To mark its 50th anniversary, Europe’s largest market for classic cars, modern classics and spare parts celebrated a weekend of superlatives in Mannheim.
Bright sunshine, satisfied dealers and a clearly noticeable stream of visitors made the event a special experience from the first to the last day.
On Friday, the 260,000 square meters of sales and exhibition space on the Maimarkt grounds were already filled to capacity. Over 1,500 stands with more than 4,000 exhibitors from all over Europe presented their automotive treasures, whether cars, motorcycles, bicycles, rare parts or accessories for your own workshop, right through to original collector’s items. The fact that VETERAMA has lost none of its appeal even after five decades was demonstrated by the impressive increase in visitors of around 30% compared to the previous year. Although this enormous influx of visitors sometimes led to waiting times at the entrances and in traffic, it did not dampen the mood – on the contrary: the enthusiasm of the visitors was palpable everywhere. There was a hustle and bustle between the market stalls, people haggled, talked shop and made spontaneous purchases. Many traders reported very good sales. Our 1,500 stalls received a 50th anniversary plaque as a memento of a great event.
New accents and proven classics
A special highlight this year was the tuning exhibition by DS Automotive in Hall 2, which was represented with its own area for the first time. It combined classic and modern and showed that automotive passion connects generations. The presentation of the tuning scene was very well received and expanded the spectrum of the VETERAMA in an exciting way.
The clubs in Hall 1 were equally well represented, with elaborately designed stands and special models to mark the anniversary. With great attention to detail, they presented vehicles and documents from the club’s history and contributed significantly to the special atmosphere at VETERAMA.
Atmospheric highlight on Saturday evening
The anniversary weekend reached its emotional climax on Saturday evening. With live music and an exuberant atmosphere, visitors, dealers and friends of the scene celebrated the 50th anniversary of VETERAMA. It was an evening of great encounters, memories and conversations – a worthy moment to look back on five decades of VETERAMA.
Full marketplace and colorful show arena
The marketplace was also a crowd-puller throughout. The Show Arena offered a great variety over the weekend. There were numerous sales talks that provided plenty of spark.
The 50th VETERAMA Mannheim impressively proved that it is far more than just a parts market – it is a living piece of cultural heritage. With its mixture of expertise, passion, unpretentiousness and community, it has been attracting people from all over Europe for decades.
Whether classic car fan, collector or curious visitor. Those who attended in Mannheim experienced a weekend full of stories, emotions and enthusiasm for this cultural heritage on wheels.
Even after 50 years, VETERAMA remains a meeting place for all those with gasoline in their blood.
The next VETERAMA dates:
24 – 26.04.2026 Hockenheimring
09 – 11.10.2026 Maimarkt grounds
For press inquiries: info@veterama.de
