Went on a very exhausting but very worthwhile trip to Techno Classica in Essen, Germany on Saturday. Drove the Bonneville all the way there and back via Calais on 'Le Shuttle' - the Channel Tunnel car train. The drive took me through Northern France, into Belgium, a little bit of the Netherlands, and into Germany, crossing the river Ruhr and the Rhine. The Bonneville never missed a beat and performed flawlessly - perfect vehicle for a long drive. It was going home really, as my car was originally sold new in Germany back in 1992.

On board Le Shuttle:


The Bonneville, stopping for a break on the way back by a Dutch forest:


What a superb show too! One of the largest classic car events in Europe. Here's a few photos of the exhibits..

Volvo 262C Convertible:


1937 Wanderer W25 K:


1985 Volkswagen Polo G40 prototype:


1980 Toyota Cressida Estate:


1988 Volkswagen Polo 2cyl diesel prototype:


1975 Volkswagen Polo:


1931 Tatra Type 80:


1935 Skoda Superb 640:


1937 Stoewer Arkona:


1952 Siata Daina:


1949 Skoda 1102:


Porsche 959:


1999 Qvale Mangusta:


1931 Rohr 8RA:


1967 OSI 20M TS:


1963 NSU Wankel Spider:


1910 Opel 18/35:


1966 Opel Diplomat A Coupe:


2007 Opel GTC concept car (a Regal coupe, anyone?):


1937 Mercedes-Benz 230N:


1957 NSU Prinz:


1981 Maserati Quattroporte III:


1953 Mercedes-Benz 220A:


1967 Maserati Ghibli:


1939 Horch 930V:


1929 Isotta Franchini 8A Commodore:


1966 Glas V8 2600:


1962 Ford Taunus Transit:


1970 Ford Escort Mk1:


1968 Ford Galaxie:


1978 Ford Granada Mk2:


1973 Fiat Campagnola:


1939 Fiat 508C 1100:


1964 Fiat 750 Vignale:


Fend Flitzer:


1985 Ferrari 288 GTO:


1954 Facel Vega FV:


1958 Edsel 'sedan delivery':


1947 EMW 327:


1987 CMC Tiffany:


1935 DKW Meisterklasse F5:


1950 Cisitalia 202:


1949 Chevrolet Suburban:


1911 Buick 24/30:


1964 Chevrolet Corvair:


1964 Chevrolet Corvette:


1979 Bitter Super Aero:


1966 Audi 80:


1937 Audi Front 225 Roadster:


Autobianchi Bianchina:


1930 Bentley Speed Six:


1928 Alvis FD FWD:

Very very cool pictures, thanks for sharing!

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*Chris*

15 Nissan Altima 2.5SL/2004 Honda Shadow 750 Aero
Previous, 07 GP SE, 06 GP GXP, 97 SSE 40th, 96 LeSabre Custom, 93 SLE, 90 LeSabre Custom

So many cool cars, I'm so glad you continue to post these. The Bonne looks great.

That all orange 959 is quite interesting.

Also a lot of names I haven't ever seen before. Awesome show.

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles

Thanks guys!

I will have had the Bonneville four years in August... and I'm now responsible for nearly a quarter of the miles/kilometres on the odometer.

Great times, thanks for sharing!

Amazing how the tunnel train transports people and cars between the UK and the Continent... Beats a ferry by any measure.

Interesting how diverse the show is. And I see a lot of Chevelle in the '66 Opel Diplomat!

Your Bonneville looks great, BTW. I'll be that it got a few looks from show attendees!

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Alan Sheidler

Proud Third Caretaker of the Family Heirloom '93 SSE
Medium Garnet Red Metallic, Gray Leather Interior
Silver Cross-Lace Wheels (I love this car)

Thanks! The Bonneville may have got a bit of attention, but I think it gets more looks in the UK to be honest. The Belgians, Dutcch, and Germans will be more used to seeing them, although they were never common and there probably aren't many 'Euro-spec' versions left now. I didn't see another Bonneville on my trip, but I did a number of American cars on the road, especially in Belgium and Holland.

The Opel Diplomat had some hardware in common with the Chevelle, coming with 283 or 327ci Chevy small block V8 engines and a Powerglide auto trans. They probably share a common platform, and some body parts too although I can't find confirmation of this anywhere. The wheelbase measurement is identical, and overall dimensions very similar. Opel wouldn't have shouted about it at the time, as the Diplomat was marketed as an expensive luxury car.

Le Shuttle is a great service. The crossing from Folkestone to Calais only takes half an hour. Much quicker than the ferry!

Thanks for sharing your pics Simon.
I'd never really thought about it, but just like the USA and UK Germany and other nations also have a litany of defunct brands, some I've never heard of.
A reminder too that Skoda made some excellent cars pre war, I wonder how many of the Communist era anachronisms survive?.

Roger.

You'd be surprised. The rear-engined Communist-era Skodas have a cult following all of their own, especially the S110R coupes. You can see a few in the background of the photo of the 1949 1102. I didn't photograph them as I've see plenty of those at other shows I've attended.

Grrr! Curse the security filter here at work! For some reason it filters the pictures on some of your posts.

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Resident Tightwad

Screw you, Photobucket.