Porsche 911 from the year 1968
A classic at the Techno Classica in Essen. But the big price jumps are over for the time being.
EssenThe car was once a Porsche 356 A Cabriolet – and it should be again. Now the 1959 built car but completely disassembled, and the bare body is to see next Sunday (April 14) at the classic car fair Techno-Classica in Essen. Then the car goes back to the workshop of the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer, where it is screwed, welded and painted until the car is back to its original state 60 years ago.
Factory restoration is the name of the concept many car makers have on offer in order to secure a good deal of the vintage car market. At about 10 billion euros, a study by the consulting firm BBE Automotive 2018 had estimated the German market volume for classic cars from 30 years and recreational used Youngtimer from 20 years. This includes the sale of the lover cars, but also about the trade in spare parts and upgrades.
Factory restoration is an expensive service for wealthy customers, because there is hardly a limit to the effort. “Every car can actually be saved,” said Ulrike Lutz, head of Porsche Classic, at the start of the trade fair in Essen.
Who wants to put his classic in the original state, needs plenty of time but also plenty of money. “It always depends on the vehicle type. Roughly estimated, a full restoration takes one and a half to two and a half years, “says Klaus Reichert, head of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. So long, the total of 24 employees in the Mercedes workshop need to move a car completely in the state of his birth year. An average of four vehicles are completed each year in the Mercedes workshop, especially the legendary 300 SL Gullwing.
Current club events
Monday, 06.05.19, 11:00 Berlin: Book presentation “Europe can do better”
Tuesday, 07.05.19, 09:15 Frankfurt am Main: Handelsblatt Annual Meeting “Restructuring”
Wednesday, 08.05.19, 18:30 Munich: How far do you go to be popular?
Monday, 20.05.19, 09:30 Berlin: Change-Professional
Monday, 20.05.19, 09:30 Bonn: Handelsblatt Energy Boot Camp
Tuesday, 21.05.19, 18:30 Dusseldorf: award ceremony Marken-Award 2019
About the cost of a complete renovation, the carmakers wrap themselves largely in silence. At Porsche, where a complete renovation can take four years, there are at least some clues. “For a complete restoration of a Porsche 356, alone 1000 hours can be incurred by the body builder,” says Uwe Makrutzki, head of the factory restoration of the sports car manufacturer.
Mercedes in its original state
A Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing from 1954 can also be seen in Essen.
For example, a six-figure sum can be used to work on the skeleton of the car alone. Around 100 vehicles are in the Porsche workshop, which are completely or partially restored or repaired after accidents.
Whether the investments of car enthusiasts in the factory restoration at some point pay off financially, is open. The worldwide vintage car hype of the years 2014 to 2016 is over, said Head of Techno-Classica, Eduard Franssen. The price trend has returned to normal. For most vintage car owners, historic vehicles are already collector’s items and not investment objects.
For the car manufacturer, the factory restoration also has a financially unquantifiable effect. “Of course we also have to make profit margins. Above all, we are the guardians of Porsche’s tradition and authenticity, “says workshop boss Makrutzki. Brand care is in the foreground for the Classic department. In addition, in the workshops often the custom-made spare parts for the Porsche classics can be tested before they go on sale.
But not only sports cars are made by the manufacturers for a lot of money virtually new cars. Volkswagen has brought a 1982 completely renewed bus from the company to Essen, which has been owned by a family for three generations. Former purchase price for the T3-Bulli: 26 882 D-Mark. To the restoration costs makes the commercial vehicle division of VW also no information. Only so much: “Economically, that’s not yet,” says company spokesman Christian Schlüter. But in this case, “priceless memories” would have stood in the foreground.
Icon with double doors
The Mercedes-Benz C111-II from 1970 is already exceptional when boarding.
Foolhardy beetle
The 1950 VW Beetle Cabriolet is a classic in German automotive history.
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