A new Swiss competence center for classic vehicles is being built under the name "Emil Frey Classics" in Safenwil in the canton of Aargau, conveniently located between Zurich, Basel and Bern.
In the former Hochuli & Co Safenwil textile factory (HoCoSa), the existing "Classic Car Workshop" for English brands, Roos Engineering AG (Aston Martin Heritage Center), the museum, combined with an event area and a classic car dealership, will be brought together under one roof. A "Classic Car Hotel" is also planned - for the accommodation and care of customer vehicles.
Everything under one roof
In line with the motto "Everything under one roof - everything from one source", Emil Frey AG wants to meet the needs of a growing classic car clientele. They demand a reliable partner with integrity who operates according to the highest quality criteria and provides them with optimum advice and support in all matters.
Philip Ringier, Sales Manager of the Classic Car division, comments: "The Emil Frey Group has embodied all of these characteristics for decades, and the quality philosophy is also a top priority at Emil Frey Classics - in line with the motto 'Your specialist since 1924'."
Extensive conversion necessary
The conversion and extension work is being carried out by Rhomberg Bau AG, Bern, under the management of the Emil Frey Group and will take around 18 months. The HoCoSa factory building, which is around one hundred years old, will be gently renovated. The adjacent shed hall will be replaced by a new building in the style of the main building.
The textile industrialist Fritz Hochuli ran a fine embroidery business in these buildings. Hochuli & Co Safenwil was founded in 1897 and the first buildings were constructed shortly afterwards.
In 1917, the factory was significantly enlarged for the first time and the area on the east side was extended by a three-storey building (future museum). This striking building, which still exists today, was built by the well-known architect and politician Armin Meili from Zurich. In addition, a first Schedhalle was built on the foundations of the first factory along Bahnhofstrasse (today's showroom and event hall).
The factory underwent a major expansion in the 1950s when a two-storey office building was erected on the north side of the Schedhalle. In the early 1970s, the Schedhalle, which no longer exists today, was modernized for the last time and adapted to the needs of the time.
In its heyday, HoCoSa employed 100 people and produced high-quality underwear and T-shirts. From 1992, however, production had to be gradually reduced. In 2009, Emil Frey AG took over the buildings from Robert Hochuli after they had been rented for several years.
The conversion represents a major investment for Emil Frey AG and underlines the great importance of historic vehicles and their care.
Also Swiss Car Register in Safenwil
The so-called "welfare building", which is located on the same site, will be structurally reinforced and its interior adapted for a new purpose. After completion, the Swiss CarRegister (SCR) association will move its weighty archive from Effretikon to Safenwil. The Swiss Car Register is committed to the long-term preservation of the automobile as a cultural asset and maintains an extensive archive of Swiss automobile history.
