III Salon of Antique...




 
 
January 28-31, 2004
III Salon of Antique, Rare and Exotic Vehicles.
Moscow, ''Sokolniki'' Exhibition Center

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NEWS-RELEASE


The III Salon of Antique, Rare and Exotic Vehicles took place at Moscow 'Sokolniki' Exhibition Center on January 28-31, 2004. This is the only professional event in Russia, which is fully devoted to the collecting, restoring and maintaining of cars, motorbikes and bicycles older than 25 years.

The quantity of 'old-timers' now increases every year in Russia. Those bad and dim times, when all more or less interesting rare and antique cars went for good from Russia to the West have passed now. Things has changed, it is quite vice versa today, rarity vehicles are coming IN Russia - from Europe, Northern and even from Southern America and that 'flow' is getting more 'wide' every day.


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In Moscow taken apart the other cities, you easily find a dozen of serious companies, which are not only ready to bring any antic car at a request, but also have 20-30 'ready for sale' cars of the most popular brands in their show-rooms. And - what is interesting - they do not have any lack of clients! Yes, it must be so, as a 'car with a story' is not only a serious investment project and a respectable image, but is a sort of a 'you are welcome' card to some prestigious fan-clubs and a 'pass' to a great deal of those clubs' activities. A possibility of taking part in an old-timer rallies, in elegance contests, in international shows is a not bad 'supplement' to a car itself.


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In nearest year-another, we have a chance to become eye-witnesses of a real popularity boom of 'automotive classics' in this country. The only thing, that now holds this 'snow-slip' (to say nothing of dramatically high custom import duties, of course) is an uncertainty of many potential owners in the fact, that old-time car can be easily maintained, and wide-spread false rumors about deadly high prices and a deficit of both spare parts and referring repairing services in nowadays Russia.

One of the Salon's goals is to put an end to those rumors.


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The Salon consisted of two main sections.

Old-timer Gallery - introduced cars and motor-bikes of 1900-1960s, exhibited both by restoring workshops and car dealers' salons, which are specialized in selling old-timers - 'here and now' and 'at the request' (cars at the Salon were for sale too, some of them - the exact quantity is never told! - were sold directly on the spot). This part of exhibition was to meet interests first of all of those, who have a wish to buy an 'uncommon car' and can, of course, afford such a purchase. The most expensive and prestigious cars, as, for example, Jaguar XK-140 roadster (1957), Mercedes-Benz Ponton cabrio (1958), Cadillac De Ville coupe (1959), legendary Chevrolet Corvette (1960), etc., were exhibited indoors, lesser expensive cars were placed at a wide ground in front of the central entrance of the exhibition hall.


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Showing of the Automotive and Bike restoration experts - was a professional section first of all for skilled restorers, serious collectors, museum officials and at the proud owners of rarity cars.

Cars' stuff, accessories, reference books, special instruments, restoring materials were presented here too. Within ranks of this section there was also a very democratic 'street-market' and spare parts, collectibles and 'odds and ends' sales organized, some of the kind of those, held at exhibitions in Europe and the United States while such an events.


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The majority of Russian leading automotive restoring workshops took part in the Salon, including famous Egorov & Cо.', 'Molotov Garage', 'Konkin's Restoration' and others, which offer services in 'full-cycle' restoring - from 'a heap of rusted metal' to 'start-and-go' condition.


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Also there participated companies, that specialize in restoring of detached parts, assemblies and devices - motors, motor blocks, transmissions, shock-absorbers, electrical equipment, etc., companies majoring in making 'replicas' - the exact new-made copies of parts for old-time cars, and companies, who can offer unique repairing-restoring technologies and 'know-how's, etc.


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People interested in details of old-time car painting could meet at the Salon a specialist, who could answer all their questions about. There were also specialists in restoring wooden cars' bodies, seats- and interior renewing, etc. Also one could find there special books on automotive history, plenty of Master Parts List and Maintenance Manuals on different autos, photo albums, books, booklets and magazines, fully devoted to the old-time cars.


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At last, the Salon was the only place in Russia at this time of year, where one could find and buy different Automobilia - souvenirs of all kinds, motor-sports cups and trophies, old-time posters and time-shabby 'shields', costumes and accessories of the early automobilist times, post stamps, selected models, old-fashioned toys, works of arts, devoted to the history of domestic and foreign automobile engineering and many, many other things.

