Running for the first time in 2006, the opening day at the Geneva Classics showed that a top quality mix of cars, boats and aeroplanes makes for a pleasant afternoon out.

With a significant factory presence from BMW, Ferrari, Lancia and Alfa Romeo, quality specialist stands and a 60+ entry for the auction, Hall 7 at Geneva’s Palexpo, just a 10 minute walk from the train station and airport, was full of genuinely interesting machinery that would interest the Classic Driver.

At the top of the 16,000 M² Hall were entries from The Sportscar Auction (as well as two or three aeroplanes on the airstrip outside...) that was held on Saturday 7/10, and the standard of presentation looked very good indeed, pride of place going to the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB (Sold for SFR 2,222,000) while other entries that looked attractive included the 1962 Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato (Sold for SFR 2,222,000) and the 1965 Osca Tipo 1600 GT (Sold for SFR 129,700).



Inside the rest of the hall, the ‘Constructors Championship’ was a close-run thing between BMW Tradition and Ferrari Classiche, but the Italians won it with a superbly stylish stand complete with white leather and chrome Poltrona Frau seating and several immaculate cars.



Geneva-based consultants Kidston S.A. only had to travel ‘round the corner’ for this one, but nevertheless had a ‘Le Mans Replica Pit’, showing a 1952 Ferrari 225S, a 1957 Mercedes 300 SL Roadster and a 1952 Siata Barchetta 300BC, the latter dwarfed by a rare Riva SuperTritone speedboat. In customary style, Simon Kidston cracked open the champagne to ‘launch’ the three day event.

Amongst the European dealers showing were Thiessen, Caraguti, Lukas Hüni and Jack Braam-Ruben.



Pininfarina, together with Banque Piguet & Cie S.A. were showing the rare Modulo Ferrari 512S, while there was a line-up of cars with bodywork by Swiss Coachbuilders like Graber and Beutler.

On the runway just through glass doors from the main hall, the organisers had assembled a selection of classic aeroplanes, including a Corsair, a Spitfire and a Grumman Avenger.

There was also a drive-in cinema in Hall 6 (accessed via P49 car park) that showed Un Homme et Une Femme, Memphis Belle and Bullitt to visitors in classic cars, listening to the soundtrack on their car radios.

Please click HERE to see the full auction results.









Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Classic Driver