New at Automechanika Frankfurt: the classic and vintage car business

At the world’s leading trade fair for the automotive service industry, everything related to the veteran, vintage and classic car business will be housed in Hall 10.0. This is an ideally situated location immediately next door to workshop equipment, paintwork products, repair and the REIFEN tire fair, which is to be held concurrently with Automechanika Frankfurt for the first time. Attending in the classic car section are the German Association for Bodywork and Vehicle Technology (Zentralverband für Karosserie- und Fahrzeugtechnik – ZKF) and the German Association for Motor Trades and Repairers (Zentralverband des Deutschen Kraftfahrzeuggewerbes – ZDK), offering a range of initial and further training. But there are also many parts and paint manufacturers, as well as insurance and financing companies – offering special provision for classic cars – who have already announced their intention to participate.

Olaf Mußhoff, Director of Automechanika Frankfurt, offers this explanation of the motives for including this topic: “We want to be a valuable business platform, capable of providing comprehensive information on the subject, for everyone who is keen to repair and maintain these historic vehicles properly and professionally. The repair of classic cars can be a really worthwhile enterprise for many German repair shops; you just have to know how to go about it. We want to bring those with a detailed knowledge of the area together with newcomers in the field from all over the world.”

Matthias Braun, General Secretary of Germany’s long-established Automobile Club (AvD), welcomes the initiative: “The club recognises the constantly growing importance of this market for car manufacturers, repair shops and parts suppliers. Automechanika is, therefore, precisely the right platform, on which to present the economic relevance of vintage and classic cars to an appropriate target group.

The most emotionally charged market in the motor-vehicle sector

Classic cars are more than just a means of transport. Over 4,000 events relating to historic vehicles take place in Germany. Owners of classic and vintage cars see the care and use of their vehicle as a passionate hobby and are prepared to invest a great deal of time and money in it. According to a BBE study, classic car drivers spend, on average, more than € 5,200 per car per year. Over 60 percent of market sales represent emotionally driven purchases. And, for the automotive sector in general, classic cars make an extraordinarily important contribution to its image and meet with broad-based interest amongst the population. “New, emotively charged offers and economic solutions for customers with vehicles older than 16 years offer a solid basis for future-proofing one’s business,” says car-sales consultant Bernd Behrens. “The key is focussed professional knowledge and new services for the most emotional market in the motor-vehicle sector.”