Stuttgart, 7 January, 2011

The twelfth outing of Retro Classics, the whole world of classic automobiles, is set to take place from 22 to 25 March 2012 in Stuttgart. The twelfth international classic car exhibition is right on track following this year's visitor and exhibitor record, already reporting impressive booking figures in comparison to the previous year. “Stand sales figures are currently 60 percent higher than they were in 2011,” says Karl Ulrich Herrmann, the organiser of Retro Classics. In addition to the traditional departments of the major automotive manufacturers, many new exhibitors from the restoration and dealership sector have registered for Retro Classics 2012.

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Stuttgart's exhibition for classic cars is retaining the proven concept of “themed halls” for its twelfth year, presenting famous and less well-known classic and legendary cars, as well as neo classics models. By 2008 at the latest, when the event moved to the new trade fair grounds, the exhibition had established itself as one of the must-see events on the national and international automotive scene. There is a particular emphasis made in each of the eight halls, i.e. across the entire exhibition area. From the pre-war models to the classic cars and youngtimers of the post-war era, from the legendary racing cars to the classic models of the future, there really is something spectacular for every motorsport enthusiast.

New in 2012 will be the “US vehicles” show in Hall 5, with models dating from 1950 to 1980 on display, as well as the respective dealers and restoration companies. This new part of the exhibition is set to become a firm feature of Retro Classics and will be accompanied by the new show “Street’s Finest”. Here, converted pre-war vehicles, among them numerous Ford models, will be displayed, representing the typical American contribution made to the automobile culture.

There will also be a special show dedicated to the classic models from Maserati in Hall 4, with some very rare pieces on display. In the same hall, in collaboration with Messe Padua, there will be a joint stand set up with the Italian manufacturer entitled “Made in Italy”, yet another new focus of the event. Another highlight will be the exhibition of British steam cars which will be set up in the foyer. There will be a special show featuring fire-fighting vehicles from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s which all display the basic frame of a passenger car. Finally, the brand “NSU” will come under the spotlight. This Swabian company manufactures bicycles, motorbikes, cars and scooters, moving from Riedlingen to Neckarsulm in southern Germany in 1880. The company originally traded as the “Mechanical Workshops for the Manufacture of Knitting Machines“, produced bicycles from 1886 onwards and has made a considerable contribution to the early development of motorbikes in Germany since 1901. In terms of numbers sold, NSU was the largest manufacturer of two-wheelers in the world by the mid 1950s. The name NSU, which has been the brand name used since 1892, stands for the city of Neckarsulm, incorporating the names of the rivers Neckar and Sulm which meet in this location.

In March 2011, Retro Classics set a record with more than 1,300 exhibitors and around 3,200 displayed vehicles; a record the organisers are looking to build on in the coming years. Stuttgart's exhibition for classic cars is now a firm feature of the international automotive scene. With around 65,000 visitors in 2011 and 100,000 square metres of occupied exhibition space across eight exhibition halls, this event has been established as the meeting point for automobile enthusiasts from southern Germany and its neighbouring countries. The exhibitors, among them top-class international dealers, renowned restorers and, of course, the traditional departments of the car manufacturers, as well as their recognised clubs, come to Stuttgart from all over Europe. The vehicles on display not only include the classic models from pre- and post-war eras but also traditional buses, legendary trucks and tractors. Furthermore, the event also presents the “Neo Classics” category which features the classic cars of tomorrow, i.e. concept cars and special edition cars from current production of which limited numbers are made. The Retro Night as a get-together for the automotive scene, auctions, the sales halls and the international parts market round off this comprehensive event.

Opening times for Retro Classics 2012:

Retro Classics 2012 will be open on Thursday, 22 March from 15.00 to 19.00; on Friday, 23 March from 10.00 to 19.00; on Saturday and Sunday, 24/25 March daily from 9.00 to 18.00. For the Preview Day on Thursday, the halls will open especially for journalists and visitors interested in viewing the exhibition at a quieter pace. On the same day, RETRO NIGHT® will take place in Hall 1 from 19.00 to 22.00.