Geneva, Switzerland, 03 – 05 October 2008
The third running of the Geneva Classics show, attracted a healthy size crowd to the main exhibition area held
in Hall 7 of the Expo complex, adjacent to the international airport, part of whose apron was used to exhibit
some of the historic aircraft on display. The show features predominantly classic cars, but there were also
motorcycles, aircraft and boats to compliment the fine selection of automobiles on display.
The main exhibition feature of this year’s show, was a large and impressive display of cars from the museum of
renowned Swiss collector Jean-Pierre Slavic. The collection comprises of sixty five cars, and is almost a study
in red, mainly due to the twenty four Ferraris that were a key element of the display, although it must be said that
they weren’t all red. Just inside the main entrance was a “taster” display of three cars, a Bugatti EB 110, a
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and a Ford GT, with a sign pointing in the direction of the main display towards the
other end of the hall. Here could be found the remainder of the Ferraris, including a F40 LM, a 333 SP and a 575
GTC, although unfortunately there were also, a few “replicas” or “re-creations”, depending on how charitable
you want to be. There were also Porsches, a couple of Minis, Triumphs, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and
Jaguars forming part of the impressive display, with its black carpet and backdrop.
The BMW Classic display had a trio of the exotic M1 Procars courtesy of Christian Traber, the red with white
circles BASF liveried example being particularly attractive. Carugati Automobiles displayed a Pagani Zonda,
maybe what one might call a “modern classic”, which always attracts the younger element of the crowd,
together with a Ferrari 333 SP sports racing car, a 250 GT Lusso and a 365 GT 2+2. There was also an
attractive display of red and white Bugattis, entitled “Prestigieuses Bugatti Les Bugattis De Course Suisse”.
Being in Switzerland, watch companies were well represented, Audemars Piguet sponsoring the main Slavic
display, Chopard displaying a Ferrari 312 B3 F1 car, and Girard-Perregaux’s stand featured an Alpine A110 rally
car and a Martini liveried Lancia 037. Aston Riviera Cars of Lausanne displayed a trio of Zagato bodied Aston
Martins, whilst a truly international flavour was added by the presence of Gallery Abarth from Japan, with a wild
Fiat 131 Abarth and the beautiful 1964 Alfa Romeo Canguro.
In case it is thought that there were predominantly “modern” classics on display, there were also a number of
earlier cars, including a very nice 1948 Touring bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport, plus pre-war gems
from the likes of Alvis, Delahaye, Hispano Suiza, Mercedes Benz and Talbot Lago. Another couple of nice
elements to the show were the collector car parking area in Hall 6, where enthusiasts had a free dedicated
parking area for their cars, in which some rarities could be found including a Moretti Coupé, a DKW F12
Cabriolet, a Ford Falcon with boat on a trailer, and historic buses, and the historic aircraft display on the airport
apron. The latter enabled visitors not only to see some interesting historic aircraft, but also to enjoy the beautiful
autumn sunshine, watching the commercial flights landing and taking off in close proximity, with the snow
capped peaks of The Alps as a backdrop.
David O’Neill
10/2008
Ferraris on Display
Slavic Collection
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