This is what the dealers brought to Techno Classico 2016

With more than 2,500 classics available for sale straight off the show-stands, if you can’t find what you’re looking for at the Techno Classica, then it’s probably not currently available on the market. Here are our highlights of the 2016 event…

The usual suspects

Movendi brought the usual suspects to Essen, including a Lamborghini Miura P400 (in this, the Miura’s 50th year), a Ferrari 512BBi, an Iso Grifo and an ultra-rare Glöckler Porsche. What more could a real Classic Driver ask for? In the same vein, the Car Collection Wittner from Austria presented a fabulous selection of cars including a Ferrari Testarossa, a Maserati Merak SS, an Iso Rivolta and a Porsche 911 S. The Gallery Brummen displayed a small selection of its extensive inventory. The green Maserati Bora is believed to be one of the earliest known surviving examples of the model, and shows just 17,500km on the clock. It vied for our attention with a sky-blue Lamborghini Jarama S – one of only 150 ever built. Those of a more mature taste would have enjoyed the Aston Martin DB2, a four-times entrant to the modern running of the Mille Miglia. 

Jan B. Lühn demonstrated his flair for exceptional classics, with a selection of 13 vehicles worth around 34 million euros. The spectrum ranged from an Alfa Romeo GTA 1300 and a BMW CSL 3.5, to a Group 5 BMW M1, a Lancia Sport Zagato Prototipo and a street-legal McLaren M12. Exotic Porsches featured heavily, too – he displayed a 911 R, 2.8 RSR, 962 and a GT1. Countering all this testosterone was a wonderful Ferrari 250 Pininfarina Spider. 

Visitors from the Netherlands

Being so close to the Netherlands, you could find many classic car dealers from the small but highly industrious neighbouring market. The Houtkamp Collection presented a rare Ferrari 512 BBi personalised in the 1970s by Ermenegildo Zegna for a special series of 27 cars. Enthusiasts of British classics would have enjoyed the first-series Lotus Elite, the burgundy Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupe and the Aston Martin DB5. Lex Classics also made the journey to Essen – they offered a Porsche 930 Turbo, a Ford Mustang GT500 and a Ford Capri RS 2600, one of the rising stars of the classic car market. 

A broad spectrum

The famous Swiss dealer Lutziger returned to Essen once again to display its wares, from an incredibly rare 1927 Amilcar 6C to a Lancia Stratos built to Group 4 specifications. The average age of the cars on show at Techno Classica is certainly getting lower, with more and more modern collector cars featuring on the trade stand. On Springbok Sportwagen’s stand, for example, there was a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale and a Maserati 4200 GT. Slightly older ‘modern’ classics included a low-mileage Mini Moke and a Porsche 924.

The great classics

There is, however, still a healthy market for high-quality classic and veteran cars. Thiesen Hamburg presented two of the most beautiful pre-War cabriolets ever built – a 1938 Lagonda LG 6 Rapide (a two-time winner at Pebble Beach) and a black 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A. The latter looked as though it had just rolled off the production line, such was the quality of its presentation. The Hamburg-based business also took a rare Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d’Este – a car that needs no further explanation. The most elegant British pre- and immediately post-War British classics could be found on Frank Dale & Stepsons stand, including a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Drophead by H.J. Mulliner, which would make for a majestic cross-continent cruiser.

Moments in automotive history

BMW’s 100th birthday was at the forefront of the birthday celebrations in Essen, with a beautiful 1937 3200 CS on C.F. Mirbach’s stand, parked alongside a wonderfully original Alpina 3.0 CS B2 – the latter has been owned by the same collector for the last 20 years. Our favourite Bavarian beauty, though, was the dark blue M1 found on the stand of British dealer DD Classics. Another great automotive icon, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL was well represented at the show. Marque specialists Rosier Classic Sterne displayed two 300 SL Roadsters and one ‘Gullwing’, as well as the ex-Geneva Motor Show 300 SE.

Porsche fever

Porsche fever took hold at this year’s Techno Classica once again. On Early 911s’ stand, interestingly it wasn’t a 911 that impressed us most. We were drawn to a Reutter-bodied 356 Speedster and dark blue 959 – far more elegant than the silver, white or red schemes in which the car is more commonly seen. Serge Heitz was present with his usual Porsche treasures, such as a rare, off-white 2-litre 911 from 1965, and one of the 25 356 Carrera 2 Cabriolets built, complete with matching numbers. The German Porsche specialist Dreikommazwei presented a number of covetable examples, including a 1972 911 2.4 S and a matching Targa from the following model year. Both were pristine, and in their original paintwork.

It’s simply impossible to collate every highlight into one feature, such is the breadth and size of Techno Classica. You can experience this for yourself until Sunday, and maybe even squeeze in a little shopping along the way. 

