RETRO CLASSICS® will celebrate its 25th anniversary from February 19 to 22, 2026, and is deliberately setting strong thematic accents for this milestone edition. At the heart of the anniversary show are extraordinary special exhibitions, brand-defining milestones, and moving personalities from the history of automobiles and motorsport. The anniversary edition combines technology, history, and emotion, bringing driving culture to life in all its depth.
An emotional centerpiece of the show is the major special exhibition “Hans im Glück – HH 97”, located in the central atrium at the East Entrance. The exhibition honors the life’s work of Hans Herrmann, one of the most important German racing drivers of the post-war era, who passed away on January 9, 2026, at the age of 97. Herrmann raced against legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, repeatedly pushed the boundaries between talent and vehicle dynamics, and shaped an entire generation of motorsport competitors. His greatest triumph came in 1970 with overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Porsche 917.
Spanning 650 square meters, the exhibition—supported by the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums—presents the most important exhibits from his racing career. Curated and organized by his biographer Tobias Aichele, the exhibition invites visitors to engage once more with an icon of international motorsport and to bid farewell.
Two-wheeled motorsport history takes center stage in Hall 5. There, the Allgemeiner Motorradsport-Club Leonberg e.V. (AMSC) presents the special exhibition “Racing Motorcycles of the Solitude Era”, dedicated to one of the most tradition-rich chapters of southern German motorsport history. Around 40 historic racing motorcycles will be on display, offering a unique cross-section of more than a century of racing history. From early hill climbs at the beginning of the 20th century through the Grand Prix era of the 1960s to modern cult events such as the Glemseck 101, the technical and sporting evolution of motorcycle racing is vividly documented. A track-like presentation and a specially designed pit lane make the dynamics of the Solitude racetrack tangible in spatial terms.
Another focal point of the anniversary edition is the major presence of the BMW Classic & Type Clubs in Hall 7. Several important brand anniversaries will be staged on dedicated presentation areas. The highlights include 40 years of the BMW M3, 50 years of the BMW 6 Series, 60 years of the BMW 02, and 110 years of BMW. The display is complemented by the 25th anniversary of the BMW Mini Club, featuring classic Mini vehicles. Selected rarities from the BMW Collection, the well-known BMW Classic Truck with exclusive exhibits, as well as contributions from the BMW Classic Parts Service and the BMW Museum and Archives—including special engine exhibits—will make this area a meeting point for brand enthusiasts.
In Hall 10, the Automobil-Park Auwärter is dedicated to the world of historic commercial vehicles. The exhibition showcases rare coaches, trucks, and tractors from around 70 years of commercial vehicle history, illustrating the development of commercial transport. Special attention is given to the Mercedes O 319 as well as other historic vintage buses and truck exhibits.
Further information is available at: www.retro-classics.de
