ACS Podium: Driving is the dividend
BACKGROUND Classic cars are emotion, culture and investment objects, but also an obligation. This was emphasized by representatives of the scene at the ACS Thurgau podium. The autobau Erlebniswelt in Romanshorn provided the perfect setting.
Bruno von Rotz explained to an audience of around 100 people that the classic car scene has been facing headwinds ever since the debate about dying forests and driving bans in city centers. He has set up zwischengas.com, one of the leading internet platforms for classic cars, and is its editor-in-chief and CEO.
Continued existence of the vehicles
Bruno von Rotz: "With the concept of culture, classic car fans have found a set of arguments to ensure the continued existence of their vehicles. However, this also entails obligations, not only when it comes to requirements for veteran registration. It is certain that the classic car scene will continue to exist in the coming decades, but it is up to us to showcase the automotive culture and make it available to the public."
Dealing with the environment
Collecting cars requires a balanced mixture of passion and responsibility, added Fredy Alexander Lienhard, member of the Board of Directors of autobau AG and President of the ACS Old and Youngtimer Group.
Fredy Alexander Lienhard: "The respectful treatment of the environment and the promotion of sustainable practices in the automotive industry are part of this, including the use of synthetic fuels, for example. In addition to personal passion and aesthetic pleasure, car collections can be seen as a long-term investment, similar to shares. Driving is the dividend, but it is not free. Let's nurture this passion together and keep the memories of the past alive to shape the future of the automobile."
Do not condemn the tuner scene
Roman Kuster, member of the management of Garage Kuster AG in Scherzingen, pleaded for a respectful approach when it comes to vehicles from the 80s and 90s, many of which have been modernized.
Roman Kuster: "As tuners, we take the same approach as classic car fans. We try to restore older vehicles and thus enable pure emotionality, which individualized vehicles could already convey back then. The fascination is the same, and the scene is developing rapidly. We have to think outside the box and not condemn this scene."
