Techno Classica Show, Essen Germany

Like Ferrari and other manufacturers, Lamborghini also has its own restoration department. Here is the just restored first Miura P400 SV presented at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show together with a P400 S chassis before restoration.

On the BMW stand (!), the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 spider Zagato, presented at last year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este by David Sydorick, well known US collector. BMW is the official partner of Villa d’Este Concours.

Many prewar or postwar Alfa Romeos were exhibited like this 1938 Geneva Motor Show 6C 2300 cabriolet clothed by Swiss coachbuilder Worblaufen.

The ever-classic Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS coupé by Touring, this one delivered new in Argentina in 1949.

Another 6C 2500 SS by Touring, the very rare Villa d’Este version of which only 36 units were built.

Still a 6C 2500 but even rarer; Boneschi made 5 examples of this cabriolet and only two are left.

This Alfa Romeo Tipo B was part of the Scuderia Ferrari for the 1935 season and could have been driven by the works drivers Dreyfus, Brivio and Nuvolari. But the factory records did not show which car was driven by which driver.

Alfa Romeo Sprint Zagato ‘Coda Tronca’, of which only 30 examples were built. This one was acquired new by a Swiss race driver.

Ordered new by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, this Ferrari 212 Inter Pinin Farina coupé has received different chassis numbers in its early life, in order to avoid taxes. This was a common practice at the time.

It is always better if the car you sell has a racing pedigree. This Ferrari 275 GTB, s/n 07075, took part to the Circuito del Mugello in 1965.

To sell a car, a prestigious ownership can also help. This Ferrari 500 Superfast, s/n 6679 SF, was bought by actor Peter Sellers at the 1965 London Motor Show.

Both these Ferrari Mondials were entered in the 1989 edition of the 24 hours of Francorchamps by a team created by a Belgian finance guru, Jean-Pierre Van Rossem, who also owned the Onyx F1 team. One did not finish the race, the other was not classified.

The brand clubs are also part of the show at Essen. Presented by the Fiat 500 club, this one was rebuilt during the show.

Some others devote boundless love to the Fiat 600 …

Another club presented some Fiat rarities, like this 1954 1100 TV Pinin Farina coupé. This one will take part to next month’s Mille Miglia.

Yet another Fiat based on the 1100 coupé, but with Boano body, Mille Miglia participant in 2014 and 2015 and equipped with a 1,250 cc engine.

The timeless elegance of the Fiat 8V Zagato coupé.

Abarth is back under the lights with the new Fiat 124 spider Abarth. It takes its inspiration from the 124 rally version of the 70’s which counts three wins in the world rally championship.

But Abarth is mostly about small capacity engines like with the 1962 850 TC Corsa.

Or the 1960 1000 record car penned by Pinin Farina which took 8 international records and one world record.

In recent years, historic rallying has grown continuously in Europe. It is a good chance for nostalgic enthusiasts to see back on the roads mythic cars like the Lancia Stratos Group 4.

Two Maserati sports cars were shown in the 1955 Mille Miglia display, this 150/200 S s/n 1657 and …

… this 300 S s/n 3057.

Fresh from restoration by Touring Superleggera, this Maserati A6G 2000 bodied by Frua, shown at the 1952 Torino Motor Show, has yet to receive its engine.

From 1960 to 1962, Osca built a small series of coupés, called 1600 GT2, of which 21 were bodied by Fissore.

The Hudson Italia is the result of an Italian and US collaboration which resulted in only 25 units built. This is the prototype strangely equipped with an Alfa Romeo steering wheel.

On the French car side, an interesting Amilcar 6C, 6 cylinders, 1100 cc, boosted by a compressor, developing 90 bhp .

The Peugeot 601 Roadster was at the top of the Peugeot range in 1934-35. It has a typical Art Deco styling, soon replaced by a streamline shape called ‘Fuseau Sochaux’ (or ‘Sochaux spindle’).

Designed by Ghia, this 1949 Delahaye 135 is characterized by its removable wheel fairings, supposed to improve the aerodynamics of the car.

The 1956 Talbot Lago America represents the swansong of the brand from Suresnes, near Paris. Only a dozen examples were sold and, two years later, the company was bought by Simca.

Simca was selling popular cars but had in its range a coupé called the 9 Sport of 1,200 cc and 51 bhp. The Simca brand disappeared in 1980.

Powered by a Chrysler engine like most of the Facel Vega V8s, the 1964 Facel II represents one of the last models built by the French company who was in operation between 1954 and 1964.