Persons interested could insure their old-time cars directly at a special stand or had a qualified advice in all items of owning and everyday use of an old-timer both from lawyers and GIBDD/GAI road police officers.


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In a word, the III Salon of Antique, Rare and Exotic Vehicles was a unique happening in the capital of Russia, a real retro-cars festival. After appearing in front of a very exacting domestic audience and the foreign guests the masterpieces of technical classics went back home - to the private museums and closed collections. There are no miracles under Moon:: the rarities will hardly ever get together in the same intake again…


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MAIN PARTICIPANTS


THE 'OLD TIME' PROJECT. It is a specialized old-time cars trading company first of all. But they are in a restoring and technical maintaining of old cars business too. They solve the problem in a whole: they offer you to buy a car and offer to become their customer in serving it while all its life long, till you say 'good bye' to your car for any reason.
The 'OT' offers its services to the owners of expensive and very expensive cars of after WW2 period of such a brand names like Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Bentley. Qualified specialists who have passed a complete training abroad, are ready to take all the cares in exploiting and maintaining of 'classic cars'. The 'OT' offers both complete restoration and current repair services, sells spare parts, holds planned and sudden technical maintains procedures and other services, gives advises and consults in exploiting of this or that particular car, and in details of driving it. One may also leave a car for storage in the 'OT's garage while the inter-seasons period or while a journey to the Canarians. In a word, it is all the same to Europe: 'buy-and-forget-the-problems' services.


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The collection of the old-time cars, presented by the "Old Time" was the most large collection at the Salon: over 10 exhibits were introduced with many unique cars among them. Jaguar XK140 (1957), Jaguar XKE (E-type) Series I 4,2l (1964), Cadillac De Ville Сoupe (1959), Chevrolet Corvette (1960), Mercedes-Benz W111 250SE cabrio (1967), Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda (1964), Mercedes-Benz 300D Adenauer (1958), Mercedes-Benz 220SE Ponton cabrio (1958), Mercedes-Benz 190SL (1958) - that is not a complete list of cars, that one could see at the "OT" stands.
The mentioned E-type Jaguar win the unofficial 'the most expensive car of the show' title, and it really was a 'must see' thing here.

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One also should mention a very special thing with the 'OT': in spite dealing with a luxurious cars, the company is not a for new-rich 'new-Russians' serving company.
There is another detail: in spite of their big financial possibilities the company is very press-friendly, you will never feel yourself a Cinderella while speaking even to the top managers of the 'Old Times'. In truth, a British philosopher Bertrand Russell was right, when he once said: 'A gentlemen - is one, speaking to whom you feel a gentlemen yourself'. You really feel a gentlemen while dealing with this 'Old Time' company!


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'OLD-TIMER SERVICE' Service And Thorough Repairs Center - deals with cars of former USSR domestic models, which are more than 30 years old. In spite some difficulties in dealing with such a "auto-patients" of declining years, the 'Old-timer Service' offers all the current repairing and maintaining of "Pobeda" GAZ-M20 or 'Volga' GAZ-21 cars according to a very democratic price-list of the GAZ plant, and that is a big advantage for the majority of Russian old-timer fans, as they mainly are not very rich people. The 'OTS' has its own spare parts depot. The owners of Soviet classic cars from 'Moskvich-400' to 'ZiMs' - ever bring they their 'auto-pets' to the 'Old-time Service' - will meet here a team of like-minded persons and keen enthusiasts, knowing thoroughly all the 'illnesses' of the auto veterans and the most effective 'curing' methods.
A very rare Soviet "Pobeda" cabrio car in not completed condition was the main exhibit at the 'OTS' stand (we will say a little more about this car below), there also was a pretty nice black painted 'Volga' GAZ-21 car presented, and it looked absolutely brand new! Think, people of the former Socialist countries at the age of +40 would specially appreciate the car itself and the way it is restored.
There was also an original 'torpedo' dashboard of another 'Pobeda' car on the display, pretty nice preserved. To finish this stand reviewing one should also mention a niche picture in so-called 'hood graphics' manner, picturing a 'Pobeda' cabrio car. The most interesting thing is, it really IS painted on a hood, on metal. Unfortunately, no one can say, which car this particular hood belonged to before it was painted.


