Dr.-Ing. Christian Malorny – Minimal complexity and exceptional vehicles
Every vehicle has its own soul. That's why I have a relationship with them.
Swissvax : “Christian, thank you for letting us learn more about you and your passion for cars and your exclusive collection. What car did you drive to the office this morning?”
Christian : "This morning I took the XL1. That's Volkswagen's 1-litre car. It only needs one litre of diesel per 100 km. It's a diesel hybrid. A great vehicle, of which only 200 were built. And it manages the one litre over 100 km easily. I've driven around 40,000 km with the vehicle since 2014. A lot of motorway driving too. On average, the on-board computer shows 2.4 litres/100 km.
Swissvax : “How did you get into the automotive sector as a management consultant?”
Christian : I've always had a passion for cars. As a mechanical engineering student, I dismantled a Goggomobil 250 Coupé in my first semester, restored it and put everything back together. My passion for cars made it easy to work for clients in the automotive industry.
Swissvax : “What is your favorite car brand and why?”
Christian: That depends. One of my professional activities is brand development. A great brand that has risen from a staid image to a premium market is AUDI. Audi pushed the French and Italian brands out of the premium market and thereby created the most valuable car market in the world in Europe. In terms of sport, I love PORSCHE with the 356 and 911. The Porsche brand still conveys a lot of emotion today. A Porsche is still the dream of many boys. Historically, I am a big fan of the MESSERSCHMITT brand. The cabin scooter was a masterpiece of efficiency. And the FMR TG 500, known as the Tiger, was a high-performance racing machine.
Swissvax: "Are you a Driver or a Collector?
Christian: Driver, definitely. Cars have to be driven, no matter how valuable they are. A passerby once asked me whether a 356 Carrera 2 I was driving in Berlin wasn't much too valuable to be driven on the road. My answer: a Carrera 2 in particular is crying out to be driven every day. It certainly doesn't feel at home in a dark garage.
Swissvax: “How did your collection come about and where do you get your cars from?”
Christian: The basic theme of my vehicles is "minimal complexity". That's why I started with small cars. So Messerschmitt, Champion, BMW 600 et al. My simplest and smallest vehicle is a Kleinschnittger F125. 6.5 hp, 130 kg total weight, 70 km/h top speed. No reverse gear, no differential, no suspension, cable brakes. Then Porsches gradually came along. First the 356. Also relatively simple vehicles. Later various 911s. I get many of my vehicles from friends who are part of the relevant brand clubs and interest groups.
Swissvax: “What do you think others would say about your collection?”
Christian: “The cars all look like they’re new from the factory.” Which is true. They’re perfectly restored. Originality is very important to me. And every vehicle has a well-documented history.
Swissvax: "What's missing from your collection, what's next?"
Christian: My daughters wanted a car that we could drive as a whole family and not always just the "two-seaters". So the family council met. We unanimously decided on a Citroën DS Cabriolet. The "goddess" is unbeatable in terms of elegance. Through a friend who knows the Citroën scene extremely well, we received an offer to buy the second-to-last convertible built by the factory. Original and complete from the first owner down to the last screw, but with 350,000 km on the clock. The vehicle is now almost completely restored after 5 years. It will probably be the best existing Citroën DS Cabriolet in the world. We put a lot of effort into it.
Swissvax: "What is your relationship with your cars?"
Christian: They are lovable machines that give people freedom.
Swissvax: "Which car would you like to drive and why?"
Christian: Historically, a rally AUDI Quattro. As a new vehicle, the first sports car with four electric motors. But it doesn't exist yet.
Swissvax: "How much time do you spend with your cars?"
Christian: It depends. In the summer, 4-5 hours on the weekend. Then there are a number of rallies. And then a few hours a week are spent researching information. In the winter, it's quieter.
Swissvax: "Please describe a typical trip to us. How does it feel for you, what goes through your mind?"
Christian: First of all, I always listen to the engine. Then I ride like a cyclist. I'm constantly thinking about everyone around me and keep a good distance. When everything is working well, I'm happy that I'm sitting in a historical cultural asset and I think about everything this car has already experienced.
Swissvax: “What do you personally associate with Care for your Dream?”
Christian: It doesn't matter what you do in life. The main thing is that you are passionate about it. That applies to your job as well as your hobby. And you have to give yourself the freedom you need for your hobbies. Enthusiasm and passion are extremely important for a happy life.
Swissvax: “What is your best moment or experience with your cars so far?”
Christian: Driving through all 7 Emirates in the Messerschmitt Tiger at the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE with 100 vintage cars from all over the world. But also just driving to dinner in the summer with the 356 Speedster and my charming wife is great.
Swissvax: "Of course we know what you use to maintain your cars, but why Swissvax?"
Christian: It is simply the best cosmetic for high-quality paint surfaces. Swissvax generates an extremely deep shine and is very durable. Even after rain, a vehicle looks like new.
Swissvax: “Why is factory care and detailing treated so poorly by manufacturers and is not an option on the surcharge list?”
Christian: Good question. I don't know.
Swissvax: "Many people tell us that EV drivers will take less care of their cars in the future because, they say, the emotions are missing. What do you think about that?"
Christian: I don't see it that way. We will see a lot of innovations in the electric drive train and an incredible dynamic. Coupled with high-quality chassis that (almost) only the German premium manufacturers can achieve, it will be really fun. We will then ask ourselves, "Why didn't something like this happen earlier?" And we will look after these digitalized high-tech marvels of technology in the same way.
Swissvax: “Where do you currently see the biggest challenges for automobile manufacturers?”
Christian: To keep individual driving affordable for people. A car is freedom for everyone. We have to be careful that it does not become a luxury product for a few people.
