Classic car museums, fairs and rallies

Classic Expo in Salzburg is one of the most important events in Europe for collectors and enthusiasts of historic vehicles. The fair, held on 18-20 October 2024 at the city's Exhibition Centre, brought motoring enthusiasts together. 23,000 visitors came to the show, took part in the auctions and joined in numerous side events.

Well-known brands such as Porsche and Mercedes reigned supreme among the cars on display, but Italian, French and British motoring were well represented too. The cars on show were not just museum pieces: many were also available to buy at auction, offering a chance to add a unique model to your own collection.

The classic car auction was held on Saturday 19 October by the renowned firm Humer, Granner & Co GmbH, and the catalogue listed more than 100 vehicles, including 16 motorcycles, with the oldest models dating from 1908. Prices started at 2,000 euros, and the most expensive vehicle sold was a Ferrari Dino 246 GT L series, which went for 402,500 euros.

Classic Expo 2024 in Salzburg also celebrated some important anniversaries. The first was the “75 Years of Abarth” exhibition, devoted to the Italian brand with Austrian roots. Abarth, founded in 1949 by Karl (Carlo) Abarth, who was born in Vienna, became world-famous for its sports and racing cars. The exhibition featured not only various models of the brand but also a photographic display that offered a better understanding of the manufacturer's history and heritage.

The second anniversary was “60 Years of the Mercedes-Benz 600” - the luxury car built by Daimler-Benz in the 1960s and 1970s. The Mercedes-Benz 600 is a true icon of luxury, known for innovative technical solutions such as air suspension, an automatic gearbox and a comfortably appointed interior. Many of them were patented. It is worth adding that only 2,677 examples of this model were built, making it one of the most sought-after classics in the world.

The third anniversary exhibition was “50 Years of the Porsche 911 Turbo”. The turbocharged Porsche 911 defined the very idea of sporting performance and superb design. The exhibition devoted to this motoring legend offered a deep dive into the fascinating history of the model, which has remained one of the most desirable sports cars ever since its debut in 1974.

Classic Expo is not only a chance to admire cars but also the ideal place to buy unique parts and accessories. In two exhibition halls you could find a wide range of original spare parts, motoring literature and other memorabilia related to classic cars. Collectors could pick up rare posters, badges and owner's manuals, true gems for anyone passionate about motoring history.

The extensive programme of side events included lectures and presentations by experts in various fields related to classic cars. Participants could learn the secrets of caring for and preserving historic vehicles, and find out how to prepare them properly for winter. One interesting presentation discussed the challenges of restoring vehicles damaged by fire and flood. Discussions also covered the legal rules governing the import and classification of historic vehicles, as well as assessing the originality of parts and components.

Classic Expo in Salzburg has become a permanent fixture in the calendar of classic car lovers. It is a place where motoring enthusiasts can not only admire historic vehicles but also meet experts, swap experiences and add unique models and accessories to their collections. The event combines a fascination with the technology, history and aesthetics of motoring, offering participants unforgettable impressions and the chance to get up close to some of the most iconic vehicles in the world.

The Czech “Muzeum veteránů Nová Bystřice”

The exhibition, which goes by the name “Muzeum veteránů Nová Bystřice”, is a real feast for anyone with a soft spot for American cars. The museum takes us on a journey through a hundred years of mobility in the USA.

This small town in the charming region of South Bohemia, right on the border with Austria, is home to the largest museum of American classics in the country. Several rooms have been carved out of a huge hall, each devoted to a different stage in the development of motoring from across the Atlantic. The organisers have made sure that the décor - especially the neon lighting - evokes the decades the cars come from.

The museum is conceived as a walk through time, with each room evoking a particular period of the last century. The collection naturally includes the legendary Ford Model T (a 1912 example) as well as representatives of other makes, both long gone and still thriving.

The eye is drawn to the display of Lincoln models, which experts consider the largest publicly accessible collection of this brand's cars in Europe. Most of the Lincolns on display date from 1922-1937. They usually have 8- or 12-cylinder engines of around 6 litres, with outputs ranging from 90 to 150 hp.

A unique exhibit is a 1938 Lincoln K, the only one ever made. This one-off was built at the special request of a lady from the aristocracy.

The centre of the exhibition is taken up by a family of pre-war cars, including vehicles bearing the “Imperial” badge. This was the name of the luxury brand spun off from Chrysler, associated with the designer Virgil Exner. These cars are still regarded as full of beauty, timeless design, originality and eye-catching shapes. Few other brands kept pace with the constant innovation introduced by “Imperial”.

The next room recalls 1960s Manhattan. Chrome, massive engines and tail sections styled like rocket fins. The cars matched their era: a time of prosperity, wealth and extravagance, when the future was seen through rose-tinted glasses. Most of the vehicles are in perfect condition, but some are shown in a state that reveals the passage of time. This is deliberate, to make the point of how much patience and work the restoration of a valuable classic requires.

A separate part of the museum is devoted to cars that starred in famous films. Here you can see a Pontiac Trans Am, a Chevrolet Camaro and a Ford Mustang.

