10 years ago Marco Marinello and Paul-Ernst Strähle jr started the swap-meet in Plüderhausen, part of Schorndorf, at the Strähle premises. Not the biggest event back then but nevertheless the event had to be moved because of the continuously growing number of visitors and exhibitors.
This year just a few weeks after he definite dates were announced, the complete Galerie of Kunst und Technik was completely sold out.
With over 60 international exhibitors and over 1000 visitors, the event is without any doubt one of the most important yearly annually organized Porsche and VW only swap meet. Don’t expect to see cars inside, this is an event about parts, literature and memorabilia. And probably, most important, a gathering of people sharing the same passion for Porsche. Even if you don’t find the part or manual you expected to dig up, the Strähle Porsche swap meet is the opportunity to meet up with the guys you haven’t met since a long time. Just to give you an idea, I spoke to people from Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, France, Austria, England, the Netherlands, Belgium. Especially the Italian delegation was enormous this year, one of them even brought a 356 Speedster to Zuffenhausen. But next to that, lots of people with happy faces because they just found that one single bolt and nut needed to complete their car.
For the model collectors, there was an extremely intresting table. The swiss Mario Pasquier brought several DVA Porsche models, among them 2 Porsche 917 of Wilson Fitipaldi and more Porsches 906 and 907 of Jo ‘Seppi’ Siffert. DVA models from the USA produces high-quality 1:43 Porsche racecar models, specializing in models previously unavailable on the market.More information on DVA models can be asked by sending a mail to Mario Pasquier madepa-gmbh@bluewin.ch www.dvamodels.com.
Exactly as the previous editions, this year was a unique opportunity to have a chat with some great Porsche personalities. To name the 3 most important : Peter Falk, the former raceteam-leader, Walter Näher, engineer of the famous race-cars Porsche 917, Porsche 956 and 962, and Hanz Mezger, former engineer and chief of the race-engine department.Mezger designed the TAG formula 1 race-engines, used by Niki Lauda and Alain prost in 1984,1985 and 1986.
One of th novelties this year was the silent auction by the Ladenburg auction house. One could bid on about 50 lots, from brochures up to pictures and parts.
Due to the success and for organizational reasons the swap meet will probably move again next year. Stay tuned by our newsletter and be part of this unique event in 2014.
