A classic that remains on the road depends on knowledge, documentation and people able to maintain it. The historic-vehicle programme at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, held on 8–12 September, focused on that connection between enthusiasm and professional expertise.
The official programme brought together FIVA topics, an Opel Classic display and an exhibition tracing the history of the repair trade. It placed the car within the wider network that makes its continued use possible.
Preserving knowledge as well as machinery
FIVA’s planned contribution covered training, professional cooperation and the FIVA Verified programme. In the Classic Alliance area, historic-document digitisation and component recovery provided further perspectives on workshop practice.
These subjects matter to owners. Reliable technical information and a specialist familiar with a particular system can be just as important as finding a replacement part.
From the Opel Lutzmann to workshop history
Opel Classic’s announced selection spanned more than a century, from the 1899 Patent Motor Car System Lutzmann to competition machinery including the Calibra V6 4×4 and Astra Kit Car. The 1995 MAXX concept was also included.
The repair-trade exhibition added the perspective of the people who worked on such machines. Recovering that context helps explain why preserving a classic involves more than maintaining its appearance. The accompanying photograph is an archive image from Automechanika Frankfurt 2024, not a view of the 2026 event.
Source: Messe Frankfurt, programa de clásicos de Automechanika 2026. Adapted from press information. Photograph: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera (2024).
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