Classic Car Buyer Magazine No.221 Road Tax Free at 40 Back Issue

As you can read in this very issue, I’ve recently been to Germany to cover the Retro Classics show in Stuttgart. And an excellent show it was too.
It’s been said many times that Britain and Germany are the two biggest ‘petrolhead’ nations in Europe. Certainly only Britain and Germany are comparable in what’s available to the classic car enthusiast in terms of specialists, dealers, shows, rallies, clubs and so forth. Little of this enthusiasm was self-evident in the halls of the Messe Stuttgart. Our own Classic Motor Show at the NEC has a palatable buzz to it. Retromobile
in Paris has an almost party-like vibe. Stuttgart had the atmosphere
of a museum. It was dedicated and respectful, but not obviously
enthusiastic. I’m certainly not saying that there are no car enthusiasts in
Germany – the very existence of Retro Classics (one of several large classic shows in Germany) proves that that cannot be the case.
It’s more a case of cultural differences. It seems that the Germans are like their cars; reserved, understated and practical, but not flamboyant. This is, after all, a nation where applause is considered a bit over the top and the preferred way of showing appreciation is a gentle knocking of the tabletop with the knuckles. This obviously doesn’t detract from the show itself – the quality of the cars (in terms of presentation and variety) is superb and the facilities and hospitality at the venue and in Stuttgart in general are first rate. This was the first German car show I’d been to, but I’ve been to shows in France and North America and come away with
the same feeling that there is something unique in the British classic car scene. In Britain our native classics are viewed as an irreplaceable part of our heritage – the Austins, Sunbeams, Triumphs, Hillmans, Reliants, Wolseleys and Rovers we have now are all we’ve got. Those stories have ended and the books won’t be opened again.