javier romagosa
TEXT AND PHOTOS CLASSICMADRID: THE TEAM
I walked through the door and went straight up to the third floor. It is usually dazzling, there is the best of the room where the prestigious Spanish dealers -and also some Portuguese-, take care of putting all the meat on the grill. At the end of the escalator, the first thing that caught my attention was the stand of the people from La Mancha Motos HD that this year, frankly, they came planted.
The motorcycles they brought, and you will forgive me for the expression, they were awesome. Crowning the stand, none other than a Brough-Superior, the queen of the pre-war road. Around him, and among others, machines as unusual as an Indian Four, an ancient Belgian FN and also a four-cylinder, and a triad of 'Percherons' with sidecars: a two-cylinder Husqvarna from 1916 (!), a military Zundapp with the side more delicious that you have seen and a more usual, although national, Harley WLA.
CLASSICMADRID: THE CARS
But hey, I know that the readers of The Escudería you mostly like cars, so we'll come back to bikes later. Nothing more to say about the two wheels than almost at the entrance of the upper floor, on the right hand side in the organization space, you could admire a Guzzi Le Mans III From the end of the 70's in perfect magazine condition. There, alone in the immensity of what is the space for talk and debate at the fair (where personalities such as Emilio de Villota or the painter Juan Carlos Ferrigno, among others, were present this year), was one of the storms most charismatic and capable of his time.
Moving down the center aisle I got caught between the booth of Coupe-Pueche and the automobile elegance contest that this year was dedicated to Hispano-Suiza. It really was a place to stop: Wherever you looked there were only pretty things. On the one hand, Maserati 3500GT, Delahaye 135 Sport, Lagonda, Rolls-Royce and pre-war Packards; on the other, a really interesting sample of the Spanish brand that brought together not only good tourism parts, but also two units with sports bodywork that, although I do not know their originality, seemed very innovative and well made.
However, the most fascinating Hispanic of the fair was in the stand in front: A Hispano K6 (the 'little ones') from the 30s with French bodywork that was a real wonder. I can't understand why they hadn't made him cross the aisle to the elegance pageant because, at least in my eyes, he would have taken the Best of Show of street Well, the fact is that you could enjoy yourself wherever you were, and it was a privilege. Perhaps I also missed that the space for the car contest, which was won by an H6B Hibbard & Darrin, was a bit more decorated.
The corridor led to the space of the Mercedes specialist Garage, in which lived a beastly AMG coupe of the W124 series, version as I understand difficult to see. Directly opposite was the FEVA booth, displaying a 1907 Brush Roundabout and a slightly more modern racing Indian Power Plus. Behind both, the stand of classic cars, that the truth is that it was very good: Some imposing pre-war Packard and Lagonda, which were replicated by a luxurious Mercedes 300S from the 1950s and an Alfa 2600 Touring, among others.
RENAULT 5 ELECTRIC, SEAT FILMING AND MOTORCYCLE COMPETITION
Already in the background was the area of the police and the clubs, among which the Classic Club Renault 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 which celebrated the fiftieth birthday of the R5. Where did they get a unit of the Leopard electric variant? I don't know, but it was a real unicorn that showed off with its huge batteries in the place that the combustion engine should occupy. very rare They also brought, if I remember correctly, the unit number 1 of the Cup. Without a doubt, two vehicles worthy of admiration.
Turning to the sides of the ship, interesting pieces could be seen sprinkled at more or less regular intervals: A Giulia SS here, a 944 Silver Rose there, a Citroën Traction Avant I would say transformed into a cabriolet (although just as nice as the original) , a restored Ossa Enduro E73… But, above all, the cars that the collection had brought 'Seat in filming' and that included examples as rare as an Ibiza Cabrio, the first unit of the Samba, a fully equipped 132 ambulance, one of the oldest 600 that are preserved (64) or a Toledo Podium, one of the 23 that were made for the medalists Spaniards from Barcelona 92.
On the sides there were also two marks that, as a general rule, they value its past and officially promote it. Intimately linked, it is about Renault and Alpine. The first celebrated the anniversary of the R5 in style, with TL, Copa, Baccara, GT Turbo and MaxiTurbo units; the second, let us once again enjoy its current berlinetta, which is a classic from day one, along with one of its predecessors.
Before moving on to the rest of the floors of the room, I only have one more thing to say about the third: Why were the shiny motorcycles from the restoration contest relegated to a corner next to the bathrooms? I give an affectionate slap on the ears to the organization, next year we have to take advantage of them more! A beautiful Terrot from the 30s, a Matchless or a Ducati 24 Hours (and an SD 900), among other competitors, well deserved it. They are the example of all the effort that our hobby entails.
THE MEZZANINE OF THE GLASS PAVILION: GREASE AND MOTORCYCLES
Salons are not finding it easy to come back after the pandemic, and I know it. We attendees must realize that the 2021-22 period is possibly a transition towards a return to full activity or even towards a different fair concept. Therefore, in my opinion, We should try to apologize at least for this time, when we feel that the corridors are too wide. It also happened in Retrómóvil: It seems that fewer spare parts are going to the salons and that unfortunately shows.
What seems to be in good shape is the presence of motorcycles among the different spare parts and automobilia objects. Gaudenzi brought two Benelli Sei (six cylinders), a Gilera Saturno and a BMW GS1000 that made you want to take it to the garden, among many other machines. A little further on there was a Guzzi V7 Sport also for sale along with a nice Harley WL and a Bultaco Metralla; and a collection of Pepos, which seems to be gradually being valued. Anyway, there were interesting bikes to browse here and there. On another note, there were also a couple of prewar gas pumps that whoever could have taken. Oh, and a restored Topolino that made you want to hug him...
BELOW: PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND CAR CORRAL
At the bottom, as you surely know, is the cafeteria. So a beer and continue, to see what else we see. As soon as I come out of the stairs things look good: I meet a first-series VW T2 with lots of glass; I don't know if it's the one with the most (which is supposed to be the most valuable) but this one is a beauty and it sells for a price that I consider reasonable for its version and condition: 68.000 euros. I hope you have found a father.
Books, magazines, miniatures, some more spare parts... and in the center of the plant a competition Mercedes SLS. Modern you will say, but what style, and what bad tempers. On the right-hand side, the firefighters' expo, with a truck that I had seen before but which is cute. It's a Dennis.
And on the other side the Car Corral, or space for sale between individuals. What caught my attention here was a Mercedes L319D van from the mid-60s: It was sold for 24.000 indicating the good base it is for a camper. In my humble opinion, better to camperize a Ford Transit from the 90s or buy a Mercedes motorhome as God intended and not invite to alter the originality of such an old industrial vehicle. It deserves to be kept as it is.
and well then too an R5 Turbo Cup which was phenomenal but I don't know if it wasn't a little overpriced. Anyway, it's the law of supply and demand, if someone shows up and takes it away, that's it, but even though I liked it a lot I wouldn't have bitten it 😉 Maybe I'm wrong, but the fact is that what they asked for it surprised me . It is also true that later they come to one to negotiate everything. so I suppose that the lucky owner of it played with a safety margin (which, however, contributes to inflating prices, something that I think happens in Spain more than healthy).
And that's all. See you next year ClassicMadrid! We also leave you the video of the event...
