Classic car workshop in Anzing: “It’s not about horsepower, it’s about feeling” – Ebersberg

Light-flooded, spacious rooms with a modern look – optically this is quite a contrast to what everything here revolves around: classic cars. Wallner Classic GmbH recently relocated its headquarters from Trudering to Anzing in the Ebersberg district. The history of the family company is now to be continued there. In the new “Wallnerwerk” dreams come true for car fans, after all, here are some of the finest bodies that have rolled off the assembly line in recent decades. Of course, such pieces of jewelry need to be looked after – and that is exactly what the Wallner Classic is responsible for. Of course, car owners don’t miss out either.

The dreams of car fans come true on a total of 4500 square meters at the new company headquarters in Anzing.

(Photo: Christian Endt)

The two buildings and the underground car park at the new company headquarters in Anzing cover a total of 4,500 square meters. However, it all started a little bit smaller in a Truderinger gas station, which the founder Fritz Wallner converted into a workshop about 50 years ago. In the meantime, significantly more space is needed to meet demand, as the current managing director and son-in-law of the founder, Rouven Genz, says. Back then, Wallner bought cars as scrap, dismantled them and got them running again from scratch. However, the growth of the company does not shake the original guiding principle of the former founder – it is still primarily about stories and emotions, about passion. Because the cars that are built, restored and maintained in the Wallnerwerk all tell their own story, according to Genz – “it’s not about horsepower, it’s about a feeling”. A certain nostalgia and the pleasure of driving in its original form.

Customers enter into a “lifelong partnership” with Wallner GmbH

“A lifelong partnership” is how Genz describes the relationship between Wallner Classic and its customers. Today’s Wallnerwerk combines technology and emotion. In addition to on-site maintenance, repair and restoration of classics, the company trades in the valuable vehicles, stores them for its customers and moves them from time to time. “Everything is included, from an oil change to a customized car,” says Genz. He and his eleven employees look after collectors and driving enthusiasts comprehensively. You can watch the “diagnostic stage” from the foyer through shop windows while your treasures are being appraised, and the workshop is also generously glazed.

Company portrait: Wallner has specialized in Mercedes, but there are also other brands in the workshop - such as sports cars from Ferrari.

Wallner has specialized in Mercedes, but there are also other brands in the workshop – such as sports cars from Ferrari.

(Photo: Christian Endt)

Company portrait: Historic models from Porsche are also in the Anzing underground car park.

Historic Porsche models are also available in the Anzing underground car park.

(Photo: Christian Endt)

Company portrait: Modern super sports cars, like this Porsche 911 GT3 RS, also find a sheltered spot here.

But modern super sports cars, like this Porsche 911 GT3 RS, also find a sheltered spot here.

(Photo: Christian Endt)

Wallnerwerk grants its customers access to the four underground car park halls at any time with the help of a modern security system. Customers are private individuals from all over the world on the one hand, and companies on the other, which in turn have their customers’ classic automobiles looked after at the Wallnerwerk. “We know the technology from scratch,” explains Rouven Genz, which is why they also get international inquiries.

However, anyone who thinks that Wallnerwerk is all about Mercedes or even cars is wrong. Although the company has been committed to Mercedes-Benz since 1976, other brands are not excluded. In addition to the historic Silver Arrows, there are also classics from VW, BMW and Porsche. Most of the cars are valuable vintage cars – but not all. What is decisive is their ideal value for the owner. “We don’t set any limits with the cars,” explains Genz, adding: “In general, we want to give room for topics at the Wallnerwerk, including those outside of the automobile.”

Company portrait: Rouven Genz is the managing director and son-in-law of the founder Fritz Wallner.

Rouven Genz is the managing director and son-in-law of the founder Fritz Wallner.

(Photo: Christian Endt)

In addition to offices, there is a gallery-like exhibition room with a lifting platform that extends over the full height of the building and is also planned for projects of a completely different kind. Cooking events and joint “excursions for a decelerated journey through time” are also on the program. A lounge with a view of the field on one side and a view of the showroom and simulation racing seats on the other completes Wallnerwerk’s new business model – a total package for the cars and owners.

The new home in Anzing offers the Wallnerwerk a number of advantages: TÜV, petrol station and the A94 are in the immediate vicinity, and there are also plenty of beautiful country roads for trips in the north of the Ebersberg district. The aim is to become part of the Anzing community there. For example, the company supports the local handball club, as Genz says. Sustainability is also part of the Wallnerwerk programme. In addition to the old cars, which are already sustainable because they have been usable for decades, the entire area is also CO2-neutral and self-sufficient. They get electricity from photovoltaics, heating and cooling from ice storage technology, which, among other things, enables optimal temperature and air conditions in the underground car park halls, explains the managing director.

Company portrait: There are no longer any spare parts for many classic cars.  That's why Wallner has kept the components for years.

There are no longer any spare parts for many classic cars. That’s why Wallner has kept the components for years.

(Photo: Christian Endt)

Spare parts have also been collected for decades. Fritz Wallner started this out of love for Mercedes, and to this day the company owns parts that are no longer available anywhere in the world. Today, according to Rouven Genz, a “zero waste” policy is being pursued. So everything should be preserved and repaired if possible, also because the availability of spare parts for the historic vehicles is limited anyway.

Modern e-mobility is exciting, but it lacks the sound and identity of the classics

Genz has a very clear answer to the question of whether new cars will one day be as valuable as today’s vintage cars: “The bread-and-butter cars have become soulless, but an increase in value is also conceivable for today’s new cars, as long as they have a story, aura and character.” However, he thinks it’s a shame if it’s all about increasing the value. Enjoying the vehicle is more important to him – after all, a holiday is also about having fun and not increasing its value.

In the future, the Wallnerwerk will probably always be about historic vehicles. Modern e-mobility is technically exciting, but “it’s like a movie – without sound, the emotionality goes away,” says Rouven Genz. It’s the same for him with e-cars, they lack the sound and identity that so inspires him about the classics.

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