BMW BIRTHDAY BASH LIFTS ESSEN
Dazzling anniversary celebrations were the biggest draw at the 30th Techno-classica Essen from 21-25 March. Visitors to the vast German show were wowed by tributes to 40 years of the BMW M1 – with a road car and a Jim Beam-sponsored Procar – plus 50 years of the seminal E3 saloon and E9 coupé, the latter marked by a trio of CSI, CSL and mighty ex-hans Stuck racer.
There were birthday parties everywhere, from 20 years of the Audi TT to 50 of the Audi 100, 60 of the NSU Prinz and 30 of the VW California. Campers formed a tiny part of a fascinating VW group hall. Its Autostadt arm fêted alternative power, from electric DKW Schnellaster and ’31 Bugatti T56 to a Mk1 VW Golf diesel. But Škoda stole the show with a group of offroaders. Alongside the 1975 Buggy – one of five made – and 2005 Yeti cabrio prototype were a 1966-’72 Trekka 1200, which looked for all the world like a baby Land-rover, and Škoda’s answer to the Austin Champ, a late-’40s 1101 Tudor.
Parent group Volkswagen brought a set of Karmann convertible prototypes – Type 3 to Jetta and Corrado – plus an amazing Pikes Peak Golf Mk2. The twin-engined, 653bhp monster built for Klausjoachim ‘Jochi’ Kleint could run via front-, rear- or all-wheel drive.
The scale of Techno-classica had to be seen to be believed, with 1250-plus exhibitors and circa 3000 cars – including many curiosities. Volvo lauded the 1800 series with a genuine The Saint car, a super-rare Volvoville convertible and the Jan Wilsgaard-styled, Coggiola-built 1968 1800ES sports-estate prototype nicknamed ‘The Rocket’.
Commercial vehicles were a theme throughout, from a 1976 Volvo Laplander via Tempo Matador to a fantastic early open-top Unimog. There was a younger cousin in the main Mercedes hall, too, though it was outshone by an exploded 300SL and a trio of World Champions: the ex-rudi Caracciola W154, Mika Häkkinen’s MP4-13 and the ex-lewis Hamilton F1 W05. Despite all of those, the C&SC team’s favourite Benz was a 126-series 500SEL that had been converted into a neat Kombi estate.
Show organiser SIHA staged a breathtaking Le Mans Legends set, while Christophe Pund of Galerie des Damiers brought an intriguing pair of racers. “I found the 1958 car at Beaulieu in 2006 and at first
I thought it was a Lotus 12,” said Pund, “but Doug Nye identified it as a Smith-climax. I’ve since learnt that it was driven in period by Alan Stacey, then I picked up the 1957 car. I’ve got the entire Smith collection – Mr and Mrs Smith!”
The strongest British contingent came from Jaguar Land Rover Classic, which unveiled the modified XJ6 produced for Iron Maiden drummer Nicko Mcbrain. More interesting for purists was the lastever ‘lights behind the grille’ S1 Landie – yours for €100,000!
Sadly, the show dates clashing with Retro Classics Stuttgart meant a depleted club turnout, but there were still lots of gems to be found. We loved the scene of a VW 411 and 412 getting married – complete with loo-roll wedding cake – and there was plenty of attention for the Panther Car Club’s bizarre Brexit tableau, with Boris Johnson in a Rio and Angela Merkel in a Lima!
Tucked away among the many Citroëns was a fabulous Yacco Oils Traction. Having started life as an 11BL, it was one of four turned into dirt-track racers during the 1960s. It features a standard engine, but a stripped and chopped body plus seats from an Allouette helicopter.