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"KONKIN'S RESTORATION" Cо. is involved in restoring and selling antiquarian motorbikes. They presented some BMW collection bikes of pre-WW2 period on the stand, also a unique racing bike of 1950-s by Irbit Motorbike Plant was there too.
… The BMW company would never produce any mass consumption goods. All the BMW bikes were made to provide a comfortable riding and for sports. It should be noted, that before the war in Europe sporting models of BMW bikes were the most speedy and expensive ones.

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Yaroslav Konkin is one of the recognized best specialist in Russia in antiquarian BMW bikes completing and restoring, all restored units follow original bikes of a particular model exactly.
The Konkin's Restoration item of special proud - is restoring of the Soviet Union's former glory - a row of racing and pre-production bikes of 1940-60s.
The display of the company was developed by a famous Moscow designer, and its appearance is based on an image of the BMW 1920-30s presentations, - there was no chance for a visitor to leave the 'KR' place indifferent. Besides the antiquarian bikes the company offers help in bikes maintaining and sells spare parts of any kind.


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Maxim Novikov's CAR TUNERS COLLECTION was founded in 2000. It is the first Russian private collection of car tuners issued in 1940-70s. 20 tuners were presented at the Salon with very rare exhibits among them, left in single exemplars only. One could here see, for example, an A-695 tuner, that was mounted on governmental ZiS-110 according to the special order. Some tuners were for sale, and in spite the owner said, he didn't manage to sell a tuner, the quantity of tuners at the stand by the last day were much less if compared to that at the beginning of the show.
The collection was stylish design, with original 'Pobeda' car tuner in the center - working and singing sweet melodies of the passed years transmitted by the famous Moscow 'Radio-retro' broadcasting radio-station in on-line mode. The stand was interesting both for retro-radio fans and car enthusiasts, who were interested in fashionable nowadays 'auto-sound' - let's not forget, that once upon a time the 'auto-sound' has started from the tuners.


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'AUTO IN OIL-PAINTING' GALLERY presented paintings of Vitaliy Timergaliev, the Moscow Artists Union member (personal exhibitions in Washington, Paris, Barcelona, etc.). Well, in spite all the titles, the paintings looked a little amateur-done. But it may be just a private opinion, while the artist was selling printed copies of his pictures in poster-format to the Salon visitors, and had had a certain commercial success.

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There was another artist, picturing cars in the hall - a modest girl named Christina Travina. Her ties with cars pictured on looked really fascinating!
And the prices was fascinating too! But it deserved those money: imagine, you are at the club with the only one existing in the whole world tie on… To be honest, how much do you cost your individuality, eh?


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Alexey Vishnitskiy's WORKSHOPS made its debut at the 'Antique Cars Salon'.
The main activity of the workshop - is cars' interior and cabriolettes tops restoring. Also restoring and tuning of the cars' seats is offered, accessories for old-timers fans meaning bags and all that other leather and textile stuff and - upholstered furniture in 'old-timer style'. Unfortunately, the latter was presented on sample photos only, but if someone had a wish…
The 'AVW' cooperates with the leading restoring studios of Moscow, but the orders from private old-time cars owners are accepted too.
Sample materials, used in cars' interior restoring were presented at the 'AVW' displays, also a photo-gallery of the completed orders and a seat-restoring stages serial could be seen there.


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'WORLD OF AUTOMOBILES' presented at the Salon scaled models of cars, trucks and buses in scales from 1:87 to 1:18 both of Russian and foreign production. If you are interested in Soviet cars of 1920-1970s you must visit their stand next year, as the quantity of models was surprising! We are sure, you have never had an idea of how many experimental, pre-production and short-series production cars & trucks were designed in the Soviet Union.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of those vehicles are gone for good forever. Neither a museum, nor a private owner can now brag, he has anything of the kind in his collections.
Only toy models are left.
Very carefully and skilled done, they impress with the accuracy of the details and nearly the jeweler-level of the work. Resin-kit and while metal were never a cheap bargain, but a little high for Russian standards prices - USD30-70 in average - think, will not stop a foreign collector.
At least, they didn't stop even Russians at the Salon!


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THE 'EKSIN Cо.' in everyday life is professionally involved in imported cars starters and generators restoring, but old-timers are not forgotten too. If an object of the restoring is issued in late 1960 - early 1970 and later, there will be not a problem in repairing it, as spare parts for such an equipment are produced till now, and a repairing process will not take more over than one working day. The older units will demand an individual approach. Company specialist will offer you one of three: a) restoring of existing depreciated old parts, b) making new 'replicas' to replace depreciated parts and c) complete replacing of the old 'entrails' with modern ones with no changes in outward appearance. Company will deal all the 'hopeless cases'.
As we got to know, the offer has found a demand at the show, and some visitors were very happy to find such a stand at the Salon.


