Tobias Aichele

Tobias Aichele "I had fallen hopelessly in love with the Volvo P 1800."

Swissvax: “Tobias, thank you for sharing more about yourself, your passion for cars, and your collection. Which car did you drive to the office this morning?”

Tobias: I drove a 1978 Porsche 928.

Swissvax: “How did your collection come about?”

Tobias: I had fallen madly in love with the Volvo P 1800, not because of Roger Moore’s chases in the crime series “The Saint,” but because of a brochure I bought at Veterama in 1982. It depicted the coupe in anthracite with red interior. Almost a year later, I found my dream car. Then it was already two. I was driving a 1969 Volvo 142 as a daily driver at the time. That was the foundation of my current collection of “treasures.”

Swissvax: "What is your relationship with your cars?"

Tobias: Unbiased people would say, "That's not normal!"

Swissvax: "What’s missing from your collection, what’s coming next?"

Tobias: The word collection gives the wrong impression. I don’t collect in the conventional sense; I want to experience something with my vehicles. That’s why: I’d love to drive a Bentley Turbo R as a daily driver.

Swissvax: “How did you get into the automotive industry as a journalist?”

Tobias: During my studies (business administration and automotive engineering), I worked as a test and photo driver for the motorcycle magazine PS. The next step was completing an internship at Motor Presse Stuttgart, which paved the way for me.

Swissvax: "What would have happened if, instead of Zuffenhausen, the Sindelfingen team had accepted you?”

Tobias: That would have been just a “detour.”

Swissvax: "Why are you so passionate about the Porsche brand?"

Tobias: It was the company culture. When I got to know the brand as a young journalist, every employee would have done anything for the company. I had the opportunity to spend time with many Porsche personalities: with Prof. Ferry Porsche in his office ("Can you tell me about it."); Technical discussions with Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche in his studio in Zell am See, or during a tea session at the Porsche Villa in Stuttgart ("Black is not a color, but a coat of paint for those who cannot decide on a color."); Weekly visits at home with Huschke von Hanstein and his wife Ursula ("I wish you good luck."); Time travel with Heinz Rabe ("On the traces of the Porsche myth"); many evenings with Hellmut Bott, long-time technical board member and father of the 959 ("It is not my place to correct you"); private visits with former design chief Anatole Lapine ("The 911 is like an arrow shot backwards"), etc. That shaped me – and some of the cars in my collection have direct connections to these encounters.

Swissvax: “You’ve already released many award-winning books about Porsche – what’s next?”

Tobias: In September 2023, the latest book “75 Years of Porsche” was released with René Staud.

Swissvax: “Will we ever see a book from you on the modern Porsche myth? Does such a thing as a modern myth even exist?”

Tobias: Yes, this "modern" myth exists. You can see it with new communities like "Luftgekühlt," "Onassis Porsche," or the "Heizr Club." There is even an opulent work on the "R Group" by Frank Kayser. I follow these movements with great interest. However, there is still enough to discover for me in the historical world of Porsche.

Swissvax: “Do you have an example for us?”

Tobias: Yes, just a few months ago I rediscovered the KMW-Porsche racing team, with their race transporters, the legendary KMW-Porsche SP 31 with turbo drive, and all Type 916 engines with four camshafts from Porsche’s racing department.

Swissvax: “With your company Solitude and your daughter Chiara, you organize various events – how did this develop and where is it headed?”

Tobias: Today, it has to be something crazy. Unconventional – and opposite, like million-dollar old-timers on a frozen lake. Driving for four days – from morning till night – is certainly not the future.

Swissvax: “Do you see any changes in the motorsport event market?”

Tobias: The supply is so large that larger providers, who can also bring economic power to the region, will prevail. In this context, it is also interesting to observe what is emerging around the Concorso at Villa d’Este. Various organizers are also coming together here. In the US, this has already been the case for a long time.

And then: Somehow it’s like real estate with events. The location is key. St. Moritz, for example, has worldwide appeal. That’s why participants from all over the world came to the Kilomètre Lancé event we organized from 2021 to 2023. Our fans from California, for instance, came for ten days and brought their entire family.

But it’s also important to give special vehicles a platform. We also managed to do that with our Mobility Festival in St. Moritz. Record vehicles can unleash their full potential on the 1.85-kilometer-long runway.

Swissvax: “Describe a typical drive with a classic car. How does it feel and what goes through your mind?”

Tobias Aichele: Drives are like time travels for me. For example, when I get into my 1963 Volvo P 1800, I first switch the interior control to "sixties mode." That makes me internalize that I have worse brakes, my steering effort is very high, I need to park more carefully to protect the car, etc. Only then does the journey begin. The best part is when you take a classic car on vacation and fully immerse yourself in this nostalgic journey for several days. That way, the disadvantages become internalized and all that matters is the enjoyment. I believe I have a permanent grin on my face during these trips.

Swissvax: “What does ‘Care for your Dream’ mean to you personally?”

Tobias: I’ve always made my dreams come true: family, career, travel, and a pronounced hobby with the classic cars.

Eight years ago, I found the right property to bring everything under one roof. It feels great as a retreat and as a breeding ground for new projects. Care for your Dream – don’t wait!

Swissvax: “What has been your most memorable moment or experience with your classic car?”

Tobias: My races at the historic Grand Prix in Monaco and at the Goodwood Revival – and my participation in the historic Manx Grand-Prix on the Isle of Man. In a different way, the short trips in our VW T 2 Westfalia are just as great.

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