“4 days, 12 sports cars, 16 Alpine passes and a helicopter flight as a highlight”

So I got on the phone, called Ernst and a few minutes after a warm “hello”, my personal highlight for a great trip in late summer 2023 was set. From then on, I could look forward to an exhilarating festival of curves over the most beautiful Alpine passes, which would make all our hearts, filled with “gasoline in the blood”, beat faster – 4 days, 12 sports cars, 16 Alpine passes and, as a highlight, a helicopter flight over the simply incomparable scenery of the Dolomites. Now the biggest challenge for 2023 was to wait for the day when it would finally start.

I got to know Ernst when he began to turn his passion for fast and old cars into something new. After originally pursuing a career as a professional racing driver (European Karting Champion 2006, racing and testing experience in Formula BMW and Formula 3), he completed an international business degree. After further stations in business and consulting, he started his first brand “Oldtimer Urlaubsreisen” (www.oldtimer-urlaubsreisen.de) in 2017 and now, voila, since 2022 the second brand with “Sportwagen Erlebnisreisen” (www.sportwagen-erlebnisreisen.de ).

During our phone call, I was spoiled for choice when it came to choosing one of the four trips on offer for 2023. The choices were the season opening on Lake Garda over 7 days with the special treat of an exclusive boat trip with Frauscher sports boats, a tour over 4 days through the Bavarian & Austrian Prealps under the motto “In the footsteps of Ferdinand Porsche & Walter Röhrl”, an eventful 8 days along the Route des Grandes Alpes and Route Napoleon with everything this fantastic scenery has to offer and last but not least my choice of the tour through the Dolomites and around the Grossglockner. What all the tours have in common is that the focus is on experience, sharing and enjoyment, inviting participants to let themselves drift, be inspired and pampered.

What Ernst repeatedly emphasized on the phone was what he places particular value on and what makes his trips what they are, something special, but definitely eventful. In order to actively differentiate himself from other providers in this segment, he focuses on the overall experience of riding, discovering and enjoying. He focuses on small group sizes, which benefits both the overall organization and execution as well as the development of direct interpersonal contacts. His hand-picked daily highlights offer the opportunity to take part in exclusive events/activities that are not always open to the public, and the sociable togetherness comes naturally through groups that are perfectly matched to the personal interests of the participants.

Of course, the whole event will be accompanied by professional photography and video, so that everyone will be able to see their own personal highlights afterwards.

What does a “normal” tour day look like, or what can you expect?

Roughly speaking, the day starts after breakfast with a first one-hour drive to the first program point of the day. This varies depending on the region, but for us it was a visit to a South Tyrolean coffee roastery. This is followed by a short stage to lunch and from there to the next “place of action” – the next special activity of the day in addition to the route. Then it’s a relaxed ride (or another sporty ride, depending on your mood) to your chosen accommodation for the evening and night. So none of the participants will return from such a tour without having got to know the respective region, some of its special features and especially its beauty.

The great thing is that not only one highlight is selected per tour, but there is something special to experience every single day, be it in selected culinary outstanding locations (we were in the 1-star restaurant Malga Panna in the middle of and with a great view of “nowhere”), extraordinary events, such as in our case the helicopter flight around the Sella massif (mega! ) or visits to local artistic, artisanal or commercial specialties – all in all, a great balance of riding fun, experiences and discovering new things, as well as getting to know the other participants and making new friends among like-minded people.

For me, it was four exceptionally enjoyable days with lots of great experiences, the opportunity to meet extremely nice and interesting enthusiasts and the fun of a perfectly organized and orchestrated event. Such undertakings thrive on the love of detailed preparation and execution, the perfect mix of participants and the flexibility and spontaneity to get involved in unexpected new things outside of the planning. The fact that Ernst has a “lucky” knack for this is something that the participants experience on every single day of the tours and is also reflected in the high rate of “repeat offenders”.

If you fancy a ride like this, you can find the program for 2024 here, as well as more information about the brand and the team behind it.