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THE "CHROMOV COLLECTION" BUREAU sees its destination in introducing the automotive classics masterpieces to Russians - first of all meaning unsurpassed in quality English and German collection cars of the postwar period. Clients of the Bureau may be sure in quality and in a long range of information and technical services before and after purchasing a car. Following own principals strictly, showing a special care to clients and the stuff, the 'CCB' brings its feasible contribution in cultural and social life in Russia.
This was 'a must' event for the 'Chromov Collection' as they one of the most esteemed old-timer trading and restoring company in this country. 'You a really rich, if you can afford a car from 'CC'' - that is the motto of the company, and those are not just words.
Yes, they deal with very rich people, but the stuff is very friendly, their attitude does not depend on how much money are there in your pockets, when you ask a question at their stand. One should say, it is a detail, that is worth mentioning here in Russia!


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Vladimir Kvasha's 'TECHNOCLASSICS' is well known by its perfect handling with 'dead' motors. But this time, besides all they presented a finely restored Mercedes-Benz 230 cabrio in red and another Mercedes of 1930s in nice while - lemon-yellow gamma. Restoring skills of Mr. Kvasha's company increase from a year to a year, and that is very pleasant to mark.
The company restores detached automotive parts too - excellently restored bikes and vehicles lamps looked very impressive. Some of those lamps in both 'before restoring' and in 'complete' condition were presented at the stand together with new-made car seats samples and interior fragments.


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THE 'RUSSIAN LIMOUSINE' company offers luxurious old-time cars to serve solemn private and corporate ceremonies - from christenings and weddings to jubilees and funerals.
At the displays one could see a 'Chaika' ('The Seagull') GAZ-13 - a car of a representation class in process of restoring, painted in a very tender white-rose gamma.
In passed Soviet times this car was used by Communist party of the Soviet Union high-level bonzes and Government members only and could never be found in the USSR in any other paints as white (just few of them), black (normally) and gray (just few of them too).

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The latter were usually cabrio versions of 'Chaikas', they belonged to the Ministry of Defense, and were used for conducting annual May 9, 'The Victory day' and November 7, 'The Great October Socialist Revolution' military parades. Just few cities - Moscow and Leningrad among them, of course - could brag, they have a gray 'Chaika' at a parade.
A very special detail: Moscow and Leningrad parade 'Chaikas' were re-painted gray every time when there was a change at the Minister of the USSR Defense post. The matter is, those cars 'gray' should be the same 'gray' to the… parade trench coat of the new Minister! Could you ever imagine it?
Now the times have changed, and many (relatively many, of course) of those cars are private-owned.
And a private owner paints it any way he likes more. Even in impossible in Soviet times tender white-rose gamma.
'Chaika' was never a mass-production' car here, it normally cost 250,000 Soviet rubles. To understand, what a huge sum of money was that quarter of million of rubles, one should know, that an average loan that time was 120-140 rubles… before taxes per month! An average Soviet citizen could afford a 'Chaika' after +148 - +173 years savings with nothing to eat in the period.
Now you can afford ride a 'Chaika' at a much more modest price, which is still not cheap.
Was 'Chaika' ever cheap?


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Coline Crabbe's "COMPLETE AUTOMOBILIST" (Great Britain) is not an novice in old-timer business. All its products from A to Z are closely associated with cars. Devices and assemblies, spare parts and accessories, consumption materials and materials for restoring, Automobilia of all kind - and many, many other things for proud owners of British and European cars of 1920-40s - that is the stuff the company is busy with.

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In a word, the 'Complete Automobilist' really means a complete automobilist, not more, not less.
Mister Crabbe is a very pleasant British gentlemen personally. He sells spare parts, and he buys rarity cars in a whole. He manages to bring a car out of such a country, that all the others can not even imagine it is possible. Colin spent dozens of years looking for old-timers in Latin America, exporting them to Britain, and restoring them. He even managed to export a car from Cuba! We've got friends early this year, at the famous Prince's Michael of Kent Bentley racing cars Russian rally of 2003 from Urals to the Saint-Petersburg. Although Mr. Crabbe owns no Bentley, he was invited to the rally personally by the Prince Michael, and draw the only 'Vauxhall' (1928) in Bentleys' convoy.

