After the opening in Hall 3, which sadly missed a lot of Benz material, we usually make our way to Hall 1, the home of Mercedes in Essen.
We used to encounter the pinnacle of classic car stages paring the Swabian’s illustrious history with the styling we only saw at major international car shows. However, since COVID-19, the factory has remained absent, handing over the role to Mercedes clubs dedicated to a specific model, usually with an anniversary.
This year, 19 official marque clubs are showcased around 40 carefully curated vehicles in this forum, ranging from simple classics to McLaren SLR (even a Stirling Moss edition monoposto, though we were wondering what is the point of a club for a model built in a dozen copies).
The clubs were paired with an engineering corner where experts used cutaway models and prototypes to illustrate technical developments over the past 100 years.
Major traders presented their finest in the rest of Hall 1. The names include ROSIER Classic Sterne, showcasing a Mercedes-AMG One, and the 300SL specialist HK Engineering.
Axel Schuette displayed some exquisite models too, including a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, a late model equipped with disc brakes.
There was also a corner showcasing trucks and off/road cars developed for desert racing.
After Hall 2 hosting parts and services and the galleria featuring car clubs, we arrived at Hall 4, which accommodated VW and its commercial vehicle division. This was far from the pre-COVID glory days, but we still get to see a few interesting cars, like a 2014 Polo WRC, which ruled the world of rallying between 2011 and 2016.
Hall 5 hosts premium traders and the organiser’s booth at the centre of Hall 5 around their characterful SIHA Pavilion. Their stage usually follows a particular theme with carefully selected rarities. This year, their special exhibition featured the title “Inspiring Greatness … 20th Century Automobiles, Craftsmanship and Innovation”.
The organisers enlisted eight classic cars representing one of the most impressive eras of automobile construction. Alongside two Bugattis, the stage featured an Invicta 4.5 Litre High Chassis Le Mans, a rare Maserati 26M, a Riley 1 ½ Litre TT Sprite works racing car, and a well-preserved BMW 328.
Beyond that, Hall 5 offered the best experience in terms of decoration and cars (along with Halls 1 and 3), while the next Hall 6 featured club stages (some of them could be accepted as light versions of factory stages) as well as an art avenue.
One of the key anniversaries of the event covers the 70 Years of Citroën DS theme, featuring a replication of the rotunda display area similar to the original used at the 1955 premiere at the Paris Car Show.
Friends and collectors came up with an exquisite selection of special editions of the DS model, from station wagon to the SM.
Hall 7 was filled with traders lining up their high-end luxury and classic cars, where modern Ferraris are a common sight, and you need at least an SLR or a Pagani to steal the show.
Hall 8 hosts another speciality of SIHA. The organisers promised more than 200 Clubs, reflecting a broad spectrum of the classic car scene. Each club aimed to feature unique and rare specimens, often paired with astonishing decorations.
We spent a whole day visiting the very last Essen Techno Classica ever, and with the usual extras at Classic Remise and Motorworld, it proved to be a day well spent.
The 2025 Techno Classica tried to deliver on all fronts, even if the organisers could not bring back the golden age. It may have lacked its most crucial traditional ingredient (the factory stages), but the clubs and traders made up for some of the loss. This event was still grand, and we could not finish the immense area in less than five hours. 2025 is going quite well, as far as car events are concerned, but this event will be featured high on our end-of-the-year list.
