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With the establishment in its municipality of the two most representative car factories in Germany, such as Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, the city of Stuttgart offers the greatest incentives to attract thousands of motorsport fans from all over the world. With their respective museums on the outskirts of Cansstatt and Zuffenhausen, the two brands vie to present in Retro Classics the best and most nurtured of its historical heritage.
Although special events are held throughout the year around the centenary of Maserati, the generic title for the latest edition of Retro Classics held from 13 to 16 March 2014 was very telling about what awaited the visitor: "The legendary Le Mans race and 120 years of motorsport".
Title that opens the curtain for the presentations of Porsche, its history at Le Mans, and Mercedes-Benz, which celebrated its 120 years of racing history. Both houses have paid special attention to the development of competition as a way to improve production models through the technique and innovation necessary in racing cars.
Hall No. 7 housed the Mercedes-Benz exhibition, while Porsche occupied a good space in Hall No. 4. The official stands of the two brands were well covered by representatives of clubs in their vicinity that took up as much or more space than the parent companies .
In the XNUMXs, the stars of the automotive universe were the Mercedes-Benz S, SS, SSK and SSKL models, with their generic name Silver Arrows. However, the German brand caught all observers by surprise by not going to Retro Classics with a car from its golden age and, what's more, with no classic car.
On this occasion he preferred to have the originality to emphasize the youngest of his racing cars and the sporty versions of his production vehicles, the AMGs. In this way, it is oriented towards a younger audience as the clientele of the future.
At its stand the Spanish flag was represented on the 204 AMG C coupé (C 2012) driven by Juncadella in the DTM championship. The 8-cylinder V engine with 4 liters of displacement has a power of 500 HP and allows the car to reach a speed of 310 km / h.
As part of his presentation at Retro Classics, the director of the Porsche Museum had told the press that
[su_quote] “Porsche has distinguished itself in the history of the 13,65 kilometer circuit of the 24 hours of Le Mans, ranking ahead of Ferrari and Audi in the list of winners of the endurance test. After a long absence, the mission of Porsche in 2014 is: return. " [/ su_quote]
Thus, the Porsche Museum was proud to bring to the show several of its participating cars in the 24 hours of Le Mans, including the famous "pink pig" thus known for having been sponsored by an industrialist in the meat sector who painted his Porsche 917 simulating the pieces of the butchering of a pig.
The car in question is characterized by being the only copy of the 917 series that is a hybrid between the short tail and the long tail, with an aerodynamic line midway between the two versions. With its well-known and fearsome 5-liter 600 hp engine, it reached 360 km / h on the straights of
LeMans.
Great ASC Drivers and Alfa-Romeo Giulietta 60th Anniversary
The acronym stands for Allgemeine Schnauferl-Club, founded in Nuremberg in 1900. The club for the preservation of the automobile as a cultural product organized an exhibition of photos of Pietsch, Caracciola and Herrmann in the attic of Pavilion No. 1. It also exhibited a Mercedes-Benz SSK from the Caracciola era and a Porsche Carrera Abarth, with which Herrmann participated in several races. The exhibition was completed with showcases full of period objects, such as trophies, helmets, gloves, glasses and overalls of the pilots mentioned.
On the other hand, it is an appropriate occasion to remember that the name Alfa is actually the initials of Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, initially written as ALFA The Alfaclub Deutschland made the festivities coincide with the 30th anniversary of the club's creation.
In Hall No. 4 stood out several evolutions of the model, observed in the modifications of the bodywork, from one of the first copies of 1954 to the well-known Sprint of 1959 and Sprint Veloce of 1961, passing through Turbodeltas of 1983 until reaching the last Giuliettas. MY from 2014. Although the 1900 Zagato from a private exhibitor was more striking.
1- Porsche 356 Abarth by Hans Herrmann
2- Nice Alfa-Romeo 1900 Zagato
Retro Classics Pavilion No. 4 is also known as the Porsche Pavilion, after the Stuttgart factory.
Likewise, one of the most important clubs in Germany and Europe was present in the Porsche Pavilion, the AvD, whose origin we have to look for it back to 1899.