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It was his just a recognizance visit to the Salon, but he is going to come next year too, as he was.. yes, he was really surprised here!
Mr. Crabbe's main surprise was to know, there is an old-timer fans' movement and clubs in Russia. Another his surprise was to learn, that Russian restoring quality level is very high, he said, he couldn't believe first, that a car was restored in Russia, he was sure, it was a qualified German work.
'Interesting country, interesting people, interesting cars. I have to be back to learn more about this all' - he said at parting.


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'MERCEDES-BENZ CLASSIC CLUB'. It is an official Russian club of old-times Mercedes-Benz brand fans. Preliminary the Salon it was promised to show an unusual approach in displays design: along the back wall of the stand there had to be a huge 6X4 meters Russian state white-blue-red flag placed, with three absolutely identical Mercedes 190SL cars in white, blue and red color in front of it. A flag 'composed' of cars - sounded like something special, but…
In reality things turned out to be not so optimistic.
Yes, there was a 'flag' - just three huge textile stripes, hanging nearly from the ceiling in colors, that reminded the Russian flag colors very approximately. Three nice restored Mercedeses 190L (7 Mercedeses 190L at the show in total, a record number for one and the same model!) 'missed' colors too: the 'white' in reality turned out to be light-beige, 'blue' was steel-gray and 'red' was claret. In a word, it was an example of a brilliant idea and a poor implement of it in reality, a real disappointment.
Perhaps, we should not mentioned some 'failed' sides of the Salon in a review for a foreign press, but we did, as we want you to have an honest and objective picture of the event.


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Valeri Kirss's 'UNIC SENIOR' HOBBY CLUB (Estonia) - is in fact a small private auto-museum, placed in Estonian farmstead of Palmse near Tallinn. One finds in its collection: horse carriage (1850), landolee-carriage (1899), Dreyse wooden copy bicycle, two-wheeled 'spider' 'Flying Dutch' bicycle (1870), three-wheeled archaic Rattaline bicycle (1890); cars - "Peugeot" 172 (1922), FIAT-502 (1924), "BMW" Dixi DA4 (1935) "Scoda" Superb 6 (1942), ZIL 111А (1960), GAZ-13 catafalque (1970) and others.
Unfortunately, Mr. Kriss failed to bring any his car to Moscow, but he spent 4 days at his stand personally, talking to visitors, restores, collectors and all others. He has brought many photos of his collection items, and the history of old-timer movement in Estonia in Soviet times with him.

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Mr. Kirss turned out to be a good painter too, and many of his water-color pictures looking like small posters were a real decoration of the 'USHC' stand.

THE 'TRIMA' COMPANY majors in ultra-sonic cleaning up of carburetors, injectors, and any other car's fuel system elements.
Same is to snuff removing in engine heads, piston group elements, filters, tanks, radiators, water-pumps, etc. The method used by the company allows to remove acid paint removers traces and resinaceous sediments in difficult of access places inside parts, channels, etc. The main distinguishing feature of this approach, that together with drastic cleaning up any surface damage can absolutely never happen, and this effect, as a rule, can not be achieved while using any other remedies and technologies.


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'MOTORTECHNOLOGIA'. The main specialty - restoring of motors of all kinds (frozen ones, 'picked up out of a swamp', pierced by bullets, stones, reinforcing steel, etc.). If the 'MT' refuses to 'cure' a particular engine, it means, no other will help it (and you too!).

'KVANT-S' produces metal-sputtering plants. Splits, splits off and through-burns in aluminum details - in motor-blocks, block heads, pistons mainly - could be easily removed with a help of plants of the DIMET serials. Also one can 'cure' (some skills are needed for this, of course) some other unpleasant breakage like bearings beds deformations and radiator leaks. Besides all, with a help of metal-sputtering method one can today easily fight such defects like hard to repair dents, corrosion traces and metal gaps. You also can make the body of you car 'everlasting' by applying zinc or aluminum anti-corrosion coating of only few microns thick directly on the white metal.


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"TZAR RALLY" (Germany). This year 17 old-time cars of 'Tzar Rally', accompanied by some support cars has for the first time covered distance from Brandenburg Gates in Berlin to the observation ground at Vorobyovie Hills in Moscow on their own wheels, then they were back to Germany.
That time life was good, we proposed a new project, that could be held in autumn 2004 - a joint German-Russian rally in three stages: Berlin-Moscow (German crew), Moscow-Berlin (joint German-Russian crew), Berlin-Moscow (Russian crew), and the idea found an interest by the German rally organizers.