Photos: Gudrun Muschalla for Classic Driver © 2016

1955 Porsche 550 Spyder steals the Show at RM Sotheby's Paris sale

PARIS, 4 February, 2016

RM Sotheby’s, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, returned to Place Vauban last night for its third annual Paris sale. A highlight of the world-famous Rétromobile week, the auction achieved €19,035,550* ($20,843,927 US) before a standing-room-only crowd. With active bidding from global collectors representing 24 countries, the result was a successful sell-through of 79 percent. Highlighting the evening sale was the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, which realized a strong €2.744.000 to lead a group of seven automobiles that achieved individual million-euro-plus results.

The top-selling Porsche 550 Spyder was undoubtedly the star of the auction preview, with enthusiasts flocking to Place Vauban to glimpse the rare competition sports racing car. The featured example was significant for being the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show car and one of just 75 factory-built ‘customer’ 550 Spyders, with period U.S. racing history that includes 3rd in class at the 1956 Sebring 12 Hours. Supremely eligible for vintage tours, rallies and racing, it represented a rare and highly coveted prize for collectors, and deserved excellent price it achieved on the night.

Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Sotheby’s Europe said: “We had some great lots on offer in Paris and the Porsche 550 Spyder, in particular, represented everything that we wish to bring to market. It’s a car with great history, rarity and huge desirability; it simply ticks all the boxes.”

Beyond the Porsche 550 Spyder, the German marques did well in Paris, proving that Italian exotics don’t always dominate the market. The second highest seller on the night was the beautiful 1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series II. Only 252 examples of this rakish German V8 powered sports car were made, so it was not a surprise to see it sell for a very strong €2.016.000. The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, presented beautifully in its wonderful white paintwork, is another true German icon of the classic car world. Offered in outstanding restored condition, it sold for a well-deserved €1.176.000 before the packed auction room.  The other star lot of the sale, the beautiful 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB, which came very close to its reserve price during the auction, was sold immediately after the sale for a final €2.950.000.

Additional highlights of the evening included the 2004 Ferrari Enzo, one of the newest cars in the sale and certainly one of the greatest of all the modern hypercars to emerge in recent years, which made €1.568.000, while the 1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo 1 ‘Martini 6’, which attracted much pre-sale interest, sold for £134.400—a world-record price for the model at public auction. 

RM Sotheby’s Paris 2016 – Top 10 Sales

1. Lot 152 - 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB     €2.950.000
2. Lot 143 - 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder                      €2.744.000
3. Lot 150 - 1957 BMW 507 Roadster Series II          €2.016.000
4. Lot 138 - 2004 Ferrari Enzo                                  €1.568.000
5. Lot 141 - 1997 Ferrari F50                                     €1.275,000
6. Lot 151 - 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing    €1.176.000
7. Lot 145 - 1989 Ferrari F40                                     €1.036.000
8. Lot 110 - 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Coupé      €   498.400
9. Lot 137 - 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé                    €   459.200
10. Lot 109 - 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB                        €   400.000

Following a busy start to the 2016 season, which has included successful performances at both Arizona and Paris during the past five days, RM Sotheby’s is now looking ahead to its annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance sale, March 12 in Florida.  The company’s next European auction—it’s exclusive, biennial Monaco sale—is scheduled for 14 May during the Grand Prix Historique de Monaco weekend. Quickly becoming one of Europe’s leading collector car auctions, RM’s last Monaco performance (2014) generated more than €41 million. Early highlights for this year’s event include a 1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta and the 1984 Peugeot 205 T16, both of which are currently on view at RM’s Retromobilé stand (S037) through 7 February.

Vernasca Silver Flag 2013

Castell´Arquato, 28th-30th of June  

Every year the small village of Castell´Arquato and the road up the hill to Vernasca are setting for the Vernasca Silver Flag. The traditional hill climb was part of the Italian hill climb championship in the 1950s and 1960s before reappearing in the mid-nineties as a historic car event. Now in its 18th edition this weekend became a fixed date in the classic car calendar for those who love to drive their cars rather than just show them and although growing over all these years the event kept an character that was described by a regular entrant as “refreshing amateurish” in the best possible sense. Unlike many huge commercial events in the summer season dominated by main sponsors, professional organisation teams and media crowd the Vernasca Silver Flag is organized by the passionate Piacenza Historic Car & Motorcycle Club for like-minded to enjoy a weekend in comfortable ambience and as the three runs up the hill are not timed there is not even a sporting ambition the driving force of the participants but just the fun of it.

