Bright sunshine, blue skies and a picture-perfect atmosphere: the classic car meeting on Idar's Schleiferplatz was once again a feast for all the senses - and a real highlight in Idar-Oberstein's calendar of events. It was clear early on Sunday morning that this was going to be a record-breaking day. Even before the official start at 10 a.m., most of the parking spaces on Schleiferplatz were occupied.
Almost 300 gleaming, polished vehicles from all eras of automobile construction found their way to the gemstone city - a superlative that even the organizers from the Idar-Oberstein Automobile Club had not expected. The event was organized in proven cooperation with the city of Idar-Oberstein and Stadtmarketing e.V.. The event was supported by Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld, whose board member Markus Zens did not miss the opportunity to take part - in style with his Audi 80 GTE.
What awaited the visitors was a museum on wheels: from the elegant Ford T, the so-called Tin Lizzy from 1915, to curious small cars such as the BAW Spatz - a small open vehicle with a 10 hp engine and a plastic body - to muscle-bound Cadillacs, GAZ Volga from Russia or Italian design icons.
The variety of vehicles was very impressive. Lovers of technical refinements also got their money's worth: whether it was the Wankel engine in the Mazda RX-7, two-stroke engines or large-volume V8s - every mechanic's heart beat faster here. A particularly loud star was the Pampa tractor with a glow-head engine, whose deafening starting process caused astonished looks and many curious questions.
A meeting like this not only lives from its exhibits, but also from the stories they tell - and there were many of them. The atmosphere was informal, the conversations lively and the exchange between like-minded people warm. Mayor Frank Frühauf was also delighted: "So much passion, so many treasures and so many cheerful visitors - that's the best advertisement for our city". He thanked the automobile club and everyone involved for this all-round successful event.
DJ Florian Reidenbach provided authentic flair with music from the appropriate decades - atmospheric, but never intrusive. This left enough room for the most important thing on this day: the "gasoline conversations".
A special thank you went to all those who not only brought joy but also did good through their participation: This year, voluntary donations were made for the coveted participant signs from previous years. This raised over 250 euros, which will be donated to the animal shelter in Idar-Oberstein.
Idar-Oberstein City Marketing was also satisfied: "We are delighted when events of this kind show what our city can do - when enthusiasm, community and organization go hand in hand."
On this Sunday, the Schleiferplatz was transformed into a paradise for nostalgics, technology fans and strollers - and many visitors from out of town, recognizable by their diverse license plates, are likely to have fond memories of Idar-Oberstein.
To sum up: sun, chrome and a good atmosphere - the classic car meeting 2025 was a brilliant success, which the classic car owners and the many spectators hope will continue in the years to come.