javier romagosa
TEXT AND PHOTOS RETROMOBILE MADRID: THE ESCUDERIA
As soon as you entered, you fell flat on your face with the exhibition for the centenary of Moto-Guzzi, in which around a dozen motorcycles, including the Falcone, SuperAlce or Hispania, among others, testified to the long-standing good work of the Italian brand, which continues to this day. To the right of this space was the Jaguar E 60th Anniversary, one of the most beautiful cars in history: four copies were brought together here along with its modern heir, the F-Type. And, on the left, there was the Catawiki stand, who organized a special auction for the fair.
The truth is that this was full of interesting material: First of all, and to continue talking about felines, a beautiful first series E-Type Coupe was for sale, painted in pearl white and with red interiors, with the aluminum bucket seats and dashboard that characterize these cars. . It really was nice to see. At his side, an Alfa-Romeo Giulia SS that was hardly behind him and a very rare Excalibur with a two-seater body. Beyond could be admired an early Land Rover in perfect magazine condition or two pre-war ones, a Rolls-Royce and a Packard with original Madrid registration, imposing, among others.
A quick glance to the right hand side revealed the special dedicated to the 100 years of Amilcar, the legendary brand of cyclecars, which brought together ten units, including CGS/S or C4 versions with blonde-type Spanish bodywork. Behind, the 1935 Morgan ThreeWheeler Super Sports tricycle from the Sergio Romagosa insurance brokerage made them competitive. On the other hand, a few meters further on, there was something exceptional, if possible even more rare to see in our country: It was an AC Bristol with a national plate and original interiors exhibited at the stand of autostore, to which the replica was given by a magnificent remanufacturing of Jaguar C-Type, the Le Mans champion model. Later, the DeLorean DMC-12 turned 40 years old wearing its futuristic dress of exposed aluminum.
COMPETITIONS, HEART OF RETROMOBIL MADRID
The center of pavilion 10 was occupied, as is tradition, by the Contests of Elegance. In its third edition, he won Best of Show a Ferrari GTB/4 'Daytona'. on motorcycles an Indian Power Plus and a Bultaco Sherpa were awarded, in the field and road categories respectively. However, there were other really interesting machines like a Honda Japauto, an Indian Chief or a Laverda 1200, to name just a few examples.
Also in cars we found things to behold: The Aston-Martin DB4 GT was crazy, as were a Jensen Interceptor, a supercharged Auburn V8 or a tiny Austin Seven Ulster, with its funny 'fishtail' exhaust, among others. . In the modern contestants section, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS was downright impressive.
RACES, DEBATES, SEAT AND A PARALLEL LOUNGE
Going a little deeper we were already entering SEAT territory. Part of the central line of the hall consisted of the celebration of the Formula 1430, for which three copies were arranged: Two Selex and one Lince, all of them with the stylized bodies and visible mechanics that characterize these talented single-seaters. Next to it, on the left, the magnificent private collection 'Seat in filming' He delighted us with a 1400 Sport Serra convertible (there was another one in the Taller Marcos space), a 600 Formichetta, a Ronda van from the roadside assistance service or a 1400 ambulance. Classics that, again, are not seen every day.
The world of competition was very present with the tribute to the figure of Adrián Campos. Campos Racing set up an interesting space with three single-seaters, including the pioneering Avidesa; and the Motor Events Forum, a space for debate, hosted a talk about the driver and manager organized by AutoHebdo Sport, in which Luis Pérez-Sala and Emilio de Villota participated (as a listener) and which culminated in the delivery of a commemorative plaque to your son. This forum also hosted an interesting talk by the Spanish Federation of Old Vehicles, in which such good news was disclosed as the free entry to Madrid of vehicles with Historic Registration or the next abbreviated cataloging procedure that, once approved, will be carried out directly on ITV stations.
Meanwhile, and throughout the weekend, the classic car park It was quite lively, forming the usual 'parallel room' that we expected. Classic cars of all kinds and condition gathered in this space specially reserved for them: Bentley S2, Ferrari 365 2+2, BMW 2002 Turbo, Talbot Tagora, Ford Escort Cosworth... They were accompanied by dozens of Seat 124, 600 and Americans in the rallies organized for this purpose by the 1430, 124 and 124 Sport, 600 Puerta de Alcalá and Chanoe clubs, respectively. Special mention deserves, for unusual, the meeting of Mercedes SLK coordinated by the club dedicated to this youngtimer, which brought almost a hundred units of its various generations.
CLUBS, SPARE PARTS AND SALE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS
Back in the hall proper, amateur clubs they also spread inside. Some of the associations that we have already mentioned set up good stands, to which were added those of the Alfa-Romeo Spain Club, with a GTV6 sports car with a Zender kit or a delicious FADISA van, the Opel Classic Club Spain, with two immaculate Kadetts and a rare pre-war P4; the Renault 4/4 Club, the AECD or the Lancia Spain Club, with no less than, among others, three Lancia Aurelia Coupés. In the motorcycle section, the Motoclub of Villaviciosa de Odón showed muscle in a stand with a lot of machinery.
Many of these spaces were in the Automobile Zone, where spare parts, suppliers of accessories, tools, books, magazines and other documentation gathered; and miniatures, furniture, vintage clothing and all kinds of products. Especially funny were some elaborate t-shirts dedicated to Vespa, among many other things that could be found in this totum revolutum in which its inhabitants try to have everything. Even a racing Motobecane or a Moto-Guzzi V7 Sport.
We will finish this review in the Car Corral or space for buying and selling between individuals, which was nourished by such interesting automobiles like a national Mercedes 600, a Mercedes van, an Alfa 6, a Nissan 300ZX, a Simca 1000 or a Fiat Topolino, among others.
