Automechanika, the leading international trade fair for the automotive aftermarket, invites experts and enthusiasts from the classic car scene to network and discuss trends. The kick-off was Automechanika Frankfurt in September 2024 with its own event and lecture programme.
Classic highlight at Automechanika Frankfurt
A special area in Hall 11 was the meeting place for classic car professionals. Not only were four historic vehicles on display there, it also provided space to discuss current industry topics and make new international contacts. On the adjacent stage, classic car experts spoke at various panel discussions on topics such as digitisation, recruiting young talent and process optimisation. A special highlight was the start of the first Rhine-Main Classic Rally on the exhibition grounds with 80 classic cars, supported by AvD, Pirelli, Sonax and TÜV Süd.
Listen in now: Automechanika Classic Car Podcast
How can company owners inspire young talent for their classic car business? In which way will digitalisation change the automotive business? What is the connection between blockchain, tokenisation and classic cars? In the Automechanika Classic Car Podcast, prominent, enthusiastic and creative classic car professionals present their business models, provide insights into their day-to-day work and explain what is so fascinating about historic vehicles.
Partner of the podcast
#6 Frank Delesen: Classic meets Digital - Spare parts database for classic cars (in German)
The endless search for the right spare part for classic cars has come to an end. In today's episode of the Automechanika Classic Car Podcast, Frank Delesen, Director Classic Vehicle Data Unit at data specialist Eucon, presents a vehicle and parts database for classic vehicles. In conversation with presenter Jürgen Book, he explains the business model of the new database, the type and structure of the data and how it facilitates the work of workshops, appraisers, insurance companies, vehicle and parts manufacturers.
Moderation: Jürgen Book
Intro: Wolfgang Auer, Editor-in-Chief of FML and FML-aktuell
#5 Mike Kastrop & Pauline Louwman: Talent4Classics – Rethinking the promotion of young talents
Find out what a traffic light system has to do with working in a classic car workshop in the latest episode of the Automechanika Classic Car Podcast. Today's interview guests Mike Kastrop and Pauline Louwman from the Netherlands talk about the methods they use to boost their employees' self-confidence, create a positive working environment in their workshop and ultimately inspire young talents for the classic car industry. They will also talk about their own foundation ‘Talent4Classics’, which supports young people in overcoming initial difficulties in starting their careers and at the same time discovering their passion for classic cars.
Moderation: Jürgen Book
Intro: Wolfgang Auer, editor-in-chief of FML and FML-aktuell
#4 Tobias Reichle & Florian Urbitsch: From a secret collection to a world-class museum
Automotive history comes to life in the idyllic Dietzhölztal in northern Hesse. Since summer 2023, car enthusiasts have been able to marvel at vehicles from all eras at ‘Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection’ there. Our podcast guests today are the two managing directors of the museum, Tobias Reichle and Florian Urbitsch. In this interview, they provide exciting insights behind the scenes: Why did Friedhelm Loh make his private collection public? How challenging was the museum's development phase? What concept are they pursuing? And finally: what experiences have they made since the museum opened?
Moderation: Jürgen Book
Intro: Wolfgang Auer, editor-in-chief of FML and FML-aktuell
#3 Robert Müller: Automobile clubs in the future – how social media is changing the club scene (in German)
Are automobile clubs a discontinued model? Robert Müller, owner of the consulting agency Clubrebellen, says “no”. On the contrary - the young founder is a big fan. However, in order to remain relevant and attractive in the future, clubs need to reposition themselves. In today's podcast episode, he talks to presenter Jürgen Book about the challenges facing the club scene, what they could look like in the future and what social media is changing for the classic business as a whole.
Moderation: Jürgen Book
Intro: Wolfgang Auer, editor-in-chief of FML and FML-aktuell
#2 Wolfgang Henseler: Tokenized classic cars as an investment (in German)
How do tokens, blockchain and classic cars fit together? Which digital solutions make the everyday life of a classic car workshop more efficient? What is phenomenological learning and what does digitalization have to do with it? Prof. Wolfgang Henseler answers these and other questions in the second episode of the Automechanika Classic Car Podcast.
Moderation: Jürgen Book
Intro: Wolfgang Auer, Editor-in-Chief of FML and FML aktuell
#1 Ande Votteler & Dennis Kissling: Generation change in the classic business (in German)
The first two podcast guests are Ande Votteler and his predecessor Dennis Kissling. Together they run a successful business in Balingen with historic Porsches and place great emphasis on the originality of the vehicles. In the podcast, they talk about this special company philosophy, how they managed the generational change and the fascination of the Porsche 911 and 356.
Moderation: Jürgen Book
Intro: Wolfgang Auer, Editor-in-Chief of FML and FML aktuell
Behind the scenes of the podcast production
