Klassik Expertise – The Porsche-loving car buying consultants

A Porsche is more than just a car. It is a cultural asset, an investment and a driving machine all in one. Anyone interested in one of the classic Zuffenhausen cars needs not only enthusiasm, but also expertise. This is because the condition, originality and history of a car can hardly be assessed by laypeople. And that’s where Wolfgang Hämmerlin’s professional Porsche buyers guidance helps you out. The car buying consultants from Klassik Expertise give you insights, which help as an objective assessment, as a negotiating aid – and as a protective shield against expensive mistakes. We visited Hämmerlin’s company to let the professionals show us why investing in a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) usually pays off immediately.

Where to find the right expertise for a Porsche PPI? Next to Porsche’s home town, of course!

Only a few kilometers of country road separate Althengstett from Weissach, where Porsche has been developing its sports cars since 1971 and chasing them around the company’s own test track. Right here, in a 250 square meter, light-flooded hall, graduate engineer Wolfgang Hämmerlin and his team check valuable cars from top to bottom in his company Klassik Expertise. As a Certified Expert for Historic Cars, he offers a portfolio that ranges from various vehicle reports to individual Porsche buying guidance and pre-purchase inspections. The location is no coincidence. Anyone looking to buy a classic 911 will feel that they are in particularly good hands within sight of Porsche’s home town.

Working alongside the 57-year-old are experts with similar backgrounds: Firstly, there is Martin Kämmerling, 62, a multiple participant in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring and former team leader in AMG’s development department. He is also active as an expert. Wolfgang’s 24-year-old son Leonard Hämmerlin is also involved. He is responsible for classic cars at HWA and supports his father Wolfgang with the vehicle reports, logistics and media work. Their common motto: “Know-how protects assets.”

The Klassik Expertise team – always putting their heart and soul into their work

Wolfgang Hämmerlin

• born in 1968
• graduate engineer
• reports, type and purchase advice

“My very first word was “car”. That was a few days ago – but it was the start of a passion that is still going strong today.”

Leonard Hämmerlin

• born in 2001
• technical business economist
• reports, logistics and media

“I was infected by the Porsche virus as a two-year-old – being driven to kindergarten in a ’67 911 S left its mark!”

Martin Kämmerling

• born in 1963
• graduate engineer
• reports and logistics

“There was no alternative for me to buying a 911 2.7 in 1994, after I had caught the Porsche virus from my uncle years earlier.”

What does an expert for classic cars actually do?

Klassik Expertise offers numerous different services, all of which pursue the same goal: “Protecting values and saving time and nerves in the long term,” explains Wolfgang Hämmerlin. For example, customers can commission brief appraisals or detailed valuations. The reasons for this are complex. “For example, it could be required by the car insurance company in order to calculate the sum insured,” says the expert. This service is primarily aimed at those who already own a classic car.

Each order begins with a precise coordination of the scope of the inspection. Usually a few days later it ends with a multi-page report. That includes paint thickness report, list of all damage, maintenance history, tire and brake status, oil analysis and a check to see whether the car has matching numbers – i.e. engine and gearbox numbers match the bodywork. In addition to his extensive collection of literature, Wolfgang Hämmerlin also draws on contacts in company archives or his extensive network in the expert scene for this confirmation of authenticity if required. “Our judgment protects against expensive surprises,” he says.

A vehicle appraisal can also help to assert claims

From time to time, however, these reports are also required for another purpose, namely to preserve evidence. “If defects are found after the purchase of a car that were not contractually agreed, they must be comprehensively documented. This is the only way to assert claims against the seller in the worst case scenario,” says Wolfgang Hämmerlin.

Professional purchasing advice and pre-purchase inspections saves money, time and nerves in the long term

“To minimize the risk of such expensive misunderstandings from the outset, we at Klassik Expertise offer our purchasing advice as a service.” Each mandate begins with a detailed briefing. Which models are being considered? What use is planned? What is the budget, how high is the tolerance for patina? On this basis, Wolfgang Hämmerlin first evaluates possible listings with regard to model variant, equipment, history and pricing. The experienced classic car expert then inspects promising candidates on site.

In addition to the professional expertise, such an independent pre-purchase inspection, including an appraisal also has a major emotional benefit. “The biggest risk when making a purchase decision is often yourself. Once you’re standing in front of the dream car you’ve been looking for for a long time, it’s easy to lose your mind,” says Hämmerlin. If emotions get the better of you in such a case, it’s easy to overlook issues. “With my expertise, I quickly recognize the weak points, expose hidden problems or give the green light if it’s a top specimen.”

The biggest risk when making a purchase decision is often yourself. Once you’re standing in front of the dream car you’ve been looking for for a long time, it’s easy to lose your mind.

Wolfgang Hämmerlin, Klassik Expertise

As an expert, Hämmerlin also knows the budget that needs to be set aside to rectify any issues or imperfections. “This gives the buyer well-founded arguments for later price negotiations with the seller,” he explains. As a result, commissioning a Porsche purchase consultation, including a pre-purchase inspection from Klassik Expertise often pays for itself even before the purchase. Either because the issues are rectified at the seller’s expense or are taken into account in the purchase price. That of course depends on what Hämmerlin’s customers want.