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Unfortunately, after a discussion at the Salon, TZAR RALLY organizers understood, there few people in Russia that would pay 5,000 euro just for a questionable 'honor' to drive their own car to Germany and back 'under the colors' of unknown both in Russia and in Europe brand name, and lost immediately all their interest.

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Perhaps, Russia is an exotic country for Europeans, and they would probably pay heap of money 'to see wild bears in streets of Moscow by their own eyes'. But for Russians Europe is not something miraculous, and they count good. In a word, no profit-aimed rally organizers of such a kind will have success in Russia neither now no in any future.

'PILOTS-BROTHERS WORKSHOP' from Saint-Petersburg are engaged in restoring old motorbikes relatively not long ago, but the quality of their work impresses greatly even those specialists, who have worked in vehicles restoration for several decades already. Brilliant restorers make 'replicas' of the bikes' parts of any complexity - from a chassis to a carburetor. 'New-made' details byf the 'Pilots' - mufflers, luggage racks, filters, etc. - are so close to the original, that some unscrupulous traders often sell them as original parts in a 'perfect condition'. Unfortunately, the only way to fight this dirty contingent - is to lower the quality of work, but this way is not suitable for the brothers. So, before paying big money for an 'original' part, do consult, if the 'Pilots Brothers Workshop' produced anything of the kind. The part may cost much cheaper that you are offered to pay. In a word, why pay more?


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Andrey Miatiev's 'HISTORY OF THE BICYCLE IN RUSSIA' MUSEUM
This private Museum's collection includes over 200 bicycles issued in 1870-1950s in different technical condition. Units produced in pre-revolutionary Russia and in the USSR - are the items of special interest here.
The Museum showed 6 bicycles and a moped of 1880-1940s. Among them were - a 'Spider' bicycle of mid 1880-s with a giant front wheel, French 'Clement' bicycle, military folding 'Peugeot Gerard' bicycle - a unique memorials of cycling engineering of late XIX - early XX century, only few of them survived till nowadays. Besides all, ancient bicycles fittings, sporting trophies and cycling accessories were exhibited too. Carbide lamps collection was really fascinating. Persons interested were able too to examine a collection of antique 'cycling-biking' photos, advertising of the passed times, and a book-project 'History Of The Bicycle In Russia', that is to be printed in 2004.
Nearly every hour Mr. Miatiev rode his giant 'Spider' between Salon stands, demonstrating this monster 'in action'. And he was fully dressed like a cycling gentlemen of the past!
It was an unforgettable scene, people said, his original black bowler hat (nobody knows, where did he get that piece!) proudly worn by the 'cyclist' was especially good.


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'SAINT-PETERSBURG MUSEUM OF INSTRUMENTS'. The only of the kind Museum in Russia (it is a private one) introduced his sample collection of a special hand-tools for repairing and maintaining cars at the Salon. The collection started in year 2000, while the Museum itself was founded only a year and a half ago. Among the interesting exhibits were:
  • XIX century American 'monkey wrenches' marked with 'The Supplier for His Majesty's Court' note - they are still admired by professionals with the perfection of the design;
  • a wrench with a 'J.A. Henkels. Zolingen' mark (Germany, first third of the XIX cent.) - it is nearly impossible to disable this wrench;
  • an ancient car-painting device;
  • a portable oil ductility measuring device issued in Germany early in XX century;
  • a military jack that survived the Stalingrad battle
and many other unique pieces of automotive instruments, that served to our fathers, grand-fathers and even grand-grand-fathers.
Museum founder, Alexey Leostrin spent all 4 days at the stand explaining the purpose of this or that piece, showed how the instrument worked, puzzled visitors with a question 'guess, what is it for?' etc., etc., etc. He said, an opportunity to talk to so many people is a good chance: he managed not only to 'bring technical knowledge in masses', but to learn what was one special knife for (it was a smith's knife to clean horse's hoof before reshoeing) and even added some new old instrument to large the Museum collection as a donation of kind visitors.


