A feast for the senses: The special exhibition "Passione Dino" at the 2026 Classic Gala Schwetzingen
The Classic Gala Schwetzingen 2026 is behind us – and what a weekend it was! When we held the first discussions for the "Passione Dino" special exhibition two years ago, the anticipation was great. However, what took place this past weekend in the historic palace gardens exceeded all our expectations. The Dino family showed themselves in their absolute best light. The catalyst was the 60th anniversary of the Fiat Dino Spider, but we broadened the theme in Schwetzingen and presented the entire Dino family with Passione Dino.
From heavy rain to perfect weather
The start on Friday demanded a lot from us and the vehicles. Heavy rain and uncomfortable weather marked the setup. But true classic car enthusiasts don't let that dampen their spirits. Just in time for Saturday, the tide turned completely: for the rest of the weekend, magnificent sunshine shone over the palace gardens. In dry, sunny, perfect weather, the elegant lines of the Dinos were shown off to perfection in interaction with the Baroque ambiance.
16 Dinos and an overwhelming public interest
A total of 16 fascinating Dinos found their way to Schwetzingen and formed a breathtaking overall ensemble. The response from visitors was simply overwhelming. Our Dino Register Germany pavilion was a lively meeting point throughout. It was a huge pleasure for me to welcome so many loyal Dino friends, acquaintances, and also new faces from the scene. The "petrol talk," the exchange of details, and the shared passion for these vehicles made this weekend so special.
We managed to put together a wonderful overview of the Dino family. From the Fiat Dino 2-liter Spiders of the 1st and 2nd series and the 2.4-liter Spider, Fiat Dino Coupé 2-liter and 2.4-liter, to the Dino 246 of the L and M series as well as the Dino 246 GTS (E-series), the 208 GT4, 308 GT4, all the way to the Lancia Stratos – and as a highlight and special feature, the Fiat Dino Spider that participated in the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A true rain of medals: 9 trophies for the Dino exhibition
The expert jury also saw that the quality of the vehicles presented was absolutely top-notch. The special exhibition became a real triumphal procession: a proud total of 9 Dinos were honored with awards and trophies! I will post the exact list and details about the individual winning vehicles here on the blog in the coming days. Attached is the video of the Dino award ceremony.
There was a very personal highlight for me and my own project: my freshly restored Fiat Dino Spider, the reconstruction of which I have documented here in the restoration blog, was officially recognized by the jury. We received 2nd place in the renowned FIVA category F2 (vehicles in original condition or restored to original condition from the corresponding era)! After all the hours of work and the attention to detail in the past months, this trophy is a wonderful confirmation.
Conclusion & Outlook
The Classic Gala Schwetzingen 2026 impressively showed how lively, committed, and fascinating the Dino community is. A big thank you to the organizing team around Johannes Hübner & Wolfgang Gauf, to Matthias Appel and Matthias Bartz for their joint concept and organizational work (and their vehicles), and of course to all the vehicle owners and Dino friends who made this celebration possible.
Shortly, I will publish a gallery here on the blog with the most beautiful impressions and pictures of the event, as well as details on the awarded vehicles. Check back soon!