Which Porsche model is the right one for me? Klassik Expertise also offers car buying consulting

But Wolfgang Hämmerlin sees himself as more than just a vehicle appraiser. Instead, he describes himself as a consultant in the entire ownership process. In addition to Porsche purchase advice, he also offers help in finding the right model in the first place. “Many people have the dream of driving just an old Porsche. However, there is often a lack of personal experience. Prospective buyers often don’t even know what these cars are like to drive,” says the expert. That’s why Hämmerlin provides classic Porsches from different eras as demo cars. On these examples, he can explain the differences in technology, maintenance and driving experience. “This allows our customers to experience the major differences between the model series for themselves. Then they can weigh up which generation is right for them without any pressure to make a decision.”

Only then does the actual search begin. For each mandate, Wolfgang examines numerous advertisements together with his clients. The experienced expert then inspects the cars that are jointly assessed as the most promising candidates on site. On request, he prepares brief reports with photos, paint measurements and cost estimates. Sometimes, however, the type consultation only takes place in the second step. Wolfgang’s customer Brendan Hundt’s story shows that. “Brendan is a customer from Australia who has lived in Dubai for years. He originally asked me to look at a Porsche 964 Turbo for him. However, the car was far too expensive considering its condition and would have needed a lot of work.”

“The trick is to leave your own taste out of the equation in order to be able to make an independent recommendation”

In the conversations that followed, Wolfgang found out that Brendan had never driven an air-cooled Porsche, let alone a Turbo before. “After the Turbo episode, Brendan and I talked again at length about what kind of car he would actually like. It turned out that a 964 Carrera with a naturally aspirated engine would be a much better choice for him,” recalls Wolfgang.

Tourist Delivery – A special experience not only for international customers

During our conversation, the same Brendan comes by. He came over for the handover inspection of his dove blue Porsche 964 Carrera 2, which he bought in the Netherlands. Wolfgang found the car for him, inspected it and had various modifications carried out at Boxer Motor in Germany. In addition, export license plates were organized and, after consultation with Brendan, transport to Dubai was also arranged via Christian Reyer. “So Brendan can go on vacation with his family in Germany, enjoy his new car in the Black Forest and then have it delivered to his front door,” summarizes Wolfgang Hämmerlin.

Many years ago, Porsche offered something similar, called Tourist Delivery. That offer was primarily aimed at customers from the USA. Wolfgang Hämmerlin would now like to revive this idea for classic Porsches – for his customers from all over the world! Because: “Many European Porsche buyers also like to combine the collection of their car with a visit to the Porsche Museum or a tour of the Black Forest,” says the Klassik Expertise founder.

Brendan works as a lawyer drafting major contracts and travels extensively around the world – his time is precious. However, he is new to the classic Porsche segment. For him, the service provided by Klassik Expertise was therefore much more than just help with the purchase. “Wolfgang is like a good friend. After saving me from making an expensive mistake, he helped me find the perfect car and even gave me some tips for our family holiday,” he concludes.

Wolfgang is like a good friend. After saving me from making an expensive mistake, he helped me find the perfect car and even gave me some tips for our family holiday.

Brendan Hundt

How do history, mileage and number of previous owners affect the value of a vehicle?

On request, Wolfgang Hämmerlin will also coordinate the restoration of your classic car.

Wolfgang Hämmerlin himself is a big fan of the Porsche 911 Targa Softwindow with a short wheelbase, also known as SWB. In addition to his already restored blood orange car, Klassik Expertise has a second body shell of the same model. Over the course of the next year, the rare classic is to be restored to its former glory. “This Targa is to be absolutely perfect and 100 percent true to the original. This demonstrator is intended to show my customers what a well-done restoration looks like and how much effort is involved.”

During the restoration process, Klassik Expertise can draw on a large network of specialists who meet the highest standards. “I am also happy to share my personal experience and network in this segment with my customers,” says Hämmerlin. He then acts as project manager, arranges specialized bodywork and engine builders, and monitors deadlines, budgets, and quality standards. The network ranges from engine builders in the Swabian Alb to interior specialists in North Rhine-Westphalia. Customers benefit from bundled expertise without having to go through a workshop odyssey themselves.

When it comes to a car restoration, the devil is often in the details. Our service consists of knowing precisely these details so that our customers end up with a perfectly restored car.

Wolfgang Hämmerlin, Klassik Expertise

A Porsche PPI is your admission ticket, safety net and negotiation aid

With his company Klassik Expertise, Wolfgang Hämmerlin shows that a professional vehicle inspection is much more than just paperwork. It is an admission ticket, a safety net, and a negotiation aid all in one. Thanks to the experts from Althengstett, the dream of owning your own Porsche is sure to become a reality – but safe! The entire team provides expert and empathetic support – after all, they are passionate Porsche fans themselves.

With the completion of the planned loft deck, the expansion of their demo fleet, and the professionalization of the tourist delivery packages, Klassik Expertise is taking the next step. The message remains the same: if you want to enjoy the dream of owning your own Porsche without regret, it is better to invest in sound expertise – and possibly save a fortune thanks to it.

How to contact the experts at Klassik Expertise

• web: www.klassik-expertise.de
• phone: +49 (0)7056 965 6633
• mobile: +49 (0)151 41 66 80 11
• e-mail: info@klassik-expertise.de
• instagram: @klassikexpertise