A portrait of Jürgen Strasser
Oldtimergalerie Laufenburg

Jürgen Strasser has been a regular guest at the Eggentaler Herbst Classic for years and has turned his Oldtimer Galerie in Laufenburg, in southern Baden, into one of the top spots in the classic car scene. Our profile shows how his passion for cars began and why, even at the age of 65, he has no intention of putting his feet up and relaxing.

The driver of the red Ferrari with the number 5 on the hood looks somewhat skeptical into the camera for the obligatory photo. However, it is quite likely that he once caused chaos with his race car on the streets of Niederhof, a village of 1,500 inhabitants on the border with Switzerland. Today, the vehicle is a real gem, lovingly cared for and polished, standing next to many other priceless vehicles. “That’s where it all started,” says Jürgen Strasser, and the hesitation in his gaze has already turned into a certain pride. His first Ferrari, back in the 1960s when little Jürgen was just a child, was only a pedal car, but it was the beginning of a great passion, to which Jürgen Strasser has given an impressive face with the Oldtimer Galerie in Laufenburg, not far from his birthplace.

In 2015, the two-story spaces of the Oldtimer Galerie were inaugurated, attracting car enthusiasts from all over the world. “Most,” says Jürgen Strasser, “know exactly what they want and fulfill a long-held dream.” And at the Oldtimer Galerie Laufenburg, they know what they are getting. Classic cars that look as if they have just rolled off the production line, all with top-notch appraisals and restored by true specialists. Jürgen Strasser’s extensive network and long-standing connections ensure that he not only continuously finds rare gems but also new owners for these cars.

The fact that Jürgen Strasser today enjoys an excellent reputation in