Retro Classics Stuttgart 2026
AT THE HEART OF AUTOMOTIVE CULTURE
This weekend, Timeless Classics was in Stuttgart for RETRO CLASSICS, a trade show with a rare talent: bringing together in one place cars that each tell the story of an era, an innovation, or a victory. Between merchant stands, themed exhibitions, and race cars presented as works of art, the atmosphere is serious, passionate... and frankly inspiring.
The Hans Herrmann tribute exhibition: racing as a legacy
Among the highlights, the exhibition paying tribute to Hans Herrmann was a real reminder of what Porsche does best when performance becomes an art form. Seeing cars such as the Porsche 906 and Porsche 910 together takes you back to the golden age when everything revolved around lightness, aerodynamics, and pure efficiency. Low silhouettes, perfect proportions, and the feeling that they were designed solely to win, without ever overdoing it.
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Porsche 909 Bergspyder: obsessed with saving every ounce
The Porsche Bergspyder on display at the Porsche Museum is a monument to radicalism. It's the kind of car that instantly reminds you that Porsche has sometimes taken the logic of performance to the extreme: doing more with less. The Bergspyder is an entire philosophy summed up in a single car: a machine designed to climb, accelerate, brake late... and above all, remain as light as possible. Seeing it up close, you understand that every choice is dictated by function: no stylistic flourishes, no superfluous details, just the essentials. It's raw, intelligent, almost “surgical.” And for enthusiasts, it's fascinating because it tells a different story about racing: not through power, but through rigor, simplicity, and the quest to save every last gram.
BMW M1 Procar
Another highlight of the weekend: the BMW M1 Procar. It has that rare quality of being instantly recognizable and sporty while remaining incredibly elegant. The M1 is the car that symbolizes the perfect link between design and competition, with a taut, muscular silhouette and an aura that transcends its technical specifications. Even when stationary, it gives the impression of being in motion. And at a show like Retro Classics, it acts like a magnet: you spot it from afar, you approach it, and you stay.
Two Mercedes from the ANTHOLOGY
Mercedes-Benz C112
The Mercedes C112 on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum is a fascinating interlude, almost like traveling back in time. It doesn't take you back to the past, but rather shows you how people imagined the future in the early 1990s: technological, streamlined, ambitious, and very “Mercedes” in its execution. The C112 has the presence of a concept car, which means that it is not seen as just a car, but as an idea brought to life. The lines are clean, the stance is low, and everything seems designed to evoke innovation: a car that doesn't seek to seduce through nostalgia, but through projection. Seeing it among the classics is great, because it reminds us that a car collection isn't just about old icons: it's also about visions, attempts, and milestones in history.
Mercedes CLR
Exhibited by the Nationales Automuseum, then there was the Mercedes CLR, and here we clearly change register. The CLR is the epitome of extremity: a car that makes no concessions to public opinion, because it was born for a single mission: to go fast. Everything about its proportions speaks of aerodynamics, the pursuit of efficiency, and speed as the ultimate goal. Looking at it, you can feel the “prototype/GT” atmosphere of the late 1990s: a time when manufacturers were exploring the limits with incredible intensity. It's a car that commands silence, because it exudes something serious, tense, almost intimidating. And that's exactly what we come to a show like this for: cars that are not only beautiful, but also steeped in history and excitement.
A treat for Porsche enthusiasts
When it comes to Porsche road cars and club sports cars, Stuttgart has been a playground. It was hard not to linger in front of a Hellgrün (6868/13) 911 2.7 RS exhibited by Boxer Motors: a color that doesn't disappoint, as special as the car itself. In a different vein, the 964 Turbo 3.6 commanded attention with its unique blend of restraint and character: a car that looks “clean” at first glance... but quickly reminds you of what it's capable of. And for fans of “unfiltered” driving, the 964 Cup and 964 Carrera RS (including a magnificent Nachtblau Metallic model) perfectly represented that blessed era when Porsche knew how to make cars that were both usable and incredibly serious. In short: for Porsche enthusiasts, it was a treat, and we found ourselves returning to the same stands several times, just to take in a detail, a line, an atmosphere.