If you are planning a trip to the Czech Republic to admire classic cars, you also cannot miss the Tatra Museum

The Slovak “Piešťanské zlaté stuhy” (Piešťany Golden Ribbons)

The first event in the Concours d´Elegance series was held in 1932 in Piešťany, Slovakia's largest spa town. So began a tradition that continues, with interruptions, to this day. This year's edition brought together many exceptional vehicles.

On 15 May 1932, participants from Bohemia, Moravia, Poland, Austria, Germany, Romania, Yugoslavia and Slovakia were welcomed. In 1932, besides the display of cars, a drive was organised - from Bratislava or from Žilina, depending on which direction a participant was coming from. The last pre-war event took place in June 1937, and it was revived after the war in 1987. This year saw the 31st edition of the “Golden Ribbons” concours d'elegance, which brought together 67 vehicles from several countries on the beautiful spa island famous for its healing waters.

The 2024 show was divided into two sectors, presenting oldtimers and youngtimers. The first day was devoted to dynamic presentations and the chance to drive a varied route around Piešťany. Vehicles built up to 1918 had 60 km to cover, the newer ones 150 km. The highlight of the event was the evening's hosted “Concours d'Elegance” parade in front of the Thermia Palace hotel, considered one of the most elegant in the whole of Slovakia.

Many interesting vehicles turned up at the event. There were those that always stir emotions and excite the crowd, such as Mercedes “Pagodas”, Porsche 911s and Ferraris. There were also cars whose special appeal lay not so much in their design, number of cylinders or engine power as in their rarity or unusual history. These certainly included a Citroën B14 (the only one in Slovakia) and a 1978 Fiat X1/9, which came from the Bertone styling studio. The audience gave a thunderous round of applause to the owner of a BMW 320 when it turned out that the car still wore its original red paint. It rolled off the production line in 1937, so its paintwork is now 87 years old.

There was no shortage of vehicles built in the former Czechoslovakia. A black Tatra 603 with three headlights across the front caught the eye. There were also beautiful sister Škoda Felicias, including a cabriolet, and the 100L and 110LS saloons from the 1970s, once common in the socialist countries. Among the Škodas was also a huge 706 RTHP fire engine from 1966.

French motoring was represented by a 1974 Citroën CX2000 and a Citroën Méhari two years its senior, with an open body and a two-cylinder 0.6-litre engine.

If you would like to read more about the spa town of Piešťany, click this link.

Portugal's Madeira Classic Car Revival

The event on Madeira is traditionally the largest display of historic cars in the whole of Portugal. The regularly held rally consisted of a day of static display and a day of dynamic trials.

What cars can we expect on the “island of eternal spring”?

One exceptional vehicle will be the Portuguese Dima. Only one roadworthy example has survived to the present day. The car is normally kept in a private, closed collection near Porto. It was built by Dioniso Mateus, who fitted it with a 1.1-litre Fiat engine (prepared for racing by Stanguellini).

Another rarely seen vehicle will be a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The car has a 2,996 cm³ six-cylinder engine producing 240 horsepower and distinctive upward-opening doors. Eighteen of them were sold in Portugal.

Among the few American road cruisers on the island is a Lincoln Continental Mark V. It stands out not only for its looks but also for its complete technical documentation and provenance papers, and... yellow Polish historic-vehicle number plates from Gdańsk. It came to beautiful Madeira with a Polish family who live here. The car wins awards, usually for its preserved original factory specification.

The rally also features a 1971 Datsun 240 Z in “safari gold”. Under the long bonnet of this two-seater coupé with classic sports car proportions sat a 2.4-litre straight-six. This model produced around 150 horsepower, though later versions were slightly more powerful.

A much-anticipated representative of French motoring every year is the Peugeot 504 coupé. The coupé and cabriolet bodies were created by the famous “Pininfarina” design studio, which proudly placed its logo in a prominent spot on the body. The car shown on Madeira dates from 1974, when both four-cylinder engines and V6 units were fitted under the bonnet.

German cars usually draw big crowds. The BMW 2800 was produced by the German manufacturer from 1968 to 1977. In its day it was a luxury saloon, part of the “New Six” series. The BMW 2800 had a 2.8-litre straight-six engine. Depending on the version and year of manufacture, it produced between 170 and 190 hp.

No edition would be complete without the Italians, and Abarth in particular. Look out for the Abarth Scorpione SS, a rare sports car built for a short time, from 1974 to 1976. Abarth based it on the Fiat 124 Sport Spider. On the outside, the Abarth Scorpione SS stands out for its aggressive, sporty look, while under the bonnet lies a 1.8-litre engine (128 hp after modifications).

The main part of the exhibition always occupies a large space right on the seafront, but there is one vehicle that holds a special place - it stands opposite the entrance to the cathedral. The Popemobile, built on a Portuguese UMM utility vehicle, had a raised body and a specially designed glazed, air-conditioned platform. It was used during John Paul II's visit to the island on 12 May 1991.

Whether you prefer nostalgic oldtimers or more practical youngtimers, when travelling the world it is worth checking whether anything interesting is happening during your stay. Rallies and exhibitions are a great opportunity to discover the beauty of the motoring past.