Ignacio Saenz de Camara
In the capital of Asturias, on September 21 and 22, the 16th edition of the International Classic Vehicle Fair "Ciudad de Oviedo". This contest is organized by the Asturian Classic Motor Association, made up of a group of collector vehicle enthusiasts, who count year after year with the fervor of those of us who live this hobby with intensity.
With its poster attached to the windshield, fifty different classics were for sale in the external area of the fairgrounds, which expanded the atmosphere outside the Palacio de los Deportes.
There were copies of Ford Fiesta, Renault 5 or Seat 127, as well as Seat 600, a large group of Mercedes-Benz from the '80s and even spectacular American cars, including a 1962 Dodge Lancer assembled in Switzerland and a Chrysler Le Baron Town & Country, with its characteristic wooden side planks.
Inside the building, there was an exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Rally Principe de Asturias. Photographs of each of the editions were displayed on it. On the other hand, an assortment of rally cars that had once participated was also exhibited. Among them, the Rover Metro 6R4 with which the English driver Malcolm Wilson raced, the Citroën Visa GTI of José Bernardo Pino and the Ford Escort RS Cosworth of Daniel Alonso, who achieved absolute victory in 1993 with this N group car.
There was also the memory of some memorable events that occurred exactly 60 years ago, which were the eight speed records achieved by Pegaso on the Belgian Jabbeke motorway. Not surprisingly, that September 21, 1953, Asturian driver Celso Fernández was at the wheel of the Pegaso Bisiluro.
In any case, other fans would prefer to visit several of the 87 stands, among them the numerous ones selling parts, both for classics and collectible motorcycles. There was also room for miniaturists, as well as for collectors of automotive objects and even for those who wanted to contact a professional upholsterer, or a specialist in chrome and zinc plating.
8.000 visitors
Fans had before them a large group of classics for sale, such as a Ferrari 400i (for €22.000), a 1957 Ford Thunderbird (€36.000) or a Lancia Aurelia B20 awaiting restoration (€65.000). And if we looked at more affordable models, an impeccable 4 Renault 1965 Super, recently finished restoring, was sold for just over €6.000. And an Alfa Romeo Sprint 1500 Quadrifoglio Verde, red like passion and for which they were asking €3.900, was not a bad opportunity either; or take home a Bultaco Alpina, which looked new and whose sign said 1.800 euros.
There was also an opportunity to delight in the three cars of the Bentley monographic, led by an impressive 4,5 Liter Supercharged competition. And next to him, an S1 limousine and a Continental coupe, both from 1958.
In addition, the Estanislao Reverter Foundation exhibited images referring to the brilliant sports career of the Orense pilot. At the stand, you could see the Goggomobil with which Estanislao raced in the RACE RACE in 1963, while the will to restore the mythical Alpinche was manifested, for which it will be necessary to count on the human and economic contribution of all.
And within the scheduled rallies, on Saturday a group of fans visited the fair who had arrived at the wheel of fifteen Ford T and Ford A. A good occasion to attend a crank engine start ... and see how happy those cars roll almost centenarians. In contrast, on Sunday it was the turn of a hundred classic motorcycles, among which there were several with sidecars, who made a morning tour of the Asturian roads.
Conclusion, point out that the fair was visited by eight thousand people, a figure similar to that of the two previous editions.
