Classic cars III: two major international car shows

We take a look at the past, present and future through two annual international shows for car show enthusiasts: the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland and the Retro Classics Stuttgart in Germany.

These two shows are very important for car enthusiasts and collectors, because they bring together, on one side, the present, and future of the automotive sector, and, on the other, the cars that are sure to go down in history with those that have already become classics.

Once again this year, the city of Geneva became the world car capital for a few days and we were able to discover the latest trends in the sector for 2019: electric cars, connected and smart cars, driverless cars, and shared cars.  These are the four key trends in present and future car manufacturing development. Gone is the focus on diesel engineering, more efficient petrol engines, SUV models and vehicle safety, which are now considered as basics for the consumer.

However, at Retro Classics Stuttgart, all these future trends have yet to arrive, though they will do so in the next 20 to 30 years. Here the visitor can wander through eight halls of the city’s trade fair centre and see a multitude of antique and collectible vehicles, manufacturers from all over the world, spare parts, accessories, and classic car owners’ clubs. However, without doubt, the very special focus of the show is the hall showing the history of the great German car manufacturers: Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW, where you can find the very best of their flagship classic car models.

This year, the king of this classic car hall and the pride of almost every collector who has lent their vehicle to this exhibition is the Mercedes 300-SL. Better known as the “gullwing”, prices today for this iconic model of the German brand, range between 0.5 and 1.44 million euros, depending on its condition. It may seem an unattainable price but during our visit at least five of them were sold.  Other models, such as the Porsche 356 and 911 and BMW Z8 also recorded very significant price increases.

Picture: motor1.com

Normally, in the collectors’ world, a car is only considered as a classic or historic car 20 to 30 years after it has been produced. As a result, the best buying opportunities begin to appear just after the first 10 years of the car’s manufacturer, as this is when prices are at their most attractive.

We will continue to keep you informed of developments in the sector and the trading patterns used by top collectors and investors.

For more information about investing in classic cars, contact our specialists in the motor industry.