Private punters joined forces in the multi-storey car park adjacent to the Messe Bremen show halls to offer more than 250 cars for sale. As you stepped through the door it was as if you’d time-warped back to about 1991, with many 1980s Mercedes, BMW and Porsche cars offered – and at reasonable prices. Volkswagens, Fords, Saabs and Volvos from the 1970s stood alongside, while fewer 1950s and 60s survivors were also present.

Think late 911 and the cheapest we saw was Euro11,000, for a car that looked reasonable in its cosmetics but was a little leggy. Fancy something older? A Ford Taunus 17M estate (caravan in German!) with faded paint and some rust in the wings would make a great parts hauler or station-classic, and could have been bought “for under Euro2200” CCfS was told.

The bargain of the day was a Simca 1200S coupe offered at Euros12,600. It was a minter in unfaded red, and chrome, interior and body were all perfect. These little cars are still undervalued in the market, and while you may have felt brave for dropping £10k on it, a year or two down the track and you’ll be likely to have to dip close to double that to tuck one away.

At the other end of the scale, Mercedes specialist Mechatronik was offering a perfectly patinated Mercedes Gullwing at Euro750,000. The trouble is, for that money they’d deliver it back to you fully restored. And with all the history completely put in the skip, effectively you’re buying a new car. Yet that isn’t why we buy classics. Or is it?

Other high-end dealers present included E Thiesen, Schultz, Garage 11 Hamburg and Claus Mirbach, while Brit automobilia dealers Andrew Currie and Chater’s Motoring Booksellers took space for their wares. GREG MACLEMAN and DAVE RICHARDS