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'AUTO RETRO' COMPANY (Ukraine) is founded by people, in love with engines, speed and legendary cars of the passed century. An aspiration to restore and preserve the automotive heritage, to turn moving in a 'renewed' old car to a pleasure was assumed as a basis of the company corporate philosophy. "Auto Retro" offers two approaches: full restoration of a car to an original condition ('original') or just body restoring and filling it with modern parts, devices and assemblies ('hot-rod'). It also offers repairing and technical serving of retro-cars.
Unfortunately, there will be no cars at this stand, but no lack of photos is expected.


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UNIQUE VECHICLES


Yes, there were some interesting cars at the Salon, with some unique among them.

The unofficial 'Best of the Show' car title was given by specialists to a long-base 4-cylinder Holsman of early XX century production.

'Holsman' (1902) was in a perfect preserved condition. A very interesting anachronism, looking very much like a horse carriage with wooden not pneumatic wheels, with a leading handle instead of the steering wheel, etc.

This car is not a masterpiece of automotive industry at all. The Holsman company was founded in the United States in 1902 and existed up to the 1909 only, whet it ruined itself. It produced two models of chassis - short and long, two types of engines - 2-cylinder and 4-cylinder, and different types of bodies, including taxis, ambulances, trucks etc.

It should be mentioned, that Holsman's models were old-fashioned units even in 1900s, car engineering has reached much more impressive results than a Holsman by that time.

Anyway, a car, which is 100 or nearly 100 years old (the owner, Mr. Vyacheslav Len states, this particular exemplar was issued in 1902, while specialists consider it to be a 1909 car) is a miracle itself.

The Holsman was in a pretty fine condition, with some visible 'traces of past' on leather parts - seats, the top, etc. Unfortunately, this parts are going to be restored and a car will loose its current full authenticity - nothing to do, this Holsman is a commercial project, while rich people here do not understand yet, that an authenticity is a much more appreciated feature in an old car, than a renewed 'sweet appearance'.

Pity.


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The state Military-Historic Museum of the Armored Armament and Military Equipment has introduced the only survived till today BA-6 artillery armored car of pre-WW2 period.

Many thousands of those armored cars were built in the USSR in 1930s. Armed with a 45 mm caliber gun mounted in a turning turret this truck based on GAS AAA truck chassis was a formidable weapon against Nazi tanks in early days of the Great Patriotic War. Unfortunately, nearly all of them were lost in summer 1941. The most pity is, the overwhelming majority of those armor found their end not in the battle: they usually were abandoned and destroyed by the crews because of technical breakage or running out of fuel in complex conditions of German encirclement. 'Nothing to the enemy' of our grand-fathers turned out to 'nothing to the successors'.


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But who will now blame them for that?..

The BA-6 is not running and probably will never be running again - there is nothing inside in this car: no engine, no transmission, no electric equipment, no breaks - nothing. It just a body on wheels.

But it is still a dream and a miracle!

The Museum collection includes over 300 armed cars and tanks, many of them are in running condition. Few years ago a German Panzer-IV tank was 'put on wheels' and can run, now a Nazi anti-tank Hetzer self-propelled gun is being restored, this year restoring work will start at a unique T-34 of 1942 issue.

The 'Central Decorative-Technical Studio' Publishing presented a unique WW2 period BA-64 command and recognizance armored car.

It is one of that light armor, used in the last period of WW2. An armor body, protecting against rifle and machine-gun bullets at a distance not closer than 500 m is placed on GAZ-67B 'Ivan-Willys' Russian army jeep. The car was not a big success of Soviet armor engineering, like, for example, the T-34 tank was. But it played its modest role in WW2 battles.

The owners state, the damaged armor body of the car was found in a very poor condition in forests near Kaluga (Moscow region) city and restored. But some specialists argue, that the body is fully new-made of a usual iron (not armor steel) and the BA-64 in a whole is just a replica of a famous car.

We can't settle this arguing, but does it matter much, whether is a replica or an original restored car? Anyway, it is restored piece of our history, and we must give our thank to people, who has found time and opportunity to introduce this car in full-size to us all.


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INTERESTING CARS


AutoUnion Horch (1938, V. Len) in a not completed condition. Last year it was shown in a 'pre-painted metal' condition, now it is fully painted in dark blue, but there is still plenty of 'something to do' in this car.
Few survived Horchs of that model survived till nowadays.


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Adler Trumph Junior cabrio in dark-brown - beige gamma.

