RETRO CLASSICS® 2022: successful start to the season
There was a wonderful mood in the exhibition halls at Messe Stuttgart: after a year's break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, RETRO CLASSICS® opened its doors again for dealers, collectors and enthusiasts from all corners of the world. From 21 to 24 April the unique trade fair concept made a big impression with a wide range of high-class vehicles from every era of automobile history, a huge parts market, interesting special shows and numerous highlights in the accompanying programme. Around 80,000 visitors were recorded, a significant increase compared with the anniversary event in 2020. The exhibitors, visitors and organisers all rated the 21st edition of the internationally renowned trade fair for driving culture as positive.
"The date at the end of the Easter holidays was relatively late in the season," said Karl Ulrich Herrmann, Managing Shareholder of the organising company RETRO Messen GmbH and the initiator of the successful project. "However, this decision was taken deliberately in order to organise a first-class trade fair under relaxed conditions, something which our customers and visitors are accustomed to – albeit on a slightly smaller scale."
This year, RETRO CLASSICS® shared both the date and the exhibition space with Messe Stuttgart's spring line-up, which occupied a good one third of the area of the fully booked up trade fair centre. "However, the partnership was an ideal combination in this difficult time," said Herrmann. "From the aspect of RETRO CLASSICS®, it represented an enrichment with clear value-added for visitors, but also for our exhibitors who were therefore able to address entirely new customers. The relaxed atmosphere made a major contribution to the good results of the trade fair."
This opinion was also shared by Stefan Lohnert, President of Messe Stuttgart: "We are delighted that the visitors filled Messe Stuttgart's spring line-up and RETRO CLASSICS® with life together with us over the last four days. The combination at the trade fair grounds in Stuttgart created an exciting range of topics, guaranteed genuine value-added and was rewarding for exhibitors and visitors alike."
"On the whole, RETRO CLASSICS® 2022 in Stuttgart was a good start to the forthcoming season and future events," said Karl Ulrich Herrmann. "The rediscovered desire for personal encounters and specialist discussions could be felt everywhere." In fact: special shows featuring rarely displayed veteran cars, historic commercial vehicles or futuristic looking case studies proved extremely popular together with the sim racing area that was densely crowded and keenly used at all times. The visitors let themselves be inspired, obtained information – and made investments. This was gladly confirmed by the exhibitors: "The number of visitors was tremendous and they were first-class," resumed Till von der Hellen, Managing Director and proprietor of the car dealer Löhlein GmbH & Co. KG. "We concluded some good sales transactions and are very satisfied." Thomas Hähnel, Sales Manager at the car dealer Lorinser GmbH & Co. KG, also expressed his praise: "We sold several vehicles on the first two days. On the whole, we were very satisfied with our attendance at RETRO CLASSICS®. This platform is ideal for our company. I believe that we will also come back again the next time!“
The next RETRO CLASSICS® in Stuttgart will be held in spring 2023.
About RETRO CLASSICS®:
RETRO CLASSICS® in STUTTGART is the world's largest trade fair for driving culture and was chosen as the "Show of the Year" in the Historic Motoring Awards in 2018. Lovers and collectors of historic automobiles, brand representatives and representatives of relevant historic and classic car clubs have long regarded this international platform as a must-attend event at the start of the historic and classic car season. The unique concept impresses with its comprehensive range of historic and classic cars, youngtimers, NEO CLASSICS®, US cars, historic motorcycles and commercial vehicles, as well as with its first-class accompanying programme, a special sim racing area, a huge vehicle selling market and highly interesting special shows.
Other dates:
RETRO CLASSICS BAVARIA® 2022: 1 to 4 December, Nuremberg Trade Fair Centre
Further information and photos relating to RETRO CLASSICS® STUTTGART can be found in the Internet at:www.retro-classics.de
Comments by exhibitors:
Christoph Schlagenhauf, proprietor and Managing Director, Boxer Motor GmbH:
"We were satisfied with the public response here at the trade fair. It was my impression that the trade fair was also generally well-attended. In particular, our Ukraine actions went down very well. We had a large number of first-class customer contacts, and sales were very good."
Bernard Jaeggy, Honorary President, International Association of the Friends of the National Automobile Museum – Schlumpf Collection :
"We received a positive response here to our exhibition. We noticed that many people were still not aware of our Museum. Some of them are now planning to pay us a visit. It was therefore very important to draw attention here to our Museum which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. RETRO CLASSICS® is an ideal advertising platform for us since we meet precisely our public here."
Martin Hinterstocker, Sales Manager, HK-Engineering Handels GmbH:
"The trade fair went well and we are satisfied since we acquired some specific prospective customers. We were also satisfied with the number and expertise of the visitors. We always take part in RETRO CLASSICS® and will also definitely be here the next time. I personally love coming to Messe Stuttgart, I like the modern atmosphere in the exhibition halls."
Wolf-Rüdiger von Massow, proprietor and Managing Director, Scuderia Sportiva Colonia:
"RETRO CLASSICS® 2022 was a superbly organised trade fair with first-rate visitors. It's marvellous that it was finally held again! In our industry it's all about seeing and being seen. Cultivating contacts is very important. This trade fair is a good platform in this respect. I have been present here for many years and will certainly come back again."
Wilhelm Supper, Stand Supervisor, Automobile Guild, Stuttgart Region:
"The number of visitors was almost the same in spite of corona and the change of date. We received a large number of technical questions relating to motorcycles, convertible tops, repairs, etc., but were also able to provide information about vocational training in the area of historic/classic cars and youngtimers. It is essential for us to produce young talents here. We have maintained fruitful cooperation with RETRO CLASSICS® for many years and love coming back again to this trade fair every time."
Caroline Weller-Bierbrauer, Stand Coordination, Porsche Heritage and Museum:
"We were very positively surprised by the reception we received here. We felt that people had the desire again to visit a trade fair and look at cars. Our trade fair topic '40 years of Group C' went down very well, the visitors showed a great deal of interest in the vehicles and the entire era. On the whole, RETRO CLASSICS® is an ideal forum to provide information about events and special exhibitions at our Museum. We therefore hope that our attendance leads to a higher number of visitors."
Josef Forster, proprietor, F1 Automobil-Vertriebs GmbH:
We primarily used the trade fair as a platform where we could forge a large number of good contacts. Our main objective was to cultivate these contacts and meet customers since sales transactions only eventually arise through being present and holding discussions. We also take valuable market impressions from the trade fair back to our company. Generally speaking, taking part in RETRO CLASSICS® is also always very enjoyable!"
Hans-Joachim Krohmer, proprietor, SofaArt Int.:
"It was a perfect start, and the entire trade fair turned out to be surprisingly good. The reception on our stand was incredible. We met the right clientèle, acquired new customers and concluded good sales transactions right from the beginning. We are also looking forward to very good business after the event. Everything was well-organised, and we received very good feedback. We are therefore very satisfied with the overall result of our participation."
Thomas Hähnel, Sales Manager, Autohaus Lorinser GmbH & Co. KG:
"On the whole, we were very satisfied with our attendance at RETRO CLASSICS®. The number and expertise of the visitors were very good. We sold several vehicles on the first two days. There is a trend towards fun cars. We have adapted our product range accordingly – and successfully! The best part of a trade fair is that you can establish good contacts. This platform is ideal for our company. I believe that we will also come back again the next time!“
Till von der Hellen, Managing Director and proprietor, Autohaus Löhlein GmbH & Co. KG:
"The number of visitors was tremendous and they were first-class; we concluded good sales transactions and are very satisfied. Since some customers from Franconia also discovered us here at RETRO CLASSICS® as a workshop, we are expecting good business after the event."
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