Meet the specialist: FM Oldtimer

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Switzerland may only be a small country and, apart from a few makes such as Martini and Monteverdi, it may not have much of an association with motoring. Of course, that doesn't mean that the Swiss don't appreciate a fine automobile, and there are thousands of enthusiasts from Geneva in the west to St. Moritz in the east who are doing their bit to preserve motoring history. Considering how beautiful the Swiss scenery is, with its emerald valleys, crystal streams and snow-capped peaks, it's no surprise—it's the sort of landscape which is best enjoyed from behind the wheel of a vintage car.

As with anywhere in the world, keeping a vintage car on the road is not something many people can do single-handedly, so the enthusiasts of Switzerland must be grateful for FM Oldtimer and the services it provides.

Established by Fabian Mäder, FM Oldtimer, located in Bäretswil in the north-east of the country, has been servicing and repairing the Switzerland's early cars for several years. For Fabian, it was a natural career path, for he had grown up around old cars, developed a keen enthusiasm and also become mechanically adept. He says, "My father had a passion for old vehicles, so it was almost predetermined that one day I would become a mechanic. Spending hours in and around his workshop at home, where he mainly restored tractors, gave me the passion and a certain knowhow with which to get started."

After Fabian completed his national service in the Swiss Army, he came out with additional practical skills which set him up well for a job with Mercedes, in which he remained for a number of years, when a golden opportunity arose to return to working on historic vehicles, which his head and heart told him to seize. "It started thanks to a friend who owns several pre-war cars. His thought was, 'You're a mechanic, I have vintage cars. Find a workshop and off you go.'"

As is clear to see, FM Oldtimer has grown very much from the days when it was just Fabian working on a friend's cars. It now offers a wide range of services for owners of all manner of pre-war vehicles, including full or partial restorations, engine, transmission and back axle rebuilds, electrical work and bodywork. Fabian's staff also have a good understanding of carburetion and ignition systems which allows them to tackle virtually any problem, and they are assisted by a wide network of parts suppliers. One of the nicest things to see is that the staff, besides being enthusiastic and knowledgeable, are also very young, all being between 28 and 36 years old.

Many of FM Oldtimer's customers are keen motorists who drive their cars hundreds or thousands of miles a year, so routine upkeep and maintenance forms the bulk of the work. Perhaps surprisingly, a large proportion of Fabian's custom comes from the owners of American vintage cars, to the point that he now considers himself something of a specialist when it comes to pre-war Fords, including all the Model T, Model A and flathead V8 models. For these cars, their spare parts stock is particularly comprehensive. Anything pre-war is welcome, though, and there are always European cars in the workshop, too, especially Rolls-Royces. The oldest car which FM Oldtimer has worked on to date is an 1899 De Dion-Bouton vis-à-vis.

To cope with the volume of work, FM Oldtimer employs three full-time mechanics and one part-time worker. For work that cannot be done in-house, Fabian relies on a few trusted local specialists, including upholsterers, coachwork specialists and machinists.

If you have any questions for FM Oldtimer, you can, of course visit it in person, write a letter or e-mail, or call them on the telephone, but probably the best way to get a feel for the business would be to visit on one of the several open days it hosts each year. In addition to that, FM Oldtimer also has a stand at several of the main Swiss transport exhibitions, making it very approachable.

FM Oldtimer is located in Bäretswil, Switzerland. If you can't make it to an open day, telephone the company on +41 (0)44 201 95 95 or visit fmoldtimer.ch for more information.

Words: Zack Stiling; photographs: Fabian Mäder
 

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.