction of a Maserati Type 61. You could see its peculiarity bare aluminum body and lightweight steel multi-tube chassis for which it was nicknamed Birdcage (bird cage). It carries a 2890cc and 250hp in-line four-cylinder engine.
Mercedes had exposed a wonderful 300 SL «Gullwing» (gull wings) with pedigree, one of the three SLs participating in the 1955 Mille Miglia, the year in which Stirling Moss beat the wheel of the mythical 300 SLR with the number 722. The unit in dark gray in the saloon was the one piloted by the couple John Cooper Fitch and Kurt Gesell. It is a strictly standard production car, with a 6-cylinder in-line engine of 2.996cc and 215hp.
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More than preparers
In the space dedicated to Brabus there was also a presence of classics. Although officially it is an independent manufacturer, we continue to think of this firm as a Mercedes model preparer, since it always bases its products on cars of the star brand. It featured units as disproportionate as the 700 (G-Class with 6 wheels) or the Rocket 900 (S-Class with 900hp), undoubtedly cars destined for very special customers with a large portfolio.
It turns out that Brabus' occupations also include restoring historic Mercedes models. They are sold with zero kilometers, they are completely rebuilt units, without leaving a single screw to rehabilitate; however, I don't think that justifies their outrageous prices. Three exquisite units were sold: A 111 W280 3.5SE 1970 for € 495.000; a R113 280SL (Pagoda) from 1968 for € 259.000; and a beautiful 198 W300 1957 SL Roadster for a staggering € 1.890.000. No comment.
Porsche did not have among its exhibited vehicles any historical model. Luckily we found a beautiful 911 1967 Targa at Ruf's booth, Independent brand that, like Brabus, produces Porsche-based machines while also restoring old glories of the Stuttgart manufacturer.
The exposed green unit was one of the first produced, in which there was the possibility of removing, in addition to the roof, the rear window; Back then there were four different car mounting configurations. In addition, it was accompanied by another example that can already be considered classic, a 3.6cv Ruf RCT 425 based on a 911 (964) from 1992.
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Cult cars
One of the busiest areas of the Palexpo was the top floor, where some of the best sports car manufacturers on the planet were installed. Among them was McLaren, which this year had the presence of one of its most special models, a 1 F-1995 GT. Specifically, it is the prototype unit with chassis number # 056, built to be homologated in competition. in the GT1 category. As you know it houses a BMW V12 with 6.1 liters and 680cv.
Just below, on the lower floor, the Swiss watch manufacturer Tag Heuer, closely linked for years with sports car racing, set up an exhibition with its products and some racing cars, among which stood out nothing more and nothing less than the McLaren MP4 / 4 with which Ayrton Senna was proclaimed Formula 1 world champion for the first time in the 1988 campaign.
As a server feels a special and irrational admiration for this pilot, I assure you that my hair stood on end and I got excited; a magical moment, without a doubt. This car, designed by Steve Nichols and Gordon Murray, has a Honda turbocharged 6-cylinder in V of 1.494cc and 650hp.
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The controversial Sbarro and other miniatures
At the Geneva Motor Show every year the Swiss brand Sbarro has a special role. This unusual manufacturer usually presents a mixture of new and older models, with the peculiarity that its designs do not leave anyone indifferent: either they seem great or horrible.
This year the F-Triple stood out (for 3 occupants), with lines reminiscent of the Pink Panther car. Also the Memory, a 2012 model based on a Ferrari 400 from the 80s with a bodywork inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO from '62 in the front and the '64 behind; spiced up with some modern touches, it was a rare but attractive mix as a whole. If you are curious to see the creations of Franco Sbarro, click here, they will have a fun time.
Sbarro also works replicas: They had a BMW 328 Baby on display, a copy of the Bavarian model from 1936 made in 76 with the singularity of being for children, rich of course. It has a 47cc, 2,4hp single-cylinder engine capable of moving its tiny driver at 35 km / h.
In the same way, another children's vehicle caught my attention, in this case a DB Junior. It is a recreation of an Aston Martin DB5 convertible distributed by Nicholas Mee & Co, a famous Aston Martin specialist dealer. The luxurious and exclusive "toy" made in Thailand has a 110cc single cylinder internal combustion engine and can reach 90 km / h. Without a doubt all car lovers would have gone crazy in our childhood at the wheel of such a wonder (don't miss this video).
As you will see, despite being a modern vehicle event, the presence of classics is more than testimonial, for two fundamental reasons: On the one hand, they are used as a brand image, something essential in a time as anodyne in design as the current one in which aerodynamics and safety greatly limit the creativity of designers and cause cars to be more and more similar to each other. others; on the other, the economic importance of the maintenance of collector cars, a booming activity that large manufacturers should not neglect given their profitability.
To conclude, I insist on the fact that the Geneva Motor Show is a unique event, one of those events that every motor enthusiast should note on the list of places to visit before leaving this world. The big downside is that it is listed on numerous lists, and therefore there are too many people ... At certain times it can become overwhelming. If you have a choice, do not go on the weekend, it is sheer madness. Although it is already known, mange with pleasure ...
