In its five years of existence, the PS.Speicher in Einbeck has made a name for itself as one of the most beautiful and impressive classic car museums in Germany. Every year, almost 100,000 guests visit the museum, which was founded by the benefactor and collector Karl-Heinz Rehkopf. Now the Einbeck-based company is going one better and making almost the entire collection public: with a total of around 2,500 exhibits, visitors will have access to the largest classic car collection in Europe from summer 2020.
A collection spanning over 50 years
A total of 1,200 historic motorcycles, 630 cars, vans and microcars, 200 trucks and buses as well as a collection of electric vehicles and another of Lanz Bulldogs will then be on display in four show depots and the PS.Speicher in Einbeck. The truck and bus collection has already been on display on Saturdays during the season for some time; with three further PS. depots in close proximity to each other, the rest of the huge collection, which Karl-Heinz Rehkopf has amassed over a period of more than 50 years, will now also be made accessible. The only exceptions for the time being are a collection of bicycles and small parts as well as a few duplicates.
Largest collection in Europe - perhaps even worldwide
"As far as we know, this is the largest collection of its kind in Europe," says PS.Speicher Managing Director Lothar Meyer-Mertel, "perhaps even worldwide. In any case, it is the largest of its kind that will be freely accessible." Visitors should therefore bring plenty of time with them. "It is hardly possible
to take in everything on offer in one day," explains Meyer-Mertel. A visit to the PS.SPEICHER alone takes around three hours; a further one to two hours must be planned for each depot. Apart from the lack of time, there is also the question of how many images and impressions a person can absorb in one day.
"However, many guests will certainly come with a clear set of interests and won't want to see everything." The spectacular collection of historic motorcycles will therefore be a particular focus of interest. While the PS.Speicher impresses with the quality of the presentation and the curatorial concept, the PS.Depots will impress guests with the overwhelming quantity and number of different exhibits alone. Selected highlight exhibits, which are representative of relevant stages of development, will break up the long rows of objects.
An important step in urban development
For the city of Einbeck, the opening of the PS.depots represents another important step in the city's development. "The PS.SPEICHER has given the town a jolt," says a delighted Mayor Dr. Sabine Michalek, "tourism is booming, restaurants and retailers are benefiting. The whole town is coming alive: Einbeck is increasingly developing into the Mecca of the classic car scene, which every classic car fan should have visited at least once in their life," the mayor is convinced.
Due to the complex spatial situation on site, access to the PS. depots will initially be possible in the form of guided tours. The respective access dates can be booked via a booking system on the Internet. Closed groups can also book tours outside the specified times. Guided tours are also possible.
PS.Depot Truck+Bus - action-packed exhibition
A total of four depots will be accessible: The PS.Depot Truck+Bus, which is run almost entirely by volunteers (who are referred to as "Ehrenaktive" at PS.SPEICHER), has already been open every Saturday within the season from April to October for 3 years. This will continue to be the case in the future; however, the depot is to be developed even more than before as an "active depot". Events, tractor and fire department days and various vehicle meetings already take place there regularly and some of the vehicles are moved. In addition to the trucks and buses, over 30 Lanz Bulldogs will also be on display at the PS.Depot Lkw+Bus in future.
PS.Depot Motorrad - in a unique ambience
The PS.Depot Motorrad in the historic wallpaper factory "Vereta" displays a total of 800 two-wheelers on 3 floors with 3,500 square meters of space, mainly German series motorcycles from the beginnings up to the seventies. But international brands from the seventies are also on display.
The listed building also houses two historic wallpaper printing machines as well as almost 1000 printing rolls and sample books, which provide an authentic impression of the industrial history of the lovingly renovated building complex.
PS.Depot Automobil - a delight for children too
The PS.Depot Automobil is located in a former industrial plant, directly opposite the PS.Depot Motorrad. On 2 levels, 200 cars, mainly from the economic miracle era, are on display on an area of 3,800 square meters. In addition to vehicles from the major brands VW, BMW, Mercedes, Opel, Adler and Borgward, there are also numerous individual items on display. In an adjoining room there is a small but fine collection of children's and carousel vehicles.
PS.Depot small cars - Small cars really big
In addition to 230 small and very small cars, most of which have been taken over from the former Störy collection, the PS.Depot Kleinwagen also houses a small selection of electrically powered vehicles, racing cars and curiosities from the collection on 2,500 square meters.
The PS.Depot Kleinwagen is also home to the visitor center, where tickets are purchased and groups are guided to the respective depots.
Admission costs €10 per person and depot. A guided tour lasts around 90 minutes.
Further information
Detailed information is also available on the official PS.Speicher website.
