The Bundestag elections have changed a number of political constellations. New decision-makers and new coalitions can also have an impact on the occupation with historic mobility. The DEUVET Bundesverband Oldtimer-Youngtimer e.V. is very active behind the scenes in the current transition phase from the old to the new government in order to establish and deepen existing and new contacts.
In order to have good arguments for all conceivable changes and, above all, to make them available to enthusiasts of historic vehicles, the many clubs, but also to journalists and opinion leaders in the media of all kinds, thesis papers have been drawn up for dealing with this beautiful hobby.
Eleven thesis papers
Data and facts on historic mobility, information on its importance for the economy, jobs, tourism and also training opportunities have been summarized in 11 thesis papers, which will be helpful for clubs, companies, the media and also in discussions between individual classic and modern classic car fans and potential critics. In the future, the series of thesis papers will be regularly expanded as required. Five slightly abridged examples from these thesis papers are presented here:
Thesis 1: Historic mobility is an important cultural asset
The everyday car is a consumer car, a consumer good for which the repair costs quickly exceed the current value in the event of defects, making it an economic total loss and it is taken out of service or handed over for recycling. As a rule, this is not sustainable.
The actual use of a classic car plays a subordinate role. The maintenance of a historic vehicle is associated with far higher costs than the consumer use of an everyday vehicle. After all, you want to keep your classic car for many years to come, so you are prepared to pay more for maintenance and restoration. Engine damage, which means the end of the life of an everyday car, is usually repaired as a matter of course in a classic car.
Of course, the lower depreciation of a classic car also plays a role, because a classic car is not a consumer good, but a cultural asset! But purely economic aspects are often not the top priority for enthusiasts.
All those involved in the scene should continue to emphasize the importance of the classic car as a cultural asset and consciously set it apart from all other vehicles on the road.
Classic car events are cultural events and the preservation of classic cars is just as worthy of support as, for example, music, fine arts, sport, theater, etc. It must be possible to give classic cars a special significance as a cultural asset, separate from all other vehicles.
This strategy was already successful when the H license plate was introduced. Today, this special significance of the classic car must be further consolidated. The status of "cultural asset" will be decisive for the political survival of classic cars in the future.
A kind of monument protection in relation to classic cars means not only the protection of the classic car, but also the obligation of the owner to preserve it.
Thesis 3: Why classic cars are sustainable
Classic cars are sustainable. All materials are used over a very long period of time. Classic cars are very rarely parked on public roads (private property).
The current production of a VW Golf with a petrol engine produces 6.8 tons of CO2, while the comparable VW ID 3 electric vehicle produces 13.7 tons of CO2. (Source: Volkswagen)
A new battery-electric car will generally last around 10 years. This means that in the same period of time until the end of today's normal use phase at the age limit for classic cars, three times the amount of CO2 is produced during production plus the amount of CO2 produced during disposal.
With the possible use of synthetic fuel from renewable energy, the environmental balance of a vehicle that has been in use for a long time becomes even better.
Owners of classic and vintage cars take great care of their vehicles and protect the environment by driving carefully and safely. They attach great importance to optimum technology and do not shy away from high maintenance costs.
The mechanics of a classic car can be repaired in almost all cases. Defective batteries or batteries with insufficient capacity in electric cars can only be replaced and disposed of at great expense. The proportion of the value of an electric car that cannot be repaired is considerably higher.
Thesis 4: Classic cars play no role in traffic in terms of emissions
Classic cars make up a small proportion of the vehicle population. The total number of passenger cars registered in Germany on January 1, 2021 is 48.2 million vehicles.
Historic vehicles according to KBA guidelines with an assessment in accordance with Section 23 StVZO, which are registered with or without H registration, are only 584,509, i.e. 1.2 %. These cars are cherished and cared for by their owners. The service condition of these favorites of their owners is far better than that of many "normally" used vehicles.
The proportion of cars in Germany that are more than 30 years old is around 2% of the total number of cars. (983,289 out of a total of 48.2 million)
Normally used cars in Germany achieve an average mileage of 13,600 km per year. This means that normal cars cover almost 642 billion km. The average mileage of classic cars with § 23 approval is approx. 1500 km per year. This means that all representatives of the historical cultural heritage, with around 880 million km per year, only account for 0.14% of the total mileage.
Fuel consumption has improved. Electronics and better engine technology have reduced the fuel consumption of modern cars by at least 30% over the years. At the same time, however, the unladen weight of cars has risen sharply due to more comfort features, greater safety and increasing size.
Improved fuels (so-called tailored fuels) have even contributed to the fact that classic cars today consume less fuel than when they were new. The driving style typical of classic cars also helps to reduce fuel consumption.
Thesis 5: Classic cars play no role in mileage
Classic cars are maintained and restored by their owners to preserve the vehicle's historical heritage and are generally only used for trips to events, workshops or test drives. The average mileage is around 1500 km per year.
Because spare parts and possible wear and tear on historic cultural assets can be expensive, classic cars are not used excessively. The vast majority of journeys are made for tourist and leisure purposes outside cities and at times when there is little traffic. For example, visits to friends and relatives are made in a classic car that would otherwise have been made in a normal vehicle, often a second car.
After around 20 years (youngtimers), on average only 3,000 km are driven per year, after 30 years around 1,500 km per year.
The proportion of cars over 30 years old in Germany is around 2% of the total number of cars. (983,289 out of a total of 48.2 million)
With an average mileage of 13,600 km per year in Germany, normal cars cover almost 642 billion km. The average mileage of classic cars with § 23 approval is approx. 1,500 km per year. This means that, at around 880 million km per year, this historic cultural asset only accounts for 0.14% of total mileage.
Thesis 11: Converted classic cars with modern drives are no substitute
Proven old technology also has advantages over modern technology. Not everything that is called advanced is necessarily better. Today's vehicles with various assistance systems sometimes distract the driver more than they help. If you can no longer park without a reversing camera, you will face unsolvable problems in the event of a fault.
Current engines with small displacements, several turbochargers and extreme liter outputs put excessive strain on the material. Defects such as elongation of timing chains did not exist in the past, and special engine oils costing 45 euros per liter did not have to be used to keep these high-bred engines running.
But anyone who has experienced for themselves how easily the "air conditioning" works in old cars: for example, a windscreen that can be opened in the pre-creeper and side windows that can be opened in later model years, only realizes when the expensive air conditioning compressor fails that progress can also have its downsides.
Converting old cars to completely new technology, starting with modern engines, brakes and comfort features such as power steering, electric windows, etc., regularly destroys the actual driving experience of historic mobility.
The latest trend is the conversion to a "restomod" with an electric drive. Not only the immense costs, often in the six-figure range, make this a niche product, but also the complete loss of the idea of mobile cultural heritage is certain. Recognition by means of an H registration is of course denied; such vehicles are more likely to be something for the autoposer sector if the flap exhaust is no longer sufficient.
The non-networked classic car with its combustion engine could be used as a back-up system in the event of modern mobility failing, a kind of emergency generator in the event of a power cut.
Each of the eleven thesis papers can be used individually as a self-contained text, so certain arguments may appear in several papers. The documents can be downloaded online from DEUVET.