Well, I liked it. Look how I am usually critical of the great Spanish fairs but, with their successes and mistakes, I think 2016 has been the year of the redemption of ClassicAuto.
It is true that the entrance of "Take it or leave it" is still valid, that the transfer of the restaurant area to the entrance esplanade has been a disastrous idea, and that the organization has to put some more chairs at the conferences ... But, in general, this year the Madrid room had chicha, at least from the visitor's point of view. Let's see why.
(Supplement this information with the official press release…
Replica of Jaguar E-Type Low Drag, the official racing version of the E
Alfa-Romeo 6C Golden Arrow. Its Italian restoration is worthy of the best specialists
Cafe-racer for two at the NitroCycle booth
English high voltage motorcycles at the Cometa Restauraciones stand
Pieces of all kinds are sold on the mezzanine
The famous Alpinche (Alpine with a Porsche engine) continues to advance in its restoration
Seat 850 sedan and saloon. Happy Anniversary!
The Car Corral had its own
Let's start with the fat of ClassicAuto 2016
Personally, I have always been attracted to the mezzanine, that more or less reduced space in which a large amount of fat, spare parts and diverse merchandise are crowded, preferably connected with the world of the classic. There are almost always curious things, from the Indian with sidecar or benelli sei that receive you at the foot of the steps -this is usually a biker plant-, to the exotic French stalls, all wrapped up in an atmosphere that does not make any concessions to glamor, as it should be.
This year it gave me the feeling that there was less motorcycle -especially rusty- but more spare, which, taking into account the amount of two-wheeled devices that were on the upper floor, I do not think it is objectionable. Of course first thing in the afternoon on Saturday there was movement, people watching, asking questions and negotiating, the life that is expected in an event of these characteristics but that does not always happen.
Let's go there, let's start with the mezzanine ...
Imposing Indian with sidecar brought by Mauricio Gaudenzi
Benelli Sei, six cylinders in 750cc? Why not!
On the mezzanine there was movement
PetrolHead always brings a good literary selection
Bomb Proof Engines Brought In By Old Parts
Who wouldn't want J Costa jerry cans for their garage or bar counter?
Exemplary of the first Derbi with flat stock, at the entrance to the mezzanine
Montesa tricycle brought by the School of Professional Trades. What an excellent idea! I also want to learn to restore!
An on-site display with retro license plates on the mezzanine floor
Renault gearboxes brought by French exhibitors on the mezzanine floor
The new Catawiki auction house has managed to catch the pulse of the Spanish public. And it is that we would do well to open ourselves to this type of sale
Crown jewel
The third floor is the jewel in the crown of ClassicAuto, the enclave where the Madrid fair "works" conscientiously to earn the title of International Show. We went from the grease of the mezzanine to the careful presentation of a third level that is the nightmare of photographers - whoever tried to shoot there knows well what I mean.
Above we find Machinery with capital letters and all kinds of products and services with somewhat more demure forms. And in this well-placed jumble the pre-war Frederick Constant elegance contest stood out above all else; They were at the back, poorly lit and fenced as usual, but they were gentlemen cars ...
Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes de Campanillas, Delahaye, Rolls-Royce, Alfa-Romeo, some cars that could mostly present their candidacy for the most prestigious European and American competitions and that it was a real pleasure to be able to see even from afar . The cat to the water took it one of the Bugatti contestants.
The elegance contest of the firm Frederick Constant brought together classics to match, such as this Mercedes 540K from the 30s
Rolls-Royce Coupé brought by the Torre Loizaga Museum to compete
This gorgeous Mercedes looked small next to the 540K, let alone the Brush Roundabout!
This Delahaye ex-Godia was a strong candidate for victory
Hispano-Suiza contestant. Note the enormous size
Finally, this Bugatti 57 took the cat, or rather the contest, to the water
One of the Bugatti present at the Frederick Constant elegance contest
Stately Rolls-Royce, also in competition
Good and varied merchandise
Others poles of attraction of the plant magna they were the stands of the restoration and sale workshops and the official brands. In the first group it is necessary to mention Juan Lumbreras, Saica MotorSport, Cochera, RetroSport, Coupé and Classic Cars, among others. As you can see in the photos they brought good material, a pity as always the usual red tape that, in most cases, prevents approaching the cars.
Regarding brands, Porsche, Seat and Mercedes they were present. The first commemorated the birth of the other Porsches, the front-engined ones and the change in transaxle, although it did not stop deploying two 911s - one of them young - with an excellent pint.
Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Recreation by Juan Lumbreras. Looks a lot like the originals
Imposing third generation Chevrolet Corvette at the Juan Lumbreras stand
Replica of Jaguar XKSS at the stand of Juan Lumbreras, a Jaguar D put on the streets
Fourth generation Chevrolet Corvette courtesy of Juan Lumbreras
Aston Martin DB6, heavyweight of sixties sports cars at the Saica Motorsport stand
A rare but valuable Monaco Moss, at Saica MotorSport
The specialist in Mercedes Cochera gave us a good piece, a Mercedes 300 SL Seagull Wings
Rolls-Royce with wooden boat body in the coupe stand
Prewar luxury on both sides of the Atlantic: Lincoln Zephyr and Bentley at the Coupé booth
If I remember correctly, this Pegaso Z-102 convertible we already saw it last year. Well, always a pleasure!
