Vintage cars - who does the maintenance?, Central Association of the German Motor Trade e. V., press release - lifePR

(lifePR)(Bonn,)

Is it because of the unsettled times? One thing is certain: More and more people are dealing with vintage cars. In 2021, the number of cars with an H license plate rose again by eleven percent to almost 585,000. But who takes care of their maintenance? The trend has been going on for years, with the number of vehicles with an H license plate growing by an average of ten percent every year. The "H" stands for historic, so vintage cars decorated with it must be at least 30 years old and in good condition, which is checked before the license plate is issued. In addition, there are another 8.6 million youngtimers – on the verge of classic cars, at least 20 years old but not yet 30. A nice hobby and not that expensive. Because instead of giving up your savings interest-free on the bank of inflation, you can also put it in the garage and drive it occasionally. Depending on the model, the loss in value is small or non-existent, sometimes there is even a small increase. However, this requires perfect care. Because many classic car fans overlook the fact that old cars need more attention than current ones. Some, for example, an oil change every 2500 kilometers, twelve times more often than some modern ones. But which garage still knows about vintage cars anyway? Answer: quite a lot. Because in the automotive industry, very few companies watch the ashes cool down, instead they carry the fire on. Supported by the Central Association of the German Motor Trade, which started back in 2009 to preserve old motor vehicle knowledge and identify interested workshops. You can find an overview here. So far, more than 700 are allowed to display a further sign saying “Specialist company for historic vehicles” in addition to the obligatory sign “Meisterbetrieb der Kfz-Innung”. This is preceded by an examination in which the staff has to prove their oldie know-how. In addition, the Technical Academy of the Motor Vehicle Trade (TAK) also runs separate seminars for trainees, journeymen and master craftsmen with the aim of imparting additional qualifications for the repair of old and youngtimers. The curriculum not only includes components that have been overtaken by progress, such as carburettors or ignition breaker, but also profound topics such as ethics in restoration. Because, word has also gotten around among oldie friends, nothing is as valuable as the irretrievable original condition. And the specialist companies for historic vehicles are able to maintain this.