The SWISS CAR REGISTER will be presenting the "Gangloff" body shop in a special show at the 38th Fribourg Classic Car + Parts Market on March 23 and 24, 2013.
Geneva as the cradle of Swiss automotiveization
Geneva can justifiably be called the "cradle" of Swiss automotiveization. One reason for this was certainly its proximity to France, the mother country of the first automobiles. In 1900, 102 motor cars were already registered in Geneva, compared to just nine in Bern.
It is hardly surprising that many Swiss car brands such as Dufaux, Piccard & Pictet (Pic-Pic) and Sigma settled in Geneva and organized the first Geneva Motor Show together with the ACS in 1905.
At that time, it was up to the coachbuilders to produce the bodies for the touring and sports car chassis. Many years of experience in car construction stood them in good stead.
Pioneers as early as the 19th century
Pioneers in this field were the brothers Georges and John Gangloff. The name Gangloff is mentioned for the first time in 1830; wheel hubs and spoked wheels were probably the main business. In 1878, the company Gangloff, Kutschen- und Wagenbau was founded, from which Carrosserie Georges Gangloff emerged.
Expansion
The great demand for automobiles encouraged development and Gangloff became the main supplier of bodies on Pic-Pic chassis.
The company was able to move into new workshops with sufficient space in the Geneva suburb of Sécheron. In 1914, Gangloff employed 120 highly qualified specialists, whose products were presented with distinction at the Swiss National Exhibition in Bern that same year.
The finest and best in coachbuilding
In 1924, the first Geneva Motor Show after the First World War, Carrosserie Gangloff was also represented with a stand. Comment in the Automobil-Revue: "G.Gangloff, Geneva: In terms of elegance, this stand contains the most beautiful and best that is currently being achieved in coachbuilding; the Gangloff company can compete with the very best Parisian coachbuilders with its products".
Gangloff Geneva expanded and took over Carrosserie Wiederkehr in Colmar (F) in 1922. Later, Carrosserie Gangloff in Colmar (F) made an excellent name for itself as a manufacturer of bodies on Bugatti chassis. In 1926, Carrosserie Geissberger on Wiesenstrasse in Zurich was taken over and in 1929 a branch was founded in Berne, which still exists today as Gangloff AG and is very successful on the market.
Until liquidation
Gangloff then fell victim to the financial crisis in the 1930s, when sales of automobiles faltered, dragging both Pic-Pic and Gangloff into the downward spiral. Liquidation in 1936 was the result, from which the successor company Carrosserie de Sécheron AG subsequently emerged.
Our heartfelt thanks go to the lenders of the individual exhibits, without whom it would not have been possible for us to put together this unique special exhibition.
Special thanks go to Carrosserie Gangloff AG, Bern, and Ferdi Hediger for their cooperation in the reappraisal of the Gangloff company history.
OTM Fribourg as the traditional Swiss season opener
Around 400 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors are expected at Forum Fribourg for the 38th edition of Switzerland's largest trade fair for collection vehicles and spare parts.
Parts and particles, accessories, tools and tires, miniatures, literature and, of course, not forgetting the many vintage and classic cars, restored or not, with a minimum age of 20 years, will be exhibited over an area of 20,000 m2.
The traditional Club Show, in Hall 4, will once again welcome various associations this year: FAAS Federation of American Automobiles, FAM Friends of Old Motorcycles, FSVA Fédération Suisse des Véhicules Anciens and the SWISS OLDTIMERS, Swiss umbrella organization for historic motor vehicles. The following clubs will also be present in the Club Hall: ARAMA (Association Romande des Amis des vieilles Machines Agricoles - Western Switzerland Association of Friends of Old Agricultural Machinery), Amazona Team, Vevey Retro Association, Austin-Healey Club Switzerland, ACI Suisse, Ideale DS + CX Club, Lémania Coccinelle, Manta Club Innerschweiz, Matra Club Suisse, Swiss Morris Minor Club, Scuderia Ferrari as well as the SMVC Lady Drivers, Squadra Topolino and the VCCSR (Vétéran Car Club Suisse Romand).
Further information can be found on the OTM Fribourg website.
