Paris Retromobile V Essen Techno Classica

Retromobile is many magnitudes better.

Many many magnitudes.

 

I had been to Padova a few times and then went to Essen. Essen was a let down for me.

 

Padova is now Bologna.
Essen is terrible, one of the worst places in that country.
Retromobile is good to very good and can be highly recommended.

Marcel Massini

 

No.

Marcel Massini

 

Tecno classica is a shoe box, Retromobile is a jewel box. I only went twice to Essen and over fourty times to Retromobile since it started at la Bastille.

 

2025
Final TechnoClassica. It is over for SIHA and their Essen event.

 

The deteroration of Techno Classica culminates next year. It will be the final edition of the fair, which had been organized by Siha since 1989. They lost so many exhibitors (manufacturers, clubs and dealers alike) over the last years. There were so many empty spots. Apparently, some sort of conflict between Siha and the Essen Fair (Messe Essen GmbH) has been going on in the last years.
Another company Retro Classics will try from 2026 onwards. So for nostalgic reasons, one should consider going next year - for the final time.

See
https://www.tuningblog.eu/en/tipps_tuev-dekra-u-co/retro-classic-687594/ (English) or
https://www.autobild.de/artikel/oldtimer-messe-techno-classica-essen-ist-geschichte--26479827.html (German)

 

Sorry, disagree! For sure Essen is NOT like Lake Como etc etc. but to call it "one of the worst places in that country" is completele over the top. You find excellent restaurants there and Lake Baldeney. In Essen-Bredenay you find a lot of the Happy Few, among them the ALDI-family that has about 23 Billion Euros in their pockets.
Yes, the Techno Classica has lost lots of its former glory it had about 20 years ago but a new owner will establish a new show with a new name from 2026 on....

I also agree, that Retroobile is the most important classic car show in Europe!

 

A question, if you would indulge or assist. If a small group was to tour Europe for about two weeks, what would be a recommended although calendar-limited and bucket-list of classic car shows, events, motor sport, museums, businesses, military, aerospace, science, boy's toys venues, etc to visit?

Touring from San Francisco, through Monterey, to Los Angeles coordinates very well eg. (Montery car week, Pebble, Petersen, Nethercutt, etc)

Is there a European equivalent or better eg. Paris Retromobile, Collection Schlumpf, Auto e Moto d'Epoca? The two week calendar limit does not work in attending both of these shows, so hence the question.

TIA

 

Retromobile Paris is early February, you can then go straight to the Schlumpf Museum. Open more or less all year round (check website!).

However, Auto e Moto D'Epoca in Bologna is end of October, eight months later.
Tour Auto is April, late May is Villa d'Este, Mid-June is Mille Miglia, later is Goodwood Festival of Speed, etc.
September is Salon Privé, Hampton Court Palace and Goodwood Revival.
Bring your own G700, makes life easier.

Marcel Massini

 

My dearest Walter:
Nobody compares Essen with Villa d'Este.
Villa d'Este Concours is a pure lifestyle (seen and to be seen) event, you will see more BMW's than in Munich in one year, clearly the highest concentration. Influencers galore. Completely packed and totally crowded. VDE as a location is wonderful, but without the show and without the people, please. Have spent many weeks vacationing there but no longer during the Concours weekend.
Essen is a rathole, as you know, both of us have been there at least 25 or more times. Ruhrgebiet at its best. Besides Berlin there's few other places in Germany so much run down.

Marcel Massini

 

sorry marcel, but what is G700?

 

Gulfstream private jet, starts at 80 M $.
Capable to fly from Thailand to Germany.
Naturally, for the same amount, you can also buy about 15 new F80's on the secondary market.

Marcel Massini

 

The Schlumpf collection can be paired with the Technik Museums in Speyer and Sinsheim, which have some unique aerospace exhibits (Concord, Concordski, Buran,...)

 

For that kind of money, I would prefer #0684.
Quite capable of transiting one thousand kilometers as needed, albeit escort by carabinieri is essential if one is in a hurry.

 

In addition to Retromobile and Schlumpf Collection (both on my bucket list), I can recommend visiting Brussels for Autoworld (collection of Ghislain Mahy) and while you're there the museum that is the home of Victor Horta (architect), a masterpiece in the style of Art Nouveau. I have visited both of them twice and would not hesitate to go again.

 

Miles, not kilometers.
Roughly 1'600 kms it would then be.....

Marcel Massini

 

Okay Marcel but she has proven her worth in 1000-mile romps in the past.
Perhaps a 40% reduction in a day's travel is more sensible for the sake of preservation.

 

For the OP and anyone wishing to do a grand tour of Europe: after Retromobile here are two two excellent museums in western France that can be tied in with Paris. Le Manoir de l'automobile has 300 cars and is world class, the creation of car magazine and media magnate Michel Hommel.

https://www.manoir-automobile.fr/home/

Here is a 30 minute walking video of it:




The Le Mans museum at the circuit is very much worthy of its theme.

https://www.lemans-musee24h.com/en

 

absolutely out of my money range. also I already have booked a backflight from BKK to BSL for the 4th of mai

 

I understand that you as a Swiss citizen clearly have difficulties in Berlin, one of the most vibrent cities in the world with a fantastic night life...
Still don`t agree with you in total about the city of Essen.

 

Walter: Will talk in Paris.

Marcel Massini