Techno Classica Essen March 26 - 30 2008.

VIP, Preview day March 26.

20th TECHNO-CLASSICA ESSEN from 26 to 30 March 2008:
The Classic Fair of the Superlatives

The Nursery for the Young Generation

Since some years, young classic cars range among the important exhibition sectors of the TECHNO-CLASSICA. Particularly the young generation is enthusiastic getting into the vehicles of the nineteen seventies and eighties - thus ensuring the next generation of the classic car scene.

Different studies of the past years demonstrate that drivers are particularly interested in the cars of their own youth. The childhood experiences in dad's or mum's car still influence the grown-ups and thus the wish is arising to distance themselves from the mass by means of a car from their younger days. There is a great interest in young classic cars at the age of 30 - 40 - the generation that has become familiar with the world of automobiles from the backseat of the car. Thus the next generation of the vintage car scene is ensured by self-generation - after all, today's 20 to 30 year-old young classic cars will be vintage cars tomorrow.

There has been a boom for young classic cars in the last years which still is continuing. Those cars are in great demand, which preferably are less used and have been carefully maintained over the time, often casually called grandpa's vehicles. The ill-reputed smugness because of which the cars and their owners often have been ridiculed has turned into a positive connotation. The nodding dog on the rear window shelf - which of course can also be found at the TECHNO CLASSICA - today rather demonstrates the coolness of the owner of a young classic car. Most of such cars are suitable for everyday use and can thus be enjoyed any day. Most of the automobile manufacturers also have discovered these customers, ensuring a great deal of the spare part supply. Thus, a growing market, because the next generation of young classic cars is already waiting in front of the door.

There is a comparably vast selection of cars of this age: more than one million vehicles with an age of over 20 years have been registered at the Federal Bureau of Motor Vehicles on 1 January 2007. In comparison, young classic cars still are reasonably priced - even considering that the prices meanwhile have increased. However: particularly some mass vehicles of former times are rare today. Mass-produced in large quantities, most of them have been poorly maintained and meanwhile are scrap. Thus, to find a VW Golf (Rabbit) of the first generation can be as difficult as discovering an early Porsche 911.

This exactly is the approach of the TECHNO-CLASSICA, offering a large platform for owners of young classic cars and those who like to become owners. The offering is respectable: 'S.I.H.A. Ausstellungen Promotion', the organiser of the TECHNO-CLASSICA estimates that well 20 percent of the cars offered at the TECHNO-CLASSICA are of an age between 20 and 30 years. Furthermore, the visitors of the TECHNO-CLASSICA can get comprehensive information on the scene by their meanwhile own magazines, as "Youngtimer" from the editors of "Motor Klassik", and by their events - and also by the numerous young classic car clubs, as e.g. the Mercedes-Benz W 123 club in exhibition hall 1, the BMW 3 club in hall 12 or the 'Youngtimer-Club e.V.' at the Porsche-Club 928 in hall 3.

Particularly spectacular: the American car scene. Presented under the patronage of the "Street Magazin" in hall 1 A, this is a special attraction. Muscle cars from the nineteen seventies can be seen together with tail-finned street cruisers and brawny V8 sports cars like a Chevrolet Corvette. Clubs like the Buick Club of Germany, the Classic Cadillac Club Germany or the First Mustang Club of Germany provide for entertainment with a jukebox and stylish costumes. Finally there are young classic car enthusiasts, for example of the "Orange Youngtimer Trophy Germany", of the "W 124 Club", the "Youngtimer-Club Duisburg" and "77 Sunset Trip - Youngtimer Freunde" to top off the event.

Also the issue of tuning came up in the time of the years when the young classic cars were born - and together with the interest in such cars, also the interest in classic tuning is increasing. About 200 tuned young classic cars will be presented at the TECHNO CLASSICA according to the organiser's estimations. With their mostly talkative and informative owners, they provide a good source of information and entertainment - while possibly inspiring some visitors of the TECHNO-CLASSICA to enter the tuning scene themselves...