Ruedi, please introduce us to the company
My name is Ruedi Stoop, I am 59 years old and together with Patrick Wäspe I run Classic Garage Wangen GmbH in Wangen, Schwyz.
We mainly take care of the after-sales business, so we don't deal in vehicles ourselves. Our services include everything to do with repairs: service across all makes, models and years - mainly classic cars. These are all vehicles that are more than 30 years old. We also help with all technical matters. We also restore cars with our partners.
Do you have a personal favorite among the classic cars?
I'm often asked this question, but I can't give a definitive answer. Pre-war cars are extremely demanding to drive. I simply love them because of their style. They are uncomfortable, not the fastest and often have poor brakes, but the driving experience is indescribable.
Then there's the Golf 1 GTI, for example. I used to own a few of them - they were often rusty and had a lot of kilometers behind them. When I sit in a Golf 1 GTI today, I'm transported back to my youth.
When it comes to racing, I favor the small English TVR Griffith. With its 4.7 V8 engine, several hundred horsepower and 900 kg, the car is extremely fast. These are the cars I enjoy the most at the moment. But there are so many great cars that I couldn't choose just one.
How can you tell that you're sitting in a classic car?
In most cases, classic cars don't have any driver assistance systems and the speed of pre-war classic cars is limited. Uphill progress is slightly faster than walking pace.
You must always keep an eye on the coolant temperature while driving. It can happen that you have to fetch some water from the stream to pour into the radiator during a stopover. Then you have to let the car cool down with the hood open. You should never drive downhill faster than you drove uphill in such an old car, because the brakes do not function optimally.
In contrast to new cars, classic cars only have a single-stage windshield wiper, which is actually more like a raindrop wiper. The windshields quickly become clogged and without air conditioning, visibility quickly becomes a problem. The lighting is not ideal either, some of them still have Bilux lamps installed. With only 6 volts, it feels as if there is no light at all.
Instead of technical bells and whistles, they put the folding windows into the wind for cooling or lower the side windows. Some only have three or four gears. When a VW Beetle drives down the highway at 120 km/h, that's the highest of feelings. It doesn't get any faster than that!
How can you influence the driving experience?
Classic cars need regular care and a lot of love. You have to be very careful with the brakes because they are not self-adjusting in a classic car. As a result of wear and tear, the brake pedal travel increases over time. It is also essential to check and change the brake fluid regularly. The same applies to transmission oil, rear axle oil, coolant and engine oil. In addition, many parts need to be replaced, cleaned or readjusted over time. A classic car like the VW Beetle needs a service every 5,000 km (depending on the year of manufacture) - unthinkable today!
What should you bear in mind when servicing in the garage?
I recommend regular oil changes to every customer. Compared to service work or even an engine overhaul, the oil is not particularly expensive, but it does a lot and prevents major damage.
MOTOREX's products cover exactly what is required. I can find the entire product range here, from monograde to multigrade oils for the engine, transmission and rear axle, as well as the right care products. For me, MOTOREX as a Swiss manufacturer with its own development and research and the associated field tests with oil analyses and the perfect mixtures makes it exactly the right partner. For example, I don't need to add a zinc additive separately if required, unlike with any other petrol station oil.
What is your message to classic car fans?
Take care of your classic car, because you don't drive a car like this for life. The aim is to pass the classic car on at some point. You should look after it so that you can pass it on to your daughter, son, neighbor or a friend. Don't hide the cars under a cover in the garage, but display them so that you are often seen with the car. We have a huge density of classic cars in Switzerland and unfortunately you see them far too rarely on the road.
Actively visit a meeting with your classic car or organize an excursion. Inspire young people and invite them for a spin: it's not just an old rattling and smoking car. It took almost 100 years to build up from a horse-drawn carriage to today's modern car and the classic cars are part of the journey and therefore part of our history. They accompany us on this journey, as well as our parents and grandparents. This heritage should be passed on to the younger generation. People out for a stroll enjoy this cultural asset with a smile on their face. You often make nice encounters and get to know new people. It really is a great experience to be allowed to drive a classic car.
Further information on MOTOREX Classic Line products can be found on the MOTOREX website.
