Marc Gassmann already owns over forty cars and can refurbish classic cars like no other. But when his Cadillac was damaged, he panicked: "What if the insurance company has no idea about classic cars?"
The cars in his parents' garage were Marc Gassmann's favorite things even as a child. He was not only born with a love of cars, but also a talent for craftsmanship. As a teenager, he first fiddled around with bicycles, then pimped up motorcycles before later devoting himself to refurbishing cars. "Less than three weeks after my 18th birthday, I already had my car test in the bag," he says with a mischievous smile.
The accident and the great discomfort
However, accident damage poses major problems even for skilled mechanics like Marc Gassmann, which is precisely why he will remember May 19, 2020 for a long time to come. Gassmann is sitting comfortably at the wheel of his beloved Cadillac Fleetwood (94 vintage, original condition, rear-wheel drive, Corvette engine) when a car suddenly hits him in the right-hand side. Fortunately, everyone involved survived the accident unharmed. But the bumper of his beloved classic car shifts five centimeters to the right as a result of the impact and is completely crooked. The mudguards, wheel rims and trim are also damaged.
Panic! Because it is very difficult to find spare parts for an American car from the 1990s. And since Gassmann was not at fault in the accident, the liability insurance of the person who caused the accident had to step in. "What if no one at the other insurance company knows anything about classic cars?" he asks himself. Because Gassmann doesn't want just any old repair parts. Only parts that exactly match the style of his Cadillac are considered.
Lucky in misfortune! Like Marc, the person who caused the accident is also insured with AXA, and vehicle expert Mario Wälty restores classic cars himself in his spare time. "Everyone in our department is a classic car enthusiast. We also want and need to understand exactly how our customers think," explains Wälty.
"AXA finds an individual repair solution for every classic car, because every claim is different."
Mario Wälty, AXA vehicle expert
In the event of a classic car claim, the AXA vehicle specialist usually inspects the car at the repairer's premises. The next steps are then discussed with the customer. Personal contact and advice are extremely important.
The most common types of damage to classic cars are
- Bodywork damage - just like with normal cars. The big difference: spare parts procurement and reconditioning are much more complex and require specialized know-how.
- Water damage - an often underestimated risk: water penetrates the underground garage and causes damage to the stationary classic car. In this case, it is important to avoid consequential damage and not start the car in the first place.
- Fire damage - rare and lovingly restored classic cars are valuable and are therefore usually stored inside a building. If the building catches fire, the classic car can be damaged or even become a total loss.
A passion becomes a profession
But how does a young car hobbyist become an expert who can rebuild classic cars from A-Z to suit his taste? After graduating from business school, Marc Gassmann dreams of being able to make a living from restoring cars. He manages to get a job at the renowned Lukas Hüni AG, which specializes in sales and services for classic cars.
More than twenty years later and now 40 years old, he still works enthusiastically in the same place. Privately, he runs the 8133 workshop in Egg ZH with friends, where he spends every spare minute working on his cars.
"The best thing for me is when a car looks exactly how I imagined it after months of work"
Marc Gassmann, about "working" in the 8133 workshop
What happens to the Cadillac?
Despite the accident, the Cadillac was still roadworthy. However, due to the coronavirus crisis, the procurement of spare parts is taking longer than usual, but all components should arrive from the USA by the end of the year. "We didn't have to provide much technical support for this claim because Marc Gassmann knew exactly where to order which spare part," says Wälty. However, other customers greatly appreciate the expert advice because the procurement and preparation of spare parts is very complex.
You can read more about AXA and its insurance solutions for classic cars/veterans/youngtimers online.