I myself have not yet been able to decide for 2024. Depending on my schedule, it will either be the shorter tour from Bavaria to South Tyrol (I’m particularly keen on the ‘James Bond experience’) or the longer trip to one of my favorite regions (Massif Central – an absolute insider tip!). I still have a little time to decide, but I won’t wait too long – my first inquiry with Ernst revealed that many tours are already fully booked.

Photos: Dominik Pelzer – Sportwagenerlebnisreisen https://www.sportwagen-erlebnisreisen.de

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In view of inflation and global economic crises, they are becoming increasingly attractive as an investment. Michael Schnabl provides some insights into the topic.

SC: What do I need to bear in mind if I want to invest in a classic Porsche?

MS: If you want to invest your money in one or more classic cars, you should be aware of some important basic conditions. Firstly: The market is confusing and requires a trustworthy partner and specialised knowledge. Vehicles are offered by dealers and private customers on a variety of platforms, where there is usually no way of verifying the actual condition. You should always ask for a warranty and demand reliable expert reports and technical inspections, as well as a comprehensible history. Accident vehicles, falsified speedometer readings and poorly maintained vehicles are often not recognisable at second glance and require experience. Reimports are also often not comparable with vehicles delivered in Germany. This means that the supposedly cheap classic can often turn into a penny grave.

SC: Which models are currently particularly worthwhile?

MS: The price for a normal 911 from the 964 model series, which was built from 1989 onwards, is currently significantly higher than the former purchase price, provided it is a vehicle in collectable condition. There are nowhere near as many of the last air-cooled models from the 964 and 993 series available as are in demand. The reason for this is that the 964 model in particular is used for many tuning and conversion projects. Triggered by the American tuner “Singer”, many suppliers are currently trying to restore these models to the old 70s look combined with the latest technology. Personally, I don’t think much of it. A few years ago, restoration objects and accident vehicles were still being used. Today, many good vehicles are taken off the market for these so-called ‘restomods’ or ‘backdates’ and their originality is irrevocably destroyed.

SC: What is currently influencing the market? What changes are there?

MS: Demand is also growing worldwide and is also driving up prices. Especially in the USA and countries in Asia, rare and high-quality Porsches are a status symbol. In addition, many classic vehicles can now be delivered to these countries, as they can be imported without any problems from an age of 25 years.

Then there is social media. Television star Jay Leno alone owns 169 vehicles and willingly shows them off. Jerry Seinfeld is known to have received the last air-cooled 911 in 1998 and has his own programme in which he presents his vehicles. The 993 Carrera 4S model also has part of its fame because stars such as the Kardashians and Beckhams can be seen behind the wheel via Instagram and co. It is the last air-cooled model with a wide turbo body and no wings. The last list price was around 100,000 marks. It now fetches well over 100,000 euros in good condition.

SC: At what price range should Porsche enthusiasts start investing? When do we start talking about a worthwhile investment?

MS: There are classic Porsche 911s, for example, starting at 50,000 euros, which can retain their value with good care. Real collector’s items, on the other hand, only start at 100,000 euros. You should generally have your classic car serviced regularly, which can cost several thousand euros, and the maintenance costs should be in proportion to the investment.

The most expensive Porsche in the world is currently the 917K from the film “Le Mans”. It has achieved a value of over 14 million euros.

SC: But surely the price is not the yardstick by which I recognise whether the purchase is worthwhile or not?

MS: In any case, it is advisable to find a “sparring partner from the trade”. This could be a mechanic or expert who can help to detect forgeries, uncover damage or recognise whether the parts come from the manufacturer and ideally from the period in which the car was built. As with watches, the more original the better when it comes to old vehicles. Ideally, it is nice if the collector’s item is delivered with all the papers and a traceable history and has never left Germany. The greatest asset is a body that is still completely preserved in its first original paintwork, as well as a complete history with only a few previous owners.

SC: So the risk of making a bad purchase is high for the layman without expert advice?

MS: An illustrative example of this is the development of the Entenbürzel: the ‘Entenbürzel’ Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS from 1973 has become increasingly sought-after in recent years. Suddenly, many high-end collectors wanted this model, but the number of units was limited. Today, there are said to be twice as many of this model on the roads as originally. The risk of coming across a fake model is correspondingly high.

