Event Flashback

You can normally count on Techno Classica for some of Europe’s best classic displays – but Mercedes-Benz went all out to mark its motor sport heritage back in 2014

Techno Classica Essen 2014

There’s nothing new about dazzling, manufacturerbacked displays at Techno Classica, Essen – past showgoers have been treated to Volkswagen Beetles dangled in mid-air and one-off V16-engined BMW prototypes.

But we reckon the carmakers set to take part in this year’s show on 7-11 April will have to go a long way to top this breathtaking display of Mercedes’ motor sport heritage at 2014’s event – essentially a threedeck display cabinet of Stuttgart’s greatest racing cars, only played out with meticulously maintained, full-scale classics rather than 1:18 scale models.

The display, put together to mark 120 years of Mercedes-Benz taking part in motor sport events, included everything from the 1914 Grand-Prix Rennwagen to 2013’s Mercedes-AMG W04 Formula One car, with classics including the 1937 W125, 1936’s W165 and 1955’s W196R neatly stacked onto its shelves. This however, was only the starting point for the Three Pointed Star completely taking over the vast Hall One at the Essen Messe venue. By bringing this display together with non-motor sport jewels from its collection, displays put on by its German dealers and Mercedes specialists from across continental Europe, the manufacturer managed to bring 93 classics bearing its badge under one roof at the show, easily outdoing Volkswagen’s celebration of the Golf’s 40th anniversary, BMW marking 50 years of the Mini Cooper’s Monte Carlo rally victory and event organiser SIHA’s own flagship display that year – a tencar stand in celebration of Zagato’s gilt-edged heritage.

Lars Niehaus, Mercedes’ master of architecture and part of the classic motor shows and events team, told CCW: ‘At the Essen show, Mercedes-Benz was able to look back on a great sporting tradition, which is closely associated with the brand’s longstanding history and still shapes its philosophy to this day.

‘ We have always enjoyed a close connection with sporting attributes such as team spirit, dedication and responsibility. This is why the history of MercedesBenz in motor sport has endured for 120 years.’

IMAGES Mike Le Caplain SEAT used the show to mark 30 years of the original Ibiza – engineered with Porsche’s help – with this – the first-ever MkI. Golf 40th anniversary displays included this former press car, which had its roof cut away to show its packaging. It’s still drivable! BMW marked the Mini’s 55th anniversary by bringing together this 1959 Morris Mini Minor 850, 1968 Austin Mini 850 Deluxe, 1973 1000, 1980 Spezial, 1986 Mayfair, 1992 Cooper SPi and 2000 Cooper Sport 500 on its stand.

Event organiser SIHA brought together ten Zagato-bodied classics for its display. 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ2 (left) is one of just 12 built. 1933 8C 2300 was the oldest of the group. Mercedes’ classic division sensibly left all of its modern F1 racers on the top row of its ‘bookcase’ display. The 1914 Grand Prix Rennwagen also on show took the top three places in that year’s French GP.