Donald was here! Techno Classica Essen 2019. The best classic cars show in Europe.

Techno Classica Essen. This year the exhibition celebrated its 30th birthday. And it remains the largest for vintage automobiles in Europe. 1250 exhibitors, 190 thousands visitors from 46 countries, 2700 classic cars. Just wow.
Twelve halls with vehicles to suit every budget and every taste. From the Opel Kadett to the Bugatti Type 57, Techno Classica also includes clubs, specialized workshops, literature, parts and collectibles.
How to explain the success of the Essen trade fair? Nostalgia, an attempt to escape from the uncertain times of the current automotive industry. Reducing the capacity of engines and gradually adjusting them to ever stricter standards - brings sadness and insipidity to the modern cars. At the same time, the "non-ecological" diesel, which I used to drive during my studies, consumed only 5l/100km in the city mode. The current cars need over 10l/100km to meet the standards. Electric vehicles? They do not solve the problems either as the production and storage of batteries is both problematic and terribly nongreen.
Classic automobile is genuine and still generates impressive passive income. Investing in classic cars simply pays off. It is more stable than the traditional currency markets flooded by cryptocurrencies. Moreover, it's just cool!
The classical automotive market is evolving. More and more often you can see a desire for responsible and wise customization of classics. One that allows you to return to the series. More and more often a classic is becoming a canvas for loose modifications, and in the context of Porsche it is definitely what we do. During this year's fair, we presented a collection of cheerful check floor mats straight from the 60's, a roof rack, which perfectly matches the 911 roof line, and at the same time can be folded and hidden in the boot. We also presented an idea for a complete reconstruction of the interior of the classic Porsche 911. Starting from the upholstered floor cover, through sport seats and audio system which is not visible, to the electronic air conditioning panel built from scratch and the gauges. The solution is lightweight and tailored to today's needs, to facilitate the every-day use of the classic Porsche. You can learn more about this project in a video we published some time ago. The REDRUM project.
At the show in Essen they also showed an automobile that should not be modified. The record-breaker of the show was a Mercedes-Benz 540 K convertible from 1937, which was auctioned for an incredible €2250000. Any improvement of such car would have a negative impact on its value. It is worth mentioning here how difficult and demanding the process of restoring this type of car is. Poorly selected technologies and details can spoil everything. A little titbit I faced myself is the gauge kit from the era when Mercedes still used hand-painted dials. Brush, paint, dial and artist or craftsman with a stable and flawless hand. This is how it was done in the past. Now we have technology, easy tools and fast-changing fashions. That's why today's automotive industry is cheap and unremarkable. The classic was, is and will remain spectacular. Even when cars are no longer legal...