Paris Retromobile V Essen Techno Classica

Of course we do ! And I am always looking much forward to our very friendly conversation(s).

 

I prefer the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). More roomy and with a real bed. Not as fast but a better ride.

 

Have always admired your style.

Marcel Massini

 

I went to Auto e Moto d'Epoca in Bologna this year and was pretty happy with the show and parts vendors overall. Is Retromobile a better show and lots of parts vendors? I was last in Paris in the '80's and was my favorite big city. Is it still nice?

 

As mentioned several times already here on fchat Bologna (formerly Padova) cannot really be compared to Retromobile in Paris. Totally different concept and style.
Bologna much bigger and lots of part vendors, Paris more stylish (sometimes) and including several auctions as well. I'd say Paris is much more international, whereas Bologna a bit more local. Both are great events.

Marcel Massini

 

also a great flea market for parts is the VETERAMA in mannheim ( more german and british cars ) and also the MOSTRA SCAMBIO in imola always in september where I found for my former 2 250 GT/E a lot of parts for cheap money ( front axle parts, manifolds, steering box, trunk hood, carbs, switches, gauges ). sure Paris Retromobile or Essen Techno Classica is something total different. but when you looking only for parts Imola is a must to visit. also to find a lot of italian motorcycle parts. this year it has been from 13th to 15th september. next year ( 2025 ) it will be from 19th until 21st september. so may be 3 days to list in your time scedule?

 

I went to Imola years ago and agree it was a great auto parts flea market. Found quite a few things for my Stratos.

 

Thank you all, for the advice and suggestions. As the group originate from New Zealand and have a limited two weeks time and budget, we will plan travelling in February to Retromobile Paris, Schlumpf Museum, and other interests as suggested such as Le Manoir de l'automobile in Lohéac, Autoworld in Brussels, Technik Museums in Speyer and Sinsheim, and Mercedes‑Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

I am thinking about a week in France though to Germany, and then driving some of the famous Alpine passes toward Italy (this may be a bad idea as it will be Winter). Then a further week in visiting museums and the like in Italy.

I have found the following website which lists a few countries including Italy, which would keep us busy for the second week. Does anyone have recommendations from this list (other than the obvious two Ferrari museums)?
https://automobile-museums.com/en/automobile-museums-in-italy/

 

For sure the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum. I've heard good things about the Panini Museum, however, I would try to visit the Righini Collection before I even got to Panini on the list. https://www.righiniauto.it/en/righini-collection.html

Harry Metcalfe just visited Italy and has video on his youtube channel Harry's Garage covering both of the Lamborghini Museums. It seems like the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum would be the one to visit first.

For full disclosure, I have not been to Italy yet but have read for years about my picks and some of those on your link. It would seem that you are in for a very memorable week when you do the tour through Italy.

 

The National Car Museum in Turin and Alfa museum near Milan are both great. The Egyption and Savoy art museums in Turin are also fabulous. Brilliant in fact. Turin is nice downtown too for a big city.
Note that most of the high alpine passes are closed in winter. Replaced by the long tunnels or big freeways like the Brenner Pass. The backroads in summer are really good. Lots of interesting routes over the Alps, but usually only open from March to November.

 

That sounds like a 4 week trip to me. You either need to increase the time or reduce the destinations.
I've done that type of trip a few times, and I took 4+ weeks and it was still sort of rushed. I'd include lunch and visit to the Porsche museum. Small but very good.

 

Not to forget the NATIONALES AUTOMUSEUM of collector Friedhelm Loh in Germany.

 

Yes, absolutely right, very highly recommended, but to get there you really need a helicopter.

Marcel Massini

 

For those interested, in the very same city (Mulhouse) as the Schlumpf museum there is a big railway museum (Cité du Train) also worth visiting.

 

And if Turin is on the itinerary, then the old Fiat factory is a must see. It's now a shopping centre but you can see the gantries where the cars were moved along the production line. Very advanced automation in the 1930's, and the banked oval track on the roof is still there so you can take a selfie. It's really good for an automotive history buff.

 

Lingotto, fantastic!
Spend a few days in/around Modena. Righini is a must.
I was a bit disappointed by the Alfa museum at Arese, the two exhibits I most wanted to see were not on display.

 

You are correct, and I am being too ambitious with the two week itinerary, With all the great suggestions, it looks though we will need to make about three or more trips to Europe over the next few years.

 

I would skip manoir de l'automobile, it has aged, some of the big cars have been sold (EB110 ex Le Mans etc...), still a SWB & a Miura but you will see other examples in Retromobile for sure. Good to stop there if you drive nearby but would not lose a day to get there & back. Le Mans museum is pretty good, fast to get there by TGV, but same, I would rather concentrate on Retromobile + auctions & other major European museums.

 

I was in bologna last month for the fair…always fun..
I’m an Italian car guy so I go to auto moto d epoca every year since 2010 Padova and now Bologna… I also own French cars and have attended Retromobile since 2010… been to Essen the new stuttgart owned show many times, it’s was good years ago, nothing in Essen for me… industrial city..not a German car guy, still fun, but not as good as the other, just my opinion….Retro is my favorite… you can’t beat Paris, incredible show…

but I won’t miss auto moto d epoca….

Airfare purchased for retro 2025…. ..see you there….