THE ANATOMY OF THE TRACTOR
It was a tractor exhibition that paid tribute to the role of the tractor in the progress of humanity, with specimens specially selected among the oldest that have survived. A 1925 Landini prototype stood out in a very well set stand, which would give way to the production of tractors of the Italian brand between 1927 and 1932, with an engine of an estimated power between 25 and 30 HP. At his side, a 1926 Lanz Bulldog stood out, single cylinder of 15 CV.
Pavilion No 8 was full of trucks and buses, as well as motorcycles, but these specialties will have to be skipped due to the large number of incentives without leaving the cars. We will mention in passing that the classic representatives of the nautical world are also not lacking, especially the luxurious Riva pleasure boats, considered the Rolls-Royce of the seas.
1- Mercedes truck of the ADAC club
2- The Landini tractor scales to the category of classic
With 100.000 square meters available for 1.428 national and international exhibitors, Karl Ulrich Herrmann could declare himself satisfied at the inaugural Retro Classics press conference, which is already organized by a completely independent company from Messe Stuttgart, although certainly with good cooperation between the two. When closing its doors, the show had received 80.000 visitors, who left more than one million euros at the box office. 11% of the attendees came from countries other than Germany, the Swiss being the most represented, followed by the French and Austrians.
Of the sales made, 4% exceeded the value of 100.000,00 euros.
In the bright Atrium of the modern Messe Stuttgart facilities, with large glazed areas that let in the natural light of the central garden through which an artificial waterfall runs, a spectacular Delahaye 135 welcomed visitors who entered the west area from 1938 with Figoni et Falaschi bodywork, belonging to the California Mullin Collection.
Bugatti Royale, among countless attractions
A few steps down there was the special exhibition of French cars whose central core was occupied by a majestic Bugatti Royale. But not just any one.
In a lively and rich conversation, Daniel Lapp, Bugatti brand historian and car curator, explained in detail to this chronicler the history of such a unique car.
It is nothing less than the prototype Royale built by Ettore Bugatti in 1926 to attract a clientele chosen from among the European monarchies; hence the name of Royale, since it was to be destined for the kings. With that car, Bugatti traveled with his son Jean to present it to various European courts, such as the Spanish or the Swedish.
The presentation trips were a failure, since they failed to sell any cars to the European monarchs and, as we know, very few copies would be made. The project failed due to the crisis of 1929, according to Lapp.
The prototype Royale would have a busy life, as Ettore Bugatti fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a tree, destroying the front of the car and causing extensive damage not only to the bodywork, but also to the mechanics. Bugatti was always ashamed of that episode and buried the crashed car in a corner of the factory.
Many years later, it was acquired by an American collector. Or rather, what was left of it, since it had been dismantled to take advantage of its pieces in other Royale.
However, the frame is original, as well as part of the mechanics. The body, on the other hand, is completely new, but meticulously rebuilt following the original plans.
The full name of the car is Bugatti Type 41 Royale Packard Prototype. Its weight is only 3.200 kg and the Packard mention refers to its first body. Mr. Lapp was kind enough to publicly display a photo of the prototype with Ettore Bugatti on horseback, accompanied by his son Jean at the wheel of the Royale.
To my most direct and thorny question, Mr. Lapp answered equally briefly and directly:
[su_quote] - What percentage does the car have left of its initial originality?
- 60% [/ su_quote]
One of the attractions of Retro Classics are the walks through the mezzanines, which allow you to discover magnificent panoramic views of the pavilions, filled with the most select merchandise.
Some commentators blame the saloon for the abundance of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche for sale. It is a reproach that, in reality, is a compliment since the specimens are as abundant as they are exceptional. If someone intends to buy a Mercedes-Benz SL or a Porsche 911, you should first take a walk through the halls of Retro Classics.
1- From left to right, six MB 300 SL, the difficult thing is to choose
2- Difficult also the choice between a 300 SL Gullwing or a convertible
MERCEDES AND PORSCHE EVERYWHERE
Possibly I am not exaggerating in the appreciation that in the current edition of Retro Classics there was the selection of the highest quality in the world in Mercedes-Benz SL, both in the closed version "Seagull Wings" and in the convertible version, which some prefer to call like Roadster.
