This is the obligatory 2013 Techno Classica Essen picture of Hall 10 at the Messe Essen convention center which has housed this event since its inception. But this hall barely scratches the surface. In fact, Techno Classica is comprised of displays in 17 interior halls, 3 outdoor open-air “markets”, and a covered vendor gallery. There is also food. And beer. Both German, and both really very tasty! Try as you might, there is really no way to take in the whole show in just a day (That’s a hint by the way. When you plan to come to next year’s event, plan on at least two days).
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1 Comment | tags: 300D Turbodiesel, 911 GTS Carrera4, Classic & Sports Car, Classic Cars, Fiat X1/9, Germany, Mercedes-Benz, Nürburgring, Opel Ascona, Porsche 911, Porsche Vanagon, Techno Classica Essen, Volkswagen Passat, W123 | posted in Commentary, Totally That Stupid
It’s been a while since we added a new “disposable sports car” to the blog, so today we bring you an 80s-style oldie but goodie: the original Toyota MR2. It was the 80s, and every teenage boy worth his salt lusted after exotic, mid-engined supercars like the Ferrari 308GTSi and the Lamborghini Countach. These teenage boys, again if worth their salt, also influenced their family car-buying decisions. So Toyota (and separately Pontiac with their similarly-timed and themed Fiero), decided to take advantage of that supercar lust by introducing a mid-engined sports car for the masses. Enter Mister Two. Find this clean and surprisingly rust-free example here on Craigslist in Daly City, California, for just $3,500.
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3 Comments | tags: Ferrari 308GTSi, Fiat X1/9, Lamborghini Countach, Pontica Fiero, Toyota MR2 | posted in Disposable Sports Car, Totally That Stupid
We’ve discussed before how convertibles were very much a dying breed going from the 1970s into the 1980s. While there were a handful of holdover cars from another era from Alfa Romeo, Fiat (badged as Pininfarina or Bertone due to Fiat’s official withdrawal from the U.S. market), and the like, it was widely believed that convertibles would soon be consigned to the history books thanks to ever-increasing safety standards from the US Department of Transportation and other safety Nazis. Still, a few mainstream manufacturers kept the torch burning for the convertible in the form of special, low-production convertible versions of their sporting coupes. Today’s case in point is the attractive Toyota-ASC collaboration on the Celica GTS Convertible. They were only produced for two years – 1984 and 1985 – with just 250 1984s hitting the streets, making this clean red car for sale here on eBay in Katy, Texas for just $4,200 especially rare. There were about 4,500 produced for 1985.
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11 Comments | tags: Alfa Romeo, Azzura, Bertone, Celica GTS, Convertible, Fiat X1/9, Honda Prelude, Lotus Esprit, MR2, Nissan 200SX, Pininfarina, Spider, Toyota, Triumph TR7, TVR 280i | posted in Totally That Stupid
The Main Event: Techno Classica 2012
This is the obligatory 2013 Techno Classica Essen picture of Hall 10 at the Messe Essen convention center which has housed this event since its inception. But this hall barely scratches the surface. In fact, Techno Classica is comprised of displays in 17 interior halls, 3 outdoor open-air “markets”, and a covered vendor gallery. There is also food. And beer. Both German, and both really very tasty! Try as you might, there is really no way to take in the whole show in just a day (That’s a hint by the way. When you plan to come to next year’s event, plan on at least two days).
Continue reading
1 Comment | tags: 300D Turbodiesel, 911 GTS Carrera4, Classic & Sports Car, Classic Cars, Fiat X1/9, Germany, Mercedes-Benz, Nürburgring, Opel Ascona, Porsche 911, Porsche Vanagon, Techno Classica Essen, Volkswagen Passat, W123 | posted in Commentary, Totally That Stupid