While many markets have been active to celebrate the company’s anniversary around October 3rd, this date has been tricky for Germany as this is the unification day and thus a public holiday. Therefore, we have been striving for different alternatives and focused on a big public event in spring this year.
Worlds leading vintage car trade fair, the “Technoclassica” in Essen, has been in 2009 a great place to show off both historical anniversaries as well as activities of German Citroen car clubs to the almost 170.000 visitors.
Well-known as the “Citroen-Strasse”, the 20-year-old association of all major clubs from Germany was showing off double-fold. 75 years of Traction Avant were celebrated with a TA Gauloises cabriolet, a Faux Cabriolet, Commerciale, Normale and Legere. On the other half of the booth, the 90 years of Automobiles Citroen retrospective started with a chassis number #189 Type A 1919, Panhard DB Le Mans cabriolet, DS19, CX Prestige, SM, and not to forget the well-beloved 2CV Charleston.
Supported by the new brand claim “Creative Technologie”, Citroen Germany presented three cars from the Conservatoire, a 1919 Type A Chassis “#1″, the original 1934 “salon de l’Automobile” Traction Avant 7A display with its separate engine, C-Sportlounge prototype (2005), as well as the newest model, the C3 Picasso Exclusive (2009).
On TC, overall more than 230 amateur clubs of almost all car manufacturers have presented their activities and celebrated worlds largest “family reunion” of the club scene. “The clubs are the foundation of the vintage car scene“, says Horst Brüning, chairman of the world association of vintage car clubs (FIVA, Fédération des Véhicules Anciens). “At the Technoclassica they make a significant contribution to creating an automotive journey through the last century“. Amongst them are the 12 leading German Citroen clubs.
In cooperation with the German subsidiary of Automobiles Citroen over more than a decade, the show has once more confirmed the successful partnership between the clubs and the manufacturer on joint public activities involving the history of the famous brand.
Thomas Albrecht, head of press at Citroen Germany, says: “I am delighted that there is such good co-operation between the German Citroën Clubs. TechnoClassica is really an international showcase. Especially the German brands like to show off here, and we’re proud to fly our flag on this occasion. Heritage gets ever more important if you want to appeal to people’s emotions, and we have such a lot to say on that account. Thanks to the excellent teamwork with and between the Clubs, our brand is able to put up a worthy display year after year.”
As one of the great takeaways from that show, Citroen Germany has launched a retrospective brochure about the anniversary which you will find attached to this report (PDF download). It’s been distributed in Austria and German-speaking Switzerland as well, and the Dutch, Norwegian, and Swiss subsidiary are preparing or have prepared translations of this document for their markets.
The spirit of creating results by working together as a team has been the basis for “Citroen-Strasse”. Lets quote the head of the “Citroen-Strasse” organisation: “Club separation has not been an issue for us for almost 20 years now. Since many years it does not matter whether eg. a CX must be presented by a CX club member – when its the right car we strive to bring it to the show, regardless from which club it is. Organized by a great team of friends, we share common resources and celebrate a good time – not to forget some “savoir vivre” with “Vin Traction Avant” or “Chateau DS”, cheese, baguettes and alikes, and all that in front of a French bistro scenery. Did I mention there were some cars?”
Similar says organizer Leon Franssen from SIHA, the Techno-Classica show owner: “Despite hard basic conditions, our exhibitors noticed a heavy demand and respectable sales conclusions. Customers have more expertise than they used to have, they are also more demanding and critical, they check and compare more intensely than before. But they also accept adequate prices for decent quality“.
Next TC will take place 7-11 April 2010 at Messe Essen. Why not already plan for your next trip to Germany in spring 2010, and have a look?
Contact the Germany delegates for more activities around the double chevron: info@amicale-citroen.de
On behalf of the ACI Germany delegates, Stephan Joest, who is also the project manager of the Technoclassica Citroen club stand.
On the “Traction Avant!” club Germany homepage you can find a selection of pictures in their gallery, please check out:
On the same website you will also find the PDF download of the “90 years” anniversary brochure (German language though).
