Motor Show, Essen, Germany
29th November to 8th December 2002
We don't usually attend the Motor Show in Essen - rather than competing with the International Motor Show at Frankfurt
(which concentrates on the latest new cars), Essen is aimed at the "Tuning brigade". Most of the visitors here can
be heard shouting "Borrrraayyyyy, koooolllll" whilst they drool and slobber all over the latest paint jobs and
bits of plastic that they could buy and stick on to their Golf GTI, BMW 316i, or whatever - in an attempt to give their
boring pride and joy a slightly more individual look. There are also a number of very scantily-clad young ladies walking
around trying to tempt people to part with their money for a new set of rims or a chromed rear silencer, but I didn't go to
look at these sights - honestly!.
One of the specialist German classic car magazines quietly mentioned that there would be a display of World Rally Cars (from
1973 to 2002), and better still - AC Cars would have a stand to celebrate 40 years of Cobras. Enough said, we're on our way ....
Leaving the Cobras behind us, the ADAC (German AA) stand had this racing boat ....
.... and a lego model (1:1 scale) of Ralf Schumachers Williams-BMW on display.
And now a possible glimpse into the future, with a number of concept cars on display ....
.... including this impressive GT-HDI, using an Opel diesel engine ....
.... and this Volvo - with a folding steel sunroof, it looked very stylish indeed ....
.... which is more than can be said for the next few concept cars. In contradiction to other off-roaders, this
"Fiovaranti Yak" has lowered suspension and smaller wheels, but retains four-wheel-drive.
And just to prove that the cars as ugly as the Lotus 340R can come from southern Germany ....
.... Mercedes (sorry, DaimlerChrysler) showed their F400 Carving, with a 3.2 litre 218 bhp 6-cylinder engine plus
computer-controlled adjustable camber. However, judging by their reactions, the locals liked it - a lot!
Peugeot would have got away with showing their current 206cc, instead of the E-Doll (a 3-seater with two electric motors)
and the Bobslid (a 2-seater with one gull-wing door, an electric motor and four-wheel-drive).
Even the worst Peugeot was easily outdone by the "Metro-Cube". Pininfarina has been responsible for some great
designs, but was his badge really on the front of this blob?
The Novanta is a drive-by-wire four-door Coupe using Saab technology (with a 3.0 litre 200 bhp 6 cylinder engine) and
designed (?) by Bertone. Have the Italian designers lost the plot completely?
Luckily the Italian style was saved by Giugiaro and his Alfa Romeo Brera - with a carbon-fibre bodyshell and gull-wing
doors, the 4.2 litre 400 bhp V8 engine in the front drives a six speed rear-mounted gearbox. With many features from the
styling of the current 147 and 156 models at the front, and the rear from a Porsche 928 ....
.... maybe the future will not be so bad after all.
Professor Luigi Colani presented his stunning two-seater roadster, with a fibreglass body and aluminium chassis (based on
the Opel Speedster).
A great name from French-Spanish history was revived with this superb Hispano Suiza HS21-GTS, with 600 bhp and 650 Nm torque
from its mighty V8 engine.
David Crow spent four years in U.S.A. building the Red Stiletto, using fibreglass and aluminium.
A Jaguar S-type V8 Northstar and a Porsche 911 GT3.
Almost 100 years and one hall separate the latest technology Le Mans winning Audi 8R and the Mercedes Rally Car.
Two of the London - Sydney Marathon Rally winners - the 1967 Mercedes 280 (of Andrew Cowan, Colin Malkin and Mike Broad)
and the 1968 Hillman Hunter (of Andrew Cowan, Colin Malkin and Brian Coyle).
Another Mercedes and a 1969 Ford Escort.
Two old Mercedes 350 SLC Rally Cars.
An Opel Ascona 400 and Ford Escort Rally Car.
An early Porsche 911S and a Toyota Celica 4x4 Rally Car.
An Audi quattro A1 Rally Car.
Two Monte Carlo Rally winners - the 1960 Mini was dwarfed by the 1937 Delahaye T 135M Coupe (with a 3.6 litre, 160 bhp,
six cylinder engine).
A later Monte Carlo Rally winner - the 1976 Lancia Strato's Group B.
Two more Group B Rally Cars - an Audi quattro S1 and a Peugeot 205 Turbo 16.
Two current Rally cars - a Subaru Impreza and a Mitsubishi Galant Evo VII.
Two Paris - Dakar Rally winners; the VW Iltis (1.7 litre, selectable four-wheel-drive) that won in 1980, and the Citroen ZX
(1.9 litre, 500 bhp, permanent four-wheel-drive) that won in 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1996.
More Paris - Dakar Rally winners; the Schlesser Renault Megane Buggy (Renault 3.5 litre, 260 bhp) that won in 1999 and 2000,
and the Mitsubishi Pajero (3.5 litre, 250 bhp) that won in 2001 (driven by Jutta Kleinschmidt).
Andy Saunders modified a 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 V8 by extending the rear wings by 13 cm and fitting rear lights from a 1964
Ford Galaxy - and Andy is a Brit, not an American!
Alongside was the "Streamliner"
These German motorbikes had been covered in stone!
This was the "Gothik Coach", built by Richard Fletscher from Phoenix, Arizona, with wierd mudguards ....
.... towers and lamps at the rear ....
.... a scantily-clad witch and chained hands holding swords!
As if this Cadillac was not already heavy enough, it was gradually having thousands of shells and glass balls glued to it!
This Lamborghini was for sale, probably because the wild paint job was too much to handle!
This replica of the Lancia Delta Integrale of Pironen and Kankkunen was for sale at Euro 33,000.
The Alfa Romeo 147 Cup car of Reinhard Huber, who was placed 4th half way through the 2002 Championship.