The risk of coming across a fake model is correspondingly high.

SC: What are the current price drivers?

MS: Some Porsche models were produced in very small numbers, some of which, like the narrow Speedster from 1989, were not even intended to be launched on the market. Only 161 were produced. This fact increases the collector’s value. Well-maintained models go for considerably more than a normal turbo-wide Speedster.

There are also trends that determine the price. Certain colours are currently in particularly high demand, such as star ruby, speed yellow or riviera blue. Collectors pay high premiums for green, the Porsche family’s favourite colour. Most of the owner family’s vehicles were used in this colour and some were even repainted afterwards. The so-called PTS colours, which stands for “Paint to Sample”, are special colours that were only produced in small numbers as one-offs in the exclusive manufactory.

In general, however, the more original, the fewer kilometres and the better documented, the more expensive and the more stable in value.

SC: How much depreciation do I have if I want to drive my collector’s Porsche?

MS: The highest return on investment should always be the driving itself. Because if you want to drive a luxurious 911, you should also show it off. On the other hand, signs of use can reduce the value of a classic Porsche. So drive the car as you would a rare watch. You should also feel comfortable with the car in public. It’s not a nice feeling if you’re constantly worried about damage or have to constantly check whether the car is still there, because the damage or loss would hurt a lot financially. On the other hand, the vehicles are also built to be driven.

“The highest return on investment should always be the driving itself. Because if you want to drive a luxurious 911, you should also show it off.”

SC: How do I minimise the risk of potentially driving my investment into the wall?

MS: All-risk insurance can help you to be covered in the event of a claim. Not only comprehensive damage is covered, but also technical damage such as engine damage. This special insurance is offered by certain insurers. Some dealers also take out this insurance for their customers when they purchase a vehicle. In any case, sufficient insurance should be in place to cover the current value and the car should be kept protected accordingly.

SC: What do I generally have to be prepared for in terms of price?

MS: Despite the correction for some models, the price level in the market as a whole is still significantly higher than before the pandemic. But prices will certainly rise again. Big jumps are still possible, especially for some younger models such as the 996 and 997, but the 964, 993 and G models will also continue to develop. A stable increase of five to ten per cent per year will continue in the overall market in the future, so now is a good time to get in.

SC: What insider tip do you have when it comes to Porsche as an investment? Where can I perhaps get a really good deal?

MS: The successor to the “duck-tail” 911 2.7 Carrera from the so-called G model series from 1974 is still an undervalued classic compared to the original, which has almost the same performance with the identical engine. The relatively young 996 and 997 model series have also proven themselves with reliable technology and qualities suitable for everyday use.

In general, you should keep an eye on this: Due to the phasing out of the combustion engine, the next 10-15 years will also be a renaissance for these vehicles and will provide a further boost, as many enthusiasts and collectors still want to secure a vehicle with classic technology. And the past shows that everything that is no longer available also tends to become sustainable.

Click here to get to the website of Motorlegenden

Photos: Lorenzo Kikisch

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Lorenzo, nice to have you here. For those who may not know you yet, who are you and what do you do?

“Hey, I’m really happy to be here! I’m Lorenzo and I’ve been living in Munich since I was born in 2002. In the last years I started to make my passion for photography and cars to my profession. Since then, life and work have become one in many areas. I love to be with like-minded people on a common denominator and create exciting things together, it’s usually the spontaneous situations in which the best images arise.”

What sparked your interest in cars? And what made you want to photograph cars?

“My love of cars and especially Porsche has existed for as long as I can remember. From the very beginning I was infected with the “air-cooled virus” by my father always taking me along in our ’72 Beetle and an ’89 911 Targa on many kilometers.

The stories and pictures of my grandfather, who drove the Rally Monte Carlo in his 356 Speedster, have also always given me goose bumps. For me, the perfect combination of design, technology and emotion of these cars is just hard to put into words. I started to combine my passion for photography with that for cars, to combine exactly this enthusiasm in pictures.”

