This was the 22nd year of the world’s largest classic car show, welcoming 170,000 people from 40-odd countries, flocking to see the 1000 exhibitors in the show’s 20 halls.

Aside from the motor manufacturers, who pull out all the stops for Techno Classica, there were more than 250 suppliers of classic spare parts – along with 75 model car specialists.

And the show is also known for its automotive art and memorabilia, with some 30 art dealers attending, plus 40 professional suppliers of ‘paper’ memorabilia – namely posters, brochures and automotive literature.

But enough of the statistics. When it came to the manufacturer stands, Porsche stood out, focusing as it did on the marque’s unrivalled history at Le Mans and showcasing the glorious red-and-white 917 which carried Richard Attwood and Hans Herrmann to the marque’s first ever victory in the 24 Hours, all of 40 years ago. Also on show was the 911 GT1 98 which won in 1998 – by that time Porsche’s 16th overall win.

Audi celebrated ‘30 years of the quattro’, with no fewer than five cars which have made great use of the 4WD system: the original 1980 ur-quattro, the 1987 Audi coupé quattro, the 1993 Audi RS2, the 1995 Audi S2 coupé and the Audi V8 DTM, this last being the car in which Hans-Joachim Stuck scored a win in the final race of the 1990 German Touring Car Championship.

Mercedes-Benz used the launch of the new SLS to put on a hugely impressive display of supercars from the last 100 years (and more), starting with the Mercedes Simplex from 1902, right through to the dramatic C111 and SLR McLaren.

BMW, meanwhile, celebrated the 70th anniversary of its victory in the 1940 Mille Miglia, with the Hanstein/Bäumer 328 – as well as the history of the Mini, in support of the modern-day MINI: though some might find that link a bit, er, tenuous.

And of course, no 2010 event is complete without Alfa Romeo making a splash with an impressive cross-section of models from the company’s 100-year history, to mark this much-vaunted centenary. Among the exhibits was the ex-Fangio 1953 6C 3000 CM and the 1975 World Sportscar Championship-winning Alfa 33 TT 12.

Bentley, Bugatti and Ferrari also had a strong presence, the latter marque blessing the show with a fabulous spread of cars, SWB and LWB California Spiders among them.

And finally, a word for two home-grown heroes. First, Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist, Frank Dale & Stepsons of West London, which won ‘Best In Show’ for the Phantom I Playboy Roadster. And secondly, Hall & Hall which – on the dealership’s first time at Essen, scooped another best of show – this time for its 300sq m display area complete with 14 cars, including a post-War Auto Union.

Text: Classic Driver
Photos: Tassilo C. Speler / Hall & Hall