THE CURATED ONES: Volume 2

EXCLUSIVE INSIGHTS, IN-DEPTH BACKGROUNDS. A SERIES SPOTLIGHTING THE FINEST CAR COLLECTIONS WORLDWIDE. VOLUME 2: VILHELM GERMAN

You’re the owner of a remarkable super car collection. What sparked your passion – and how do you choose today which vehicles to include in your collection?

Every collection begins with a dream, maybe even just a very modest dream at first. For me, the story began like it did for many: As a young boy, I had a poster of an F40 hanging on the wall by my bed. I was five years old when the F40 hit the market. Once that poster went up, I would spend hours, days, years engrossed with that car. When I was ten years old, another poster founds its spot on my wall, the F50. And so it continued. Eventually, when the Enzo was introduced, I was already a teenager. When that car went up on my wall as well, I already had the vision of someday having Ferrari’s Magnificent Five in my future garage. Over the years, many more cars were added to my list. They would always be very personal favourites, which I had encountered in movies, from various decades.

You call a Monza SP2 your own and a Lamborghini -Countach – even in extensive collections, these are special. What led to your interest in these specific models?

The Monza SP2 embodies the pure freedom of Ferrari for me. It’s the unique combination of black and red that underscores this freedom – and the depth of the brand. When it comes to the Countach, it’s simply about pure emotions. It’s an uncompromising beast made for uncompromised driving. The Countach’s attitude is unparalleled.

The choice between the iconic brands Lamborghini and Ferrari – between the bull and the cavallino rampante – often reflects personal values or a particular sense of aesthetics of its owners. Does this historical rivalry, do these contrasting poles, play a role for you?

I love both.With Ferrari, it’s always about my childhood dream. The SP2 completely fulfills this dream – the utterly classic contours of a racing car with the aggressive V12 engine inside. The Countach, on the other hand, has this iconic, cinematic aspect because it appeared in so many movies and series. A car that equally stands for passion and love. But to drive it, you have to be up for it.

Is there another dream car you definitely want to include in your collection in the future?

I wouldn’t exactly call it a dream car. My ultimate dream cars are already in my garage – and I’m driving them on a daily basis. But I plan to acquire a Ferrari 250 GTO soon and add it to my garage. I have a feeling that now is the perfect time for it.

You belong to a generation for whom the digital world is commonplace. However, the collecting of rare valuables can be traced back at least to the 16th century, when nobles began to build “cabinets of curiosities” for their collectibles. Does collecting align with being a digital native?

Even though I’m very close to the digital world and technology, I’m also rather old-fashioned in many respects. The impulse for collecting is a deep, inner feeling. I don’t chase after cars – they simply come into my life. Each car has a story and marks a particular time in your life.

What advice would you give to other young car enthusiasts who want to build their own collections?

The first and most important advice is very simple, start collecting something that you truly love. Second, engage with the vehicles and consider if a model holds genuine importance to you. Dive into the backgrounds, acquire the knowledge. If the passion persists after these steps, you’re automatically on the right track. I am convinced that nobody collects just to have a collection.

Collecting supercars is both a passion and an investment. How do you reconcile the emotional value of your collection with the financial aspects? Are there considerations you make when acquiring a new piece?

When it comes to the idea of owning cars that I truly love, it has never really been about the fact that they appreciate in value. Whatever car is in my collection, I know everything about the models. I’m familiar with their history, the technical data, I have thoroughly studied the vehicles. For me, the joy grows from the fact that you have the opportunity to be close to these historic automobiles. That’s what matters to me even more than the actual values. And I am con-vinced that a car must be driven. It’s a shame when these witnesses of the past are locked away in underground garages and never see the light of day. Kids should should really be able to catch a glimpse of a Miura SV or a Ferrari F50 on the street.