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On Friday afternoon the registration takes place at the “centre” of Castell´Arquato, for the next three days the small parking lot becomes the paddocks, the papers could be collected under the banner of the event in a small tent in a lovely alley. As (including some support cars and a parade of Porsche 911) more than 200 cars had to find a place in the centre the paddocks were extended to the piazza in front of one of very few hotels in the village, the Hotel Leon D´Oro is the place to stay for the regular entrants who tend to book their room years in advance. When talking to the concierge of the hotel he pointed out that they have almost every year the same guests but always with different cars, this year the line-up in front of the entrance was a row of four early racing Ferrari. Three 12 cylinder Ferrari from the 1950s and a 500 Mondial were set up in the sun that just came out this afternoon after a few cloudy days. All the three 12 cylinder started life bodied by Touring and whereas the two cars with the consecutive number, the 212 Export (0112E) and the 340 America (0114A) still have their Berlinetta and Barchetta body the third one (0102E) became famous as movie car at “The Racers” starring Kirk Douglas. For the movie it was rebodied by Autodromo with a new body, after a restoration a few years ago it was seen in this configuration at various events including the 2009 Mille Miglia where it was parked alongside the second car of the movie.

Two more Ferrari could be admired over the road with a 250 GT SWB (replica) and the 166P/206P Prototype (0834). The later could look back on a long racing history starting as a 166P Berlinetta in long distance races including the 1000km at Monza and the Nürburgring plus an unsuccessful outing at Le Mans in 1965 before it was converted to a 206P to be run in the European hill climb championship giving Ludovico Scarfiotti the title at the end of the year. In the next years it ran no less than three times the Targa Florio finishing 4th in 1967 in the hands of Vittorio Venturi and Jonathan Williams. The Vernasca Silver Flag saw the reunion of the car with Williams after 46 years, Williams took place on the small passenger seat on the last of the three runs up the hill.

The main rival of the 1950s, the marque with the trident was represented by four cars of this era with a Maserati 300 S (1840), a A6 GCS, a 150 S (1659) and a 200S (2402) plus a 1933 8 CM (3015) remembering that Maserati was already successful before the war.

But it was not just Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa Romeo holding up the Italian flag in the years after the war but numerous small displacement cars built by enthusiasts and small companies. Most of these barchettas and single seaters were based on parts of the mass production Fiat and built around light chassis with spartan aluminium body to compete in the smaller race car classes with huge success. Due to the ending “ini” (the Italian diminutive) these popular racers are today known as the Etceterini, names included Ermini, Stanguellini, Bandini or Siata. Many of these cars could be seen every year at the Mille Miglia and this year's Vernasca Silver Flag had them as main theme after Abarth, Ferrari and “Best of British” in previous editions. No less than 37 examples were entered in the class “piccolo bolidi, grandi passioni” (small racers, great passion), most of them for sure in Italian racing red. Beside the more common names mentioned above Gilco, Giaur, Taraschi or Volpini might by unknown to some of the spectators who lined up mainly at the start in Castell´Arquato during the weekend. It is always a pleasure to see the enthusiasm of the drivers and co-drivers in these very small cars waving and smiling all the way up the hill and one can hardly imagine what it means to ride for 1000 miles under these circumstances.

Further classes included the Tourismo class with several Alfa Romeo GTA, the Gran Tourismo featuring some Abarth, the Ferrari Export, Alfa Romeo Giulietta and TZ1 but also Lancia Rally and Stratos and a Porsche 935 Fabcar. The sports car class saw the Jaguar, Maserati and Lotus from the 1950s and early 1960s, the Prototype class McLaren, Chevron, Porsche and Abarth followed by single seaters and pre-war cars.

The pre-war cars included several Bugatti going up the hill in very different speed, whereas some were more touristic others took the hairpins in full drift. Two Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 with beautiful coachwork by Zagato and Castagna were followed by some fast blown MG. The two last cars were a duo of Fiat 501 from the 1920s and these were by far the slowest car taking the hill in a low gear to get to the top. 

Fortunately the weather forecast was wrong this weekend with predicted low temperatures and barely sun. Even the opening dinner was relocated to the inside as the traditionally intended location at the archaeological area of Velleia Romana was expected to be too cold that evening but during the Friday afternoon the sun was out and especially the Sunday was very pleasant both for the drivers waiting in their cars at the start and the spectators.

The weekend ended Sunday afternoon after the last climb up the hill with a lunch taken on top of Vernasca overlooking the entire area with a great visibility. The lunch taken under the tent on ale-benches showed once more that most of the owners and drivers of these cars do not need a high-toned setting to enjoy themselves as long as the atmosphere is friendly and the day could be spent with like-minded. The event is a very familiar one with most entrants knowing each other for years and most of them certainly will come back as long as it is kept down-to-earth.

But also for the spectators the Vernasca Silver Flag was again a very interesting weekend with cars spanning 7 decades ranging from the small Peugeot Bebé to a duo of Lancia Rally Group B and one can be curious what feature we will see next year and what cars the regular entrants will bring along.

Report & images ... Peter Singhof www.classiccarphotography.de