mario laguna
'The Escudería' could not miss the first edition of Retro Classics, in the city of Cologne, on the shores of Father Rin, as the ancients of the place know it, both for its protective role against invasions, and for its wealth as a means of transport and communication.
We realize below from the first edition of Retro Classics for our readers, which took place from 23 to 25 November 2017. A first that promises to go down in history as the winter offensive launched by Stuttgart on Essen.
We will explain. There is no doubt that one of the biggest world events in the exhibition and sale of classic cars is Techno Classica Essen. Since some years, Retro Classics Stuttgart It has been reducing differences and some observers, including this chronicler, place Stuttgart at the level of Essen, in volume and quality of the merchandise exhibited, although not yet in numbers of tickets sold. The organizer of Retro Classics Stuttgart has decidedly gone on the offensive with the organization of three classic car fairs, the two mentioned and Retro Classics Bavaria (in Nuremberg).
Situating Retro Classics In Cologne, Stuttgart takes a position-taking step at the gates of Essen. If we look at the map, from Stuttgart to Essen there are 433 km. Situated in Cologne, Retro Classics is only 80 km from Essen. Clearly the Retro Classics trilogy is going to involve serious competition for classic techno, This can only be translated into greater efforts to achieve loyalty not only from the public, but also from merchants and exhibitors on the part of the large factories interested in this sector of the market.
This is the case of brands such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Skoda, etc. Brands that at one time or another will have to be decided, for example, when the fairs are held during the same dates.
We won't have to wait long for that to happen as in 2018, Techno Classica Essen and Retro Classics Stuttgart will take place. during the same weekend. Observers will come with thermometers in hand.
First Edition of Retro Classics Cologne
For now we will limit ourselves to giving a full account of what happened in this our first experience in Cologne. There is no need to hold the suspense until the end of the article. Retro Classics has not disappointed at all and it has been at the height of a first round with the provision of 4 large exhibition pavilions (compared to the ten of its mother house in Stuttgart).
By brands, as could not be expected otherwise, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz took the cat to the water, but there were also many Alfa Romeo, Audi, Jaguar of all models, even FIAT and SEAT rubbed shoulders with older brothers, passing through variations of Abarth and other prestigious preparers.
As for the private exhibitors, a pleasant surprise that we will talk about next, awaited us in the form of an extraordinary set of 356 Porsches.
MERCEDES-BENZ
The 300SL, they hold up well to the pull and the market corrections, with the best examples in the Gullwing and Roadster coupes priced at 1.500.000 and 1.200.000 euros, respectively.
The younger brother, 190 SL, traditionally considered in Germany more appropriate for ladies, continues to be priced above one hundred thousand euros, reaching the area of one hundred and twenty thousand.
PORSCHE
Many copies of the model 911 available in a myriad of engine variations and options. From the most sought after with a narrow body and 2-liter engine reaching 200.000 euros, to the most modest T in 2,2 and 2,4 liters without going down in any case of one hundred thousand. We talk about specimens in perfect state of presentation and operation, in many occasions coming out of complete restorations.
SEAT
Some 600 D were present, among which we will highlight a commercial version, originally belonging to a merchant in Escorial chocolates.
FIAT
Naturally the most admired versions are those equipped of Abarth engines, with an illustrious past in competition, prevailing over cars with greater displacement and power.
BMW
We will highlight a M1 that by its advanced design, with a frame inspired by the competition and an engine in rear central position, it was a rival of weight on the circuit against the 911, even in its most extreme evolutions. Those who prefer a polyester body on the M1 have an option with great incentives to check some Italian brands with an abundance of red in their ranks.
VARIOUS
In Cologne we find products assimilated to the classical movement for sale, as are old airplane fuselages and representatives of automotive art in all sizes and shapes.
As in fireworks castles, we save the fat thunder for last.
HARTMUT ABL COLLECTION
In our passage and review by national and European motor shows, we frequently meet collectors who have set their sights very high. Still at the risk of summarizing too much, I would classify them into two types: reserved, discreet, with communication difficulties, jealous of preserving their privacy, on the one hand, and, on the other, open, communicative and eager to share their great hobby with the admirers of their work.
In the second category, a lover of the Porches 356, of Danish nationality, fully exhibited for the first time in public his extraordinary collection of the most exclusive models from the Stuttgart factory. Hartmut abl unreservedly opened his collection to The Escudería And so we learned that the focus of his interest is the Carrera 2 engines, better known as the Fuhrmann type, by the engineer who designed and developed them successfully, Ernst Fuhrmann.
Starting from a modest air-cooled 4-cylinder engine, Fuhrmann arrived at a sophisticated four-camshaft racing engine, delicate to maintain, but highly efficient in competition. The same engine equipped different versions of the 356 in coupe, cabriolet and Speedster, as well as the more advanced 904.
We thank Hartmut Abl, not only their cordiality and availability, but also their detailed and open explanation, of which they constitute a true expert talk, very didactic.
