DOMESTIC STARS SHINE AT ESSEN

The annual Techno-Classica Essen sparked into life in Germany from 9-13 April. Eight halls of vehicles, dealers, parts and automobilia meant that every corner of the classic car world was catered for, as usual with a heavy emphasis on the home-market brands.

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Recent years have not been kind to this grande dame of European events, first run in 1989, and the glory days appeared to be behind it with both the COVID crisis and Brexit contributing to its decline. Where historically the halls were teeming with high-quality cars from key manufacturers and big-name dealers, many of them were notable by their absence this year and it was left to the superb clubs and smaller dealers to bring the glamour. However, with news of long-time organiser SIHA handing the reins to Retro Classics, the team behind the excellent annual Stuttgart show, there are reasons to be positive for the future.

Although not adhering to the traditional concours d’élégance format, for its final year in charge SIHA assembled an international jury to award a Best of Show prize to the 1953 Fiat 8V from Dutch dealer The Houtkamp Collection. One of only 34 factory-bodied S1s, and recently restored by leading Otto Vu exponent Strada e Corsa, the 2-litre V8-powered beauty is capable of 190kph, making full use of its piccolo 105bhp.

Porsches unsurprisingly proved popular, with countless numbers for sale among the dealer stands. Yet the highlight was a stunning private collection of 14 early 356s, mainly dating from 1950 and '51, which made an arresting sight lined up together with an equally impressive wall of flat-four 356 engines asa backdrop.