Platform young4vintage.ch: Classic cars in search of youth
The classic car scene has a problem for the future: there is a lack of young talent. To inspire younger people, there is the new young4Vintage platform and an action program.
Liv is the best example: the up-and-coming car influencer (Instagram: @withliv), real name Livia, is 28 years young - and still a classic car fan. Nevertheless? Yes, because the scene is in danger of running out of new blood. Liv talks glowingly about what fascinates her about classic cars: "You still have to work and think while driving." She talks about the emotions, but also the hurdles of the scene. "You have to get to know people first. So I proactively went to events."
It is precisely this exchange and access that a new platform aims to create. The fact that older men dominate the scene is a networking problem: where can I meet people with the same passion? Which old or youngtimer is suitable? Where can I buy it, who can repair it? What events are taking place? The classic car umbrella organization Swiss Historic Vehicle Federation (SHVF), supported by the classic car trade fair Swiss Classic World (SCW), has taken matters into its own hands and launched a campaign and website for the SCW in Lucerne.
The SHVF's young4vintage.ch platform aims to break down fears. "It will not be a commercial platform," emphasizes SHVF President Daniel Geissman. The idea is for everyone who wants to get into the hobby and is looking for information, advice and community to meet up here - and all the protagonists of the scene who want to promote it, whether clubs, vehicle owners, garages, event providers and so on. There are also plans to hold 30 to 40 events a year at locations such as shopping centers where young people can look at old cars, drive them and talk to people who know the scene.
A good example of the campaigns is "Old cars for young people" by the Lucerne Museum of Transport and SCW: young people could apply to drive a VW Beetle or Porsche 944 for a year. SCW founder Bernd Link: "We have to tackle the problem of young talent. For example, by making classic cars more accessible and organizing more events with youngtimers." And Daniel Geissmann adds: "Today, only two percent of classic car owners are female." So the event is also aimed at young women. Livia is already involved - and click here to go to young4vintage.ch.