It is curious to note that just a few years ago the Seagull Wings doubled the price of the Roadster, while today the convertible distances the coupe. Many customers explain the change due to the heat in the interior of the closed car, sometimes unbearable, while the open one is cooler and a hard top can be adapted if necessary.
We will mention just a few specialists who exhibited an unrivaled palette of SL: HK Engineering, Kienle, Stickel and Mechatronik Trade. The prices were not indicated in the presentation of the cars because, as we know, whoever needs to ask the price will not be able to buy them.
For example, the red copy type W198 in full view of the readers, with a black hardtop, it is a car practically brand new because it only has 11.954 km.
Mercedes-Benz would fill not only this chronicle comprehensively, but also an encyclopedia, so we will bid it farewell with an exceptional model, the 300 1955b Pininfarina coupé that you can see above, awarded at the 1992 Pebble Beach Contest of Elegance.
In an exclusive article, we first discovered the readers of The Escudería the Porsche 918 hybrid prototype. In Stuttgart you could already admire its street versions, which allow us to discover the differences in the finish of the final model, the most apparent being the rear-view mirrors and the exhaust pipes coming out above the engine.
The Porsche 918 was exposed side by side with its possible rival, the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo, which has a lot of development ahead of it before reaching the dealerships.
With so much and so varied content, in an exercise of synthesis a brief tour of all the pavilions is imposed so as not to forget any:
[su_quote] → Atrio: French brand cars, in particular Bugatti Royale.
→ Pavilion No 1: Dealers of international prestige, restaurateurs, accessories, Riva speedboats
→ Mezzanine: National merchants, Pietsch and Herrmann exhibition
→ Hall No 2: Conference Center
→ Hall No 3: Restorations and accessories [/ su_quote]
[your_quote]
→ Pavilion No 4: National and international clubs. Porsche museum
→ Hall No 5: US Cars and Accessories
→ Pavilion No 6: Automania, models, motor literature
→ Hall No 7: Mercedes-Benz and clubs
→ Hall No 8: Motorcycles, trucks, buses. (We will highlight a special Mercedes-Benz model for the ADAC)
→ Hall No 9: 10.000 square meters for spare parts and accessories [/ su_quote]
1- Few brands boast of withstanding a century like Maserati
2- A classic from Zagato, the light Lancia Apia
At every corner and in every corner of Retro Classics the visitor will discover cars that will attract their attention. We will mention some examples:
[su_quote] ♦ Fiat 850 Abarth Spider with Allemano bodywork, from 1958, for sale for 59.000,00 euros;
♦ Maserati 300S from 1955 with Fantuzzi bodywork, chassis 3051;
♦ Lancia Apia from 1962 with Zagato bodywork, for sale for 98.000,00 euros or
♦ Lamborghini Countach LP 400, first series of 1974 [/ su_quote]
Tickets at 16,00 euros for adults and 12,00 euros for young people from 6 to 15 years (up to 6 years free) offer a lot of compensation. The car park built on a bridge over the highway is itself a spectacle and a large area is reserved at the gates of the fair for visitors who arrive driving classic cars.
It only remains for me to recommend that readers refrain from visiting Retro Classics. The influx of public is so massive that driving through the corridors requires patience, it is difficult to take photos of the cars that are not hidden by a human tide and, although the restaurants are numerous, it is necessary to queue. My only wish is that the number of visitors decreases in order to better enjoy the show, but I am convinced that the opposite will continue to happen.
Assessment
INTEREST FROM A POINT OF VIEW ...
| of the historic automobile: | 10/10 |
| market of parts and accessories: | 10/10 |
| of modeling: | 10/10 |
| Comfort of the facilities: | 10/10 |
| Communications, accesses, hotel facilities: | 10/10 |
| Public attention: | 9/10 |
| Presentation, setting, access to the stands: | 10/10 |
DISADVANTAGES: Large number of visitors, particularly on Saturday. Congested interior corridors at some points. Laborious unobstructed photo taking.
