Concepts and glamour take mammoth Essen show by storm

| 18 Apr 2015

Nearly 200,000 enthusiasts flocked to Messe Essen in Germany for the enormous Techno Classica Essen show from 15-19 April. With seemingly endless halls and some 2500 classics on sale, the event is one of the highlights of the European classic calendar.

There were superb manufacturer displays – with BMW, VW Audi and Mercedes-Benz taking entire halls to themselves – complemented by relevant club and specialist dealer displays.

Highlights included a VW Beetle suspended from the roof and gently twirling over a priceless Bugatti Royale, a phenomenal M-B display celebrating streamlining and a wonderful Porsche 959 celebration.

Opel deserves special mention for the sensational display of concepts and prototypes it fielded (main image).

The packed car corrals in the outdoor spaces were especially busy with many classics rapidly marked up as sold despite some eye-watering asking prices.

As ever the car clubs put on an astonishing range of displays ranging from the superb – the Fiat 600's 60th celebration – to the almost distasteful – the Opel Commodore red light district tableau.

A full report will be in the June issue of C&SC (published on 7 May), but click here for a special gallery of C&SC's favourite bits.

TECHNO CLASSICA ESSEN 2015 GALLERY

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CLICK HERE FOR C&SC'S TECHNO CLASSICA ESSEN 2015 GALLERY