Oldtimermesse St. Gallen

The St. Gallen Classic Car Show is an annual public and trade event dedicated to historic vehicles, their restoration and preservation, and the spare parts trade. It caters to private classic car enthusiasts, collectors and club members, as well as trade visitors from the vehicle and parts sectors, restoration businesses and specialist service providers.

The event is held at the Olma Messen St. Gallen exhibition centre in the Swiss city of St. Gallen. It takes place once a year, usually in the autumn, typically in October, and runs for one day.

The event is organised by Renate Hürlimann from Freidorf, part of the municipality of Roggwil in the Swiss canton of Thurgau. The organisers have been closely involved with historic vehicles for decades. Their collection includes classic cars, racing cars, racing boats and motorcycles, and they also restore vehicles themselves. Drawing on this extensive experience, they established their first classic vehicle market in Arbon in 2000. Their first-hand experience of sourcing rare components continues to shape the concept of the St. Gallen Classic Car Show and explains the prominent role of its parts market.

The show focuses on classic vehicles, spare parts, restoration, repair and vehicle preservation, as well as specialist services and the classic vehicle club scene. Exhibits include historic vehicles, among them unusual and rare models as well as vehicles with a motorsport heritage. The range also covers engines and vehicle parts, gearboxes, wheels, lighting equipment, electrical components, accessories and other technical parts. Restoration projects, expert advice, specialist services and automotive history literature further broaden the offering. The marketplace reflects this diversity, featuring everything from complete classic vehicles and restoration projects to rare original parts and specialist literature.

A defining feature of the show is its practical focus. Parts dealers and specialist service providers not only offer products and services but also advise owners of historic vehicles on technical matters, repairs and restoration projects. Classic vehicle clubs are given a platform to showcase their activities, maintain contacts and introduce new enthusiasts to the hobby. In this way, the event combines commerce and technical expertise with direct interaction across the classic vehicle community.

Exhibitors come primarily from the classic and historic vehicle trade, the spare parts sector, restoration and repair businesses, automotive workshops and specialist service providers. Classic vehicle clubs and other organisations and businesses involved in the historic vehicle scene are also represented. Visitors include industry professionals, classic vehicle owners, collectors, restorers, hands-on enthusiasts, prospective buyers, club members and enthusiasts of classic cars and motorcycles.

Alongside the classic and rare vehicles on display, highlights include the extensive parts market, one-to-one discussions with specialists and direct interaction with members of the classic vehicle community. Arriving in a classic vehicle can also be part of the experience. Dedicated parking spaces for historic vehicles are available in the arena and, due to regulatory requirements, are allocated in advance.

Located at the Olma Messen St. Gallen exhibition centre, the show combines automotive heritage with a centrally situated and easily accessible venue. St. Gallen is close to the point where Switzerland, Austria and Germany meet, making the event attractive to visitors from neighbouring countries as well. The exhibition centre is centrally located and can be reached by car via the A1 motorway, taking exit 82 for St. Gallen-St. Fiden. From there, signs direct visitors to Olma Messen St. Gallen.

Over the course of a single day, the St. Gallen Classic Car Show provides a central meeting place for historic vehicle enthusiasts, collectors and specialist suppliers. Its focus is on classic vehicles, rare spare parts, specialist expertise in restoration and vehicle preservation, and personal exchange between dealers, service providers, clubs and classic vehicle enthusiasts.

The Oldtimermesse will take place on Sunday, 25. October 2026 in St. Gallen.