Jaguar XKE Series 1 (1964), engine - 6 cylinders, fuel system - 3 carburetors, engine capacity - 4 235 sm3, power output - 223 h.p., mass - 1150 kg, maximum speed - 200 km/h

Mercedes-Benz 190SL (1958, "Old Time"). A "junior brother" of the well-known Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Seagull Wing".190 SL appeared in 1955 as a more moderate in price, but not less elegant and stylish roadster.

Mercedes-Benz 220SE Ponton cabrio (1958, "Old Time"), a classical cabriolett of the Mercedes-Benz brand-name, first shown at Frankfurter Motor-Show in autumn of 1955.

Mercedes-Benz 300D Adenauer (1958, "Old Time"). These cars were traditionally used as the Western Germany leaders official cars. In particular, Mercedes 300D was used by Conrad Audenauer, the Federal Chancellor of the FRG

Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda (1964, "Old Time"). The famous 'Pagoda' - swift and laconic successor of the 190 SL model. It has got its name due to the likeness of its raised top to the traditional form of the Chinese chapels. In contrast to its predecessors the car was equipped with a fuel-injection engine.

GAZ М20 "Pobeda" cabrio (1952, 'Old-timer Service') in process of restoring (primed not painted body, no transmission, no interior). Maximum speed - 105 km/h, seats - 5, engine - 4 cylinders, engine capacity - 2 112 sm3., acceleration time to 80 km/h - 37,0 sec. The main difficulties while restoring: a serious rusting and corrosion destruction of the body load-bearing elements and an amateurish approach in restoring of the former 'restorers'.

Hanomag car of early 1930 in a process of restoring (only chassis was presented at the Salon) was exhibited by famous 'Egorov & Co.' Restoring Workshops. Ordinar visitors will just pass by this 'junk', but specialists were much impressed both by the class of restoring and a rarity of the car itself. Next year, the Hanomag is supposed to be shown with 'body on', and the interest of visitors is considered to increase.


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A MYSTERY OF THE SEASON


'Sensation! At the Salon there will be displayed a car of the first Russian participant in 'Millie Miglia-2004', retro-rally and the car is going to travel to the city of Brescia, Italy, soon this spring. The driver's name is Boris Bazhenov, all the rest is shrouded in mystery.

THE MODEL OF THE CAR IS NOT PRELIMINARY DISCLOSED!'


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That was stated before the Salon. In fact, the mystery was solved, although the promised sensation didn't happen.
People could really see a fantastic metalic-blue Alfa-Romeo Montreal (mod. 1967) of 1972 issue at a stand, designed in 'Red Arrow' event style in a more than a perfect condition.

The reality is, this car WILL NEVER participate at Millie Miglia, as it don't meet the rally's regulations. Yes, it really belongs to Mr. Bazhenov, and that esteemed mister will really travel to Brecia this spring.

But he will drive quite another car - the OM of 1928, and that car… is already in Italy!

Yes, the situation reminds a little the one in an anecdote below:

- Is it true, that Mr. Ivanov really did win a 'Volga' car in a lottery?
- Yes, it is. To be more exact, it was not a 'Volga', but a 'Moskvich' car, it was not Mr. Ivanov, but Mr. Petrov, and he didn't win, he lost, and not in lottery, but at cards, - but all the rest is a pure truth!
Anyway, the organizers promised to disclose the model of the first Russian Millie Miglia participant car. And they has kept their word. Any extra questions?

MOTORBIKES, MOPEDS AND BICYCLES



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BMW R-62, 1928, 750 sm3
BMW R-12, 1937, 750 sm3
M-75M, 1956, 750 sm3
The exhibitor of all mentioned above is 'Konkin's Restoration Cо.'. All the displayed bikes are really unique, each was assembled 'grain-by-grain' for many years long.
'Spider' bicycle by Cowentry Machines Company, 1886 in a pretty restored condition

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Clemet bicycle, Paris, 1891. It is one of the earliest bicycles with both wheels of the same diameter. It is not restored yet, but after restoration it will be a real brilliant of any collection.
Military folding 'Peugeot Gerard' bicycle which was used in Russian army in Great war of 1914-1918 and in Red Army in 1920s
German Duerkopf of 1929 with a rare gimbal drive.
Lady's Hercules (England, 1939) with a special shield to prevent long dress skirt to get into a back wheel and a acetylene front lamp.
Presto German moped (1938)
The bicycles and the moped courtesy of the 'History of the Bicycle in Russia' Museum.

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