“For me, the focus on the essentials is best portrayed in black and white, …”

Your style is strongly influenced by black and white photographs of Porsche models. What excites you about black and white photography?

“For me, the focus on the essential things is best depicted in black and white, as the concentration here is particularly on light, shadow, lines and shapes. A Porsche lives from its perfect, clear and unchanged design language, which I want to show and reinforce in my pictures.”

In our new format “Lorenzo meets…” we want to feature exactly those kind of photos of current as well as old vehicles. What do you look for when you photograph a vehicle?

“I pay special attention to the harmony between object and location, so that everything in combination with light, shadow and lines creates a balanced image.

The location must not distract from the vehicle, but should integrate it as well as possible. Every location evokes a certain feeling. Just as every car creates its own feeling. Together, these two feelings should result in something new and unique.”

And are there differences in how you approach a shoot when you shoot a modern car?

“I also try to see the modern vehicle already like a classic. Every well-designed, modern car has lines that are already timeless and perfect, and I then focus on them in particular.

Thus, there is a very nice combination of familiar and new forms.”

Finally, our classic question: if you could choose any car in any location for a photo shoot. Which car would you want to shoot where?

“Phew…! I’ve asked myself this question more than once. I just can’t commit to a car yet. But historic Porsche race cars in a salt desert… I think that would be it!”

Our new format “Lorenzo meets …” will appear on a monthly rhythm starting in March 2023 and will showcase different models in a very unique way.

-> Lorenzo Kikisch on Instagram

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Herbert Engel lives on a beautiful estate near Namedy Castle, which was used as a castle forge in the Middle Ages. Accordingly, the interior of his estate is still reminiscent of the time of the knights.

Herbert lives with horses and bulls that stay in the stables, next to his main house. And when I write stables, of course I mean garages and when I write horses and bulls, of course we are talking about fiery Italians. We are not the Wendy. The only real animal that lives with Herbert is Lina Lard, an old dachshund named after Enzo Ferraris’ mistress.

Herbert Engel has dedicated his life to the automobile.

Since 1977 he has been a luxury car dealer in the segment of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and Bentleys, Aston Martins and SLs. His passion and love for automobiles are reflected in really every corner of his house: enamel signs on the doors, posters and stickers in the bathroom, trophies in the living room and countless plaques, model cars on the dining table.  There is probably no car he has not owned. The model and manufacturer list of vehicles, all of which were in his possession, is long and top-class

I’m talking about Bentley Azures, several Ferrari 365, several Daytona, various Mondial, Testarossa, fancy Mercedes 300 SLR, every model from the house of Porsche, almost every Aston Martin model that was ever produced and of course the complete Lambo-row, Rolls Royce and Cadillacs, Maserati, as well as an extremely rare Rhapsody (which was built only once in the world) and everything else has rank and name, in the list of cars that he has already owned.

He used to sell an average of 30 such cars a month and also bought back just as many. Nowadays, there are far fewer cars. His customer base stretched all over the world. The Middle East shopped with him just as often as the English aristocracy, or the Italian collector families, and no, by families I don’t mean THE families.

Speaking of family. His close friendship with the Schumacher family can be seen in the countless pictures in his “study,” which could also serve as the backdrop for a Hitchcock film. Michael and also Ralf visited Herbert very often and he visited them just as often at their races. Everywhere you read little funny greetings from the Schumis and other greats of the motorsport world.

Anyone who has such access to such cars naturally has an urge to go to the racetrack, and so Herbert passed his free time as a racing driver. For years he drove Mini-Challenge, Porsche Cups, Alfa-Cups, Lamborghini-Cups, DTM and other trophies. Even today he is still drawn to such events and of course to the Nordschleife!

If you visit Herbert in his kingdom, you never know beforehand what kind of cars you will encounter. He always has a few advertised online, but the selection changes almost weekly and on my visit this time, I had found my favorite pretty quickly:

I was taken with an Alfa Romeo Montreal. I knew very little about this model, so I was really attracted by its powerful exterior. Evil and dangerous he looks..Italian..and with exactly this feeling I also got in and started the engine..and zack stalled..happens to me really never!

And then it went… and really well! The smell: unbeatable, the feeling: un’estate italiana (to put it in Gianna’s words). A breathtaking racing car from 1974 with TÜV and H-plates and after all almost 300 HP. The car comes from the race track in Monaco and has a great history.

Besides the beautiful Alfa, I was of course allowed to marvel at a few other rarities.

The second car I took a seat in and was also allowed to drive is a Felber 330 GTC Michelotti Roadster worth around 1.4 million euros, which was successfully raced by the iconic Heidi Hetzer. Not everyday, but wonderful.

I also had the honor of meeting a Stutz Blackhawk (Elvis Presley’s favorite) , as well as a Cadillac Fleetwood, an ARA SHOWCAR, an SL and an MG, and of course a few Italians and Englishmen.

What I find really delightful, besides the priceless cars, is the fact that Herbert Engel also always buys together the appropriate newspapers and reports from back then for each of his cars and places them in the cars so that you still know today what was written about the car back then.

Herbert Engel can show you every handwritten sales receipt from every business year of the last 40 years and he has handwritten notes in which month he sold which car to whom. The sentimental touch hit me at the latest when I discovered that my late grandfather bought his 1974 Carrera Targa G model from Herbert over 40 years ago.

Due to his Parkinson’s disease, Herbert is now somewhat restricted in his actions, and if you watch him at work at his desk, from which he negotiates sales prices with Saudis and Americans and Swedes, you might get the impression that he easily loses track of things in his jumble of old car magazines, pictures, enamel plates and MOT receipts. Fiddlesticks. He always knows where what is and what to do. I’m already looking forward to my next visit and am excited to see what vehicles await me then.

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By car through the Sahara

Citroën was known at the time for innovative vehicles and adventurous ventures. As a result, similar half-track cars were subsequently made available for other long-distance journeys. There is one more anecdote worth mentioning about the first drive through the Sahara. Flossie, a little white dog, sat on the extra seat in the back of the leading car. He died on the long tour, but is in a way still known today. It served as inspiration for Milou, the dog of the comic hero Tintin. All three vehicles were given their own names, which were used in the press. In this way, readers could identify with the teams and cheer for their favorites. Commander Georges-Marie Haardt sat in the “Scarabée d’Or”, the golden scarab. The original vehicles are now in museums and collections, but all but one are no longer driveable. Now there is a replica that makes the technology of that time comprehensible.

Three-year replica project

The French non-profit association Des Voitures & des Hommes (translates as “Cars and People”) has set itself the goal of getting young people excited about old technology and automobiles. By chance, association president Olivier Masi received a chassis of an identical Citroën B2 from a French car collector. This gave rise to the idea of rebuilding a roadworthy example of the Scarabée d’Or. To this end, he first contacted the renowned engineering school Arts et Métiers et du lycée professionnel des métiers de l’automobile Chateau d’Epluches. Together with the teachers there, a basic plan was developed to involve as many students and trades as possible. At the same time, the association sought support from companies that could produce original spare parts or contribute original historical parts to the project. Over a period of three years, from 2016 to 2019, the new Scarabée d’Or was gradually created.

Color analysis with Glasurit

A total of 160 students and pupils as well as 50 teachers and supervisors were involved in the project. At eleven different production sites, the body, cockpit and chassis were created according to historical drawings and models. For this purpose, measurements were taken from the original from the Citroën factory collection. In cooperation with Glasurit the paint of the body was recreated true to the original. In fact, remnants of the original paint were found under a seat of the original vehicle, which had been repainted several times. This was scanned in and led to the creation of the new color “Blanc Sahara” in the Glasurit database. Together with the art school l’Ecole d’Art Mural de Versailles, it was possible to recreate the exact painting process and the antique look of the unique scarab logo on the sides of the vehicle. Many of the students involved now work in the automotive industry – on both modern and classic vehicles.

Images: Des Voitures & des Hommes, Glasurit, Citroën, Matthias Kierse

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In the entrance hall, visitors can rest and look at the latest model series. Next to that, the popular factory tours of the neighboring vehicle production start here. There is also an online museum, which is currently only available in Japanese. An English-language version will follow shortly. Drone images and a separate section for children make this web offering particularly interesting. In this way, you can take a look at the newly renovated company museum even without flying to faraway Japan. Only the museum store at the end of the tour cannot be visited in this way.

Images: Mazda

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V8 engine with 225 hp

In terms of overall dimensions, the T1 was 17.8 centimeters shorter, 12.7 centimeters narrower and 8.9 centimeters flatter. At the same time, however, Bentley succeeded in increasing the interior space and the trunk. The engineers undertook extensive test drives with seven prototypes in order to also try out the further developed V8 engine. This included endurance and reliability drives covering more than 100,000 miles. The engine was first used in the Bentley S2. For the T-Series, 225 hp was derived from 6.25 liters of displacement. This raised the topspeed to 115 mph. For acceleration from standstill to 62 mph Bentley quoted 10.9 seconds. At the same time, a newly developed chassis ensured the best possible comfort. Instead of rigid axles, each wheel had an independent suspension with automatic level control. The pressure for this came from the hydraulic brake system.

Oldest T1 being restored

A total of 1,868 examples of the Bentley T1 were built. In addition to the four-door sedan, there was also a two-door coupé from 1966 and a convertible a year later. In 1977 Bentley changed to the T2 which remained in the program until 1980. Chassis number SBH.1001, the first T1 ever built, initially remained in factory ownership. Painted in “Shell Grey” with a blue leather interior, the car was used by the testing department on worldwide trials work. For this purpose, the T1 last received US registration around 15 years ago. In 2016, a group of then apprentices at Bentley’s Crewe plant began restoration work. For this purpose, they removed various chrome trim parts and worked on damaged areas of the body. However, due to the time-consuming introduction of the current model range and preparations for the upcoming electrification of the new car segment, Bentley stopped the project again. It is now continuing with current apprentices and is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Images: Bentley Motors

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Before the eight cars were handed over, the entire family of the new owner was given a comprehensive tour of the Bugatti company grounds. The unveiling of the cars then took place in front of the legendary Château Saint-Jean. In addition to the six Baby IIs, a brand-new Chiron Super Sport 300+ and a Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse WRC also transferred to the collection. The latter is one of only eight examples of the special edition model produced. It received certification from the in-house “La Maison Pur Sang” used car program. Thirty examples of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ were produced. Bugatti built the Baby II in cooperation with The Little Car Company from Great Britain in an edition of 500 units.

Images: Bugatti

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Ettore Bugatti was proud of this first appearance of a sports car from his company in this hillclimb. Many more victories and podium finishes followed, especially with the Type 35 and Type 37 model series. To celebrate the historic success of 1922 in a worthy manner, a Bugatti customer took a team of photographers with him on the climb to La Turbie. He himself, a former Formula 1 racing driver, was behind the wheel of his Chiron Pur Sport, which had only just been delivered. Interestingly, Jean Mabille’s Type 13 wore a livery of silver and green that is echoed to some extent by its modern descendant. Here, however, the green parts are manufactured in green bare carbon. The nickname of this specific car can be found on the rear wing: “Green Rhapsody”. Inside, the new owner opted for black and light grey leather. However, the steering wheel received red grip areas. Special graphics are painted on the door panels.

Images: Bugatti

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This particular car was used for advertising shots and various test drives at the factory test site in Balocco. The SZ then rolled into the vehicle depot where it parked unused until recently. In order to carry out as proper a restoration as possible, the Officine Classiche team disassembled the coupé down to the last screw. It was then repainted in the original red. Inside, the seats received new upholstery with correct covers. The three-liter V6 engine, five-speed manual gearbox and suspension components were also reworked. In the future, the restored SZ will be shown at events. Interested customers can also have their Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia or Abarth vehicles restored in Turin.

Images: FCA Heritage

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