Bremen CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW 2024. SUPERLATIVES

The 2024 Bremen Classic Motor Show is over. The German season opener attracted a respectable number of 45.740 visitors last weekend, the second highest number ever. They witnessed an event for which only one qualification does justice: fantastic.

The main theme in Hall 5 of the Messe Bremen was Lancia, Leistung, Leidenschaft. The organization had brought a phenomenal offer to the German Hanseatic city. From Lambda to Delta Integrale, from Fulvia HF to Stratos, from Aurelia B20 GT to Aprilia, from Flaminia Zagato Sport to Astura: the historic and delicate delicacy from Turin was mouth-wateringly beautiful and touched every sensitive automotive chord. And for those who still weren't enough: even outside the main act in Bremen, many Lancias showed off within the walls of the Messe Bremen.

Of course, the organizers traditionally also paid attention to the motorized two-wheelers. The 50-cc class revived the first boys' and girls' dreams of yesteryear. Hercules, Zündapp, Grizle, Vespa: truly beautiful historical specimens really captured the imagination.

There was more, much more to see in Bremen. Because as expected, attention was also paid to the fiftieth anniversary of the Volkswagen Golf. The Autostadt stand featured a beautiful Golf LS (with dovetail) from the first full model year. And further along was a stand that was just as special. The Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg had made available two endurance test Golfs from 1974. And those were the cars that completed an endurance test from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. The cars were in the condition in which they ended the endurance test. Since the finish in South America, both Golfs have not driven a kilometer. And so 1974 was literally palpable, a special experience.

The offer was rich and varied, and the clubs and professional exhibitors were responsible for this. The emphasis was of course on Germany, but we came across more pearls. A Simca 1200 S Bertone, a Toyota FJ45, a SWB Porsche 911, a BMW 2002 Turbo and many other classics really caught the eye. The presentation of the Borgward Isabella Coupé at the Metropole stand in Druten was very special. This car, built in Bremen, once showed off as a scoop at the IAA in Frankfurt, and it was very special to now stand next to the same example.

In addition, enthusiasts of automobilia, parts, clothing and old literature were ideally located in Bremen. Also nice: the way in which the organization once again offered space to give visitors an insight into the world of tinkering. Several themes were devoted to this. And... those who couldn't find anything 'suitable' on the exhibition floor could indulge themselves in the Parkhaus. We did this on a Saab 96 Anniversary version from... 1980. Exactly, one of the very last cars of this type built. And somehow a beautiful BMW 315 in original condition, with less than 80.000 kilometers on the clock, also captivated. Both copies were for sale at relatively reasonable prices.

In Bremen we also spoke with Frank Ruge, the enthusiastic exhibition manager who and his crew kept the Bremen Classic Motor Show alive during the corona years. He came back to that. “We have seen that the show is really alive and has a large following. Yet we never expected that we would receive a record number of visitors through the gates last year. We estimated at the time that it would take three years before everything was running at full speed again. That surprised us, and this year we are also getting pretty close to the record.”

Yet Ruge also noticed a cautiously changing sentiment. “Across the board you notice that buyers are becoming more reluctant to spend their money on a classic. Life has also become more expensive in Germany, people are more cautious. Moreover, the price level for a classic - regardless of class - is at the top level. Nevertheless, many classic cars find a buyer within a realistic price range. Furthermore, classic cars, motorcycles and mopeds are still immensely popular. Many copies are also in demand within the smaller motorcycle classes. And across the board: if you look at how visitors react, you see that they still have a lot of admiration for the heritage. And that remains the basis of our right to exist,” Ruge said.

And that's a good thing. Because if something became clear again in Bremen, then the offers were fantastically coordinated. And varied enough to enthuse every classic enthusiast and aspiring buyer in the broadest sense of the word. Superlatives, because the Bremen Classic Motor Show was even more fascinating than ever.

The next edition of the event will take place from January 31 to February 2, 2025.