THE DAUPHIN COLLECTION

Our Audi Design team in Munich thought it was about time we had a “workshop” Now, for me workshop is somewhere you do woodwork or repair cars. But no, apparently für zee Germans a workshop is a long, long meeting to discuss future projects and scenarios. Luckily someone had the bright idea of kicking off the workshop day with a visit to the Dauphin private collection.

 Ignorant Englander Das ich bin, I hadn’t heard about Herr Dauphin or his collection. First stop then, Internet, www.dauphinspeedevent.de to find out more about this mysterious museum.

Friedrich-W. Dauphin made his fortune designing, manufacturing and selling ergonomic office furniture under the brand label Human Design® (no! I hadn’t heard of them either) 

Founded in 1969, the Dauphin group today employs over 820 staff and produces approx. 2500 chairs a day. In 2008 Dauphin achieved a turnover of 153 million euros. 

Originally an enthusiastic collector of historic firearms, Friedrich-W. Dauphin’s interest in classic cars was initiated by his wife who told him to “collect something that interests the whole family” Two weeks later, the Dauphins had their first classic: a Bordeaux colored Mercedes 280SE convertible from 1971. A 300SL roadster from 1961 quickly followed. 

The Dauphins have now been collecting cars for almost 30 years and have accumulated 130 classic cars and 200 classic motorcycles. Located near Nürmburg just off the A9 their 18,000 square meter hall houses one of the biggest private collections of classic cars in Germany. Under the guise of the Dauphin Speed Event Company, the collection hall with its dramatic backdrop is often booked out for auctions, fashion shows, concerts and company events.

Well, that’s enough facts, let’s get to the juicy part!

We found ourselves at 8.00 a.m on a wet and windy day in November entering the warm, inviting foyer of the Dauphin collection.  One cappuccino later and my shutter finger is twitching to start clicking and we only have 3 hours to see everything before our “werkshop” starts.

The website hadn’t given a great deal of information about the car collection, so I really wasn’t expecting too much, but boy! was I in for a surprise!

We move towards the 3-meter high glass walls that divide the entrance from the exhibit area. A Bugatti Atlantic (which I later learn is a replica built on an original chassis) and Mercedes 300 SL Gull-wing guard the entrance and beyond these are just rows and rows of cars.

 

 

The first thing that hits you is the amount of exotic metal on display, Bugatti’s, Ferrari’s, Porsche’s, Jaguar’s and Lamborghini’s. All compete to attract your attention, but in-between you see the occasional Alfa or Lancia and look even harder and you find more humble cars, like Fiat’s, MG’s and Austin’s.

  

We are being guided around by a very well informed white haired gentleman, most of his words are wasted on this group of petrol heads, we just want to drool over the curves of the beautiful metal.

 Some of our group politely follows him round, pretending to listen, but they secretly wish they had brought their cameras too, because this gives me the licence to lag behind a little. I have a new camera, an Olympus Pen and it’s the first time I’m using it in anger! The light is terrible and I’m fumbling to find the right settings on my camera, which doesn’t have a flash. I should have read the instruction manual a bit more thoroughly! But, importantly I’ve remembered the spare battery and the cameras loaded with an 8GB memory card. As we walk slowly among the collection I hear the occasional rumble of approval from the group as a dream car is discovered.

When I hear a louder rumble it attracts my attention, and I find my colleagues gathered around a bright green Lancia Stratos with it’s matching green helmet tucked into the door pocket. I wait for the last of the droolers to leave before I click off a few photos.

Time is running short, we’ve already been here over two hours, I’m on my second battery and it’s time to move on to the motorcycle section.

 I’m not really a motorcycle freak, but I can admire the design and exposed mechanics of these machines and I have to admit the sight of 200 bikes all neatly lined up is very impressive. At least half the bikes are BMW’s, but being a Brit the Norton’s and Triumph’s appeal to me the most.  

The time has come to leave, and as we walk out from the showroom I can’t help but admire how clean everything is, I can only begin to imagine what it costs to maintain this superb private collection. 

The collection is apparently missing 15 extremely rare cars, including a Porsche 356 Carrera Abarth, a Talbot-Lago 150 SS “Teardrop” and a 1947 Cisitalia 202 coupe.

But I never missed them!

 

 

 

Comments

[Geert]

Wow. Kinda puts one back in one's place in the world of car freaks I suppose.
Most of us haven't gotten further than 'collecting' a single youngtimer - no comparison for this unbelievable hall of 'collectibles'. I think I've seen at least the top two of my all time road car faves - would hate to find out he probably has the numbers three to ten of the top 10 also. Good for me Mr. Dauphin's Miura is NOT orange - so there !! haa haa !!

A pity it's so far away from the low countries - maybe we could fit this in sometime in one of the upcoming German museum tours?

[Rik]

Thank you Steve, this is all I ever wanted for X-mas!

Considering the amount of Alfa's, mr. Dauphin must be a really nice guy (also because he allows us a glance of his collection of course, which, for example, cannot be said of most art collectors)!

@Geert: As you say, might be incorporated into our Museum Tour Bavaria.

Merry X-mas everybody!!

[Mattijs]

@Steve: Our chief of interior who has been named after an italian constructor of cars from Maranello told us about this "hidden collection. So far I have not seen it. After your post, the only thing I want to do is visit that walhalla of metal sculpture. The amount of highlight is enormous. The outcome of your workshop must have been ace! Stratos, 365, Miura etc etc.....what more could one wish to have under one roof. Thanks for the inspiration and the personal story!!