The search for rare, no longer available spare parts for vintage and classic cars is often an almost endless and nerve-wracking undertaking, despite the Internet. A visit to a very special place could provide a remedy: An almost endless collection of car parts from over five decades can be found in the halls of the former car recycling company Ernst Egger AG in Grafenried, Bern.
Sorted and labeled
Sorted according to components, car make or model, mostly neatly labeled and stored in corresponding shelves or areas, the automobile-loving visitor encounters an impressive number of used parts from motor vehicles from the distant and recent past. There are parts from vehicles from the early 1930s to the end of the 1980s. The majority, however, are from the 50s, 60s and 70s. For example, there is a huge collection of "everyday heroes" from these decades, which have now become rare and for many of which no parts are reproduced.
Spare parts from five decades
From 1942 until the end of the 1980s, vehicles of all makes were carefully "slaughtered", i.e. dismantled, and their usable parts sorted, stored and labeled so that they could then be resold.
Countless engines, engine parts, gearboxes, axles, suspension, steering and brake parts, wheel rims, starter motors, alternators, headlights, lighting parts, countless switches and relays, bodywork parts and other parts are stored in many halls, rooms and winding corridors on several floors.switches and relays, body parts such as doors, hoods, trunk lids, bumpers, door handles, small and very small parts - and this list is by no means exhaustive!
Now also open to the public
For decades, no one was allowed to enter the guarded and secretive warehouse until a few years ago, when a new owner took over the property and its contents and made the "catacombs" in Grafenried accessible to the general public. Demand is high and the sale of the stored treasures is now to be promoted even more.
Visitors can go on their own voyage of discovery to find the desired parts and bring them back to light. There are no inventory lists of the stored parts. Staff are available on site during opening hours to provide information and help with the search and recovery of the desired items.
Telephone inquiries and email contact also possible
Inquiries are also accepted by email and telephone during the week and answered as quickly as possible.
However, the greatest success and experience is undoubtedly a visit to the site. Good shoes, work gloves and a flashlight are recommended.
Autoverwertung Ernst Egger AG at Bernstrasse 23 in 3308 Grafenried is open every Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm.
Contact
takt
Car recycling Ernst Egger AG
Bernstrasse 23, 3308 Grafenried
+41 78 238 71 55
[email protected]