Maserati Khamsin, at the Coupé stand
Coupé pieces separated from the "black leg" of their space: Very rare Natham Imp and Lancia Appia, along with a stately Humber
Ferrari 512 TR, another classic that has suffered a spectacular rise in value in recent years
SS 100 at the Classic Cars stand. Is it a replica? In any case it looks really good
Prewar Delahaye at the Classic Cars booth
The DeTomaso hybrid, sold by RetroSport
Porsche Classic booth, where the birth of front-engined and transaxle Porsches was shaken
First-batch Porsche 911T, match up, gentlemen!
Seat celebrated especially the 50th anniversary of the beloved 850, and for this he brought a saloon, a sedan, a coupe and a spider. A beautiful display that is very evocative and from my point of view very well lit. It is nice to see how Seat does not give up in its effort to spread its story.
There was life beyond the greats, with a variety of positions here and there. I wouldn't want to stop mentioning the two Ford GT40 from the Grand Prix Originals booth, the Dodge serra brought by the magazine Classic Cars or the Renault 5 Turbo of Classic Engine, among many other classics that I try to show you in the images that accompany this billet.
On the other hand, I was surprised by the number of motorcycles present and, above all, the increase in the classics each pair is made to order cafe-racer look. The restoration contest and the position of the people of La Mancha HD motorcycles they focused attention in this area. I just missed a greater number of prewar motorcycles.
Seat officially celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 850
Seat 850 sedan and saloon. Happy Anniversary!
Seat 850 Coupé at the official SEAT stand
Seat also brought other models of the brand such as this Bocanegra or the Toledo from behind
Space dedicated to the Seat 124 in its different variants, probably from a club dedicated to the model
Seat 124, we all remember you fondly
Club meetings took place outside, although bad weather made it its own
Seat was a bit everywhere, what a brand!
Two Ford GT40s could be admired at the Grand Prix Originals booth
Ford's response to Ferrari's refusal to sell. Overwhelming…
Is it a kitchen? No, it's the neat TRM workshop modules
Leather from the hand of French Jean Gaborit
Renault 5 GT Turbo at the Classic Motor stand
Dodge 3700 GT bodied by Serra at the Classic Car stand
Bultaco customized by XTR Pepo
These Royal Enfield, with their 500cc and 30 hp engine retain the essence of the café-racer of the 50s and 60s, and at an unbeatable price!
Adrenaline Machine know without a doubt how to customize a BMW
Cafe-racer courtesy of Cafe-Racer Spirit
Or this gorgeous 1935 Harley VL with national history
The Motos HD stand had things as interesting as this Peugeot tricycle
Motorcycle restoration contest
Detail of a Ducati in the classic restoration contest
Is it a Cross Impala or the first Cappra? We do not know, but it is an excellent piece
JJ Saez's field bikes were in impeccable condition
Car Corral, butt
Let's go down to the first floor now to the cursed plant. After two years with low occupancy levels, it seems that this part of ClassicAuto it has also regained its vigor; Although a significant part of the cars have been left on display along the way, I found it to have a fairly decent range of products and services.
Special mention in these latitudes deserves the Car Corral, in which there was a lot of car for sale. There are those who will be shocked by some of the prices, but at this point it is a fact that in Spain the figures are inflated to later negotiate in a big way, a practice with which I do not agree but which I have personally suffered.
And well, I will not give you the tabarra anymore, the case was to highlight the best of ClassicAuto 2016. I am sure that I left important things in the pipeline so, in order not to omit them, I link you below to official press release in which everything that happened is explained with hair and signs. And I also leave you a few more photos;).
The ground floor has suffered a lot in the last two editions
The Car Corral offered quantity and variety ...
The Car Corral offered quantity and variety ...
An Autobianchi A-112 Abarth? Girls are warriors! 😉
Vitamined BMWs, also on sale at the Car Corral
A pity about the wheels, but I guess it's a matter of taste. The rest looked very good ...
One of Subaru's most unusual models, the SVX performance coupe, was for sale.
This Ford Fiesta seemed to be in price
English fiber for sale, a rare Bond from the 60s
There were classics for sale of more or less all categories
We already saw them at the Porto fair. These Portuguese had suitcases at very competitive prices
Sea of catalogs on the ground floor
Parts and magazines brought by our neighbors
Opel GT, the small European Corvette, with a cute Fiat Balilla
I would swear this exhibitor was French but I couldn't be sure ... In any case, it brought good irons
Citroën 2CV AZ LP from 1957, valuable rust looking for restorer
Rectified Carcassona, it is clear
Here we see Sergio, his handyman, at the foot of the canyon with his polisher
Premium Detail Garage, a company dedicated to detailing, is lately everywhere
I also want a Chevrolet Camaro SS for my events!
The La Mejor Funda stand was very cute, it was nice to see it (although next time we want a classic!)
Below was a bit of everything, and of course thumbnails
Another curious post, even with medical material?
Hispano-Suiza in the stand of the Classic Cars magazine
Mercedes 300 from the 50s, huge compared to a Renault 4/4
Alfa-Romeo SZ in the position of the Club Alfa-Romeo Spain
The Porsche 356 every day are more expensive, a pity
Organizer stand ERMevents
Selex Formula 1430 at the ERMevents booth
Lancia Fulvia Zagato, a light and innovative bodywork
Europeans and Americans at the Juan Lumbreras stand
Alfa-Romeo Giulia GT, was sold "for daily use"
Lancia Fulvia HF thanks to the Portuguese Lusovintage
Millers lubricants did not want to miss the appointment
Small, and scarce, Bultaco Tirón for sale on the mezzanine
For the next the foodtrack also inside, please
To eat you had to go outside the enclosure. It's not a good idea…
The EMT also wanted to be present with this Pegaso 6035 from its collection
Excellent poster for next year! They could always be like this!
javier romagosa
