TC 2018 the chronicles

deQuincey

Quousque tandem...?
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Lucas, a close friend visited it and was surprised by some snapshots of the show, such they say one of the most relevant in europe, and worldwide quite popular too, which i am happy to bring to you here,

following his impressions,...

seems that bmw is still there a bit shy when compared with the real big ones, mercedes number one, and porsche number two, everything that makes the two others big makes bmw almost ....; "aficionados", fans and supporters, attention to visitors, shop, spare parts, non official spare parts especialists, ...even alfaromeo had a better choice of spares than bmw with a couple of very well sorted unofficial especialists he told me

but this year porsche doubled their presence and space growing really big, (despite their isotonic drinks were not for free anymore poor hospitality,...), while mercedes shared some of their pab.1 with meilenwerk and others, although still their space is the most luxurious they are shrinking a bit

beautiful surprises at volvo with large screens picturing the coupe p1800 ? in the saint tv series with a couple of physical cars there to witness their past glory, and yes their brand new SUVs on stage too :-/

lamborghini was showing an evolution of their rebuilt car from their centrostorico, he saw that car last year bared skin metal, now it was painted, has engine, wheels and seats, sound promising but you have to go back next year for the premiere,...

you can still go to vredestein for a free coffee and a big bag to put all your catalogs and leaflets inside

try a beer at those bars around here and there, and eat something

tools and anciliaries are a mess, still some renovation works ongoing

jawdropping cars from lancia, alfa, ferrari, porsche, motorcycles a selected bunch of HDR, vincent,...wow

flying bicycle orginal from 1903 tag price 6000 euro, a guy selling original hella prototype lamps (approval prototype from factory) including round NK and one RH e9 tail lamp complete, people dressed in old fashion costumes, hot dogs and some rain

bmw improved their presence in the far away east and poorly accesible pab.14 just connected to nothing, but this year they spent some money in a pretty performance and exhibition with the only faults of picturing again a RR silver something and a couple of minis, shame,

The rest was good, even an e9 was there for sale, and a french one by the way with the odd color sequenced tail lights

the first view was not very promising pairing two M5s, the new( yes they try to sell you new cars too) and the old e28( good one) then e3 celebrating 50 years ? e9s many many and lovely csls the stuck/luigi included, and M1 on another celebration year

he recalls seing two motorcycles shy and lonely in one corner

then the clubs were represented by exceptional examples, particularly good the 2002 obrut and the 1600gt original paint, lovely, the owner was very kind and friendly. Shared some stories where language was not a barrier :)

at least they had something like a complete pab. well dressed (huge full colored posters hanging from the ceiling) and properly presented, but too far away in the other corner of the exhibition only accesible by a horrible path including not very inviting stairs and passing through a sort of warehouse full of cars for sale

the mobile tradition parts attention was seriously dissapointing, he had to help them to look for some parts, they did not even know the cars they are supposed to be working with, ....”give me the VIN number !” once and again (ridiculous, they should have known lots of VIN numbers were reassigned...pity)

a couple of highlights of our cars,

many e9s, it seems that finally the e9 made her way to the red capets, some of them real vedettes of their stands, good high prices, 87k for a fake ? alpina over a cs body, 220k for a supposedly batmobile (friend did not investigate further) some other csis and csls, and the queen, king and princess of the show all together in one only car (with regard to our coupes) an original e9 early 169 carburetted, converted alpina, one owner, fully documented in inka colour, simply perfect, pristine, delicious, with a tag price of 450k, yes, not 100, not 200, not 300, not even 400, but four hundred and fifty thousand euro for sale, ...err sorry it seems that is not for sale anymore, it was sold in the first 24hours of the show so they say for 430k, the car was still there to see it during the show, someone was waiting very excited and nervous for her to sit in his garage

there are more stories, but i have to pay him more beers,....to be continued...

(sorry there are plenty of pics but i do not know how to share them here :-( ) on request i can share some if you are interested

the racing guy
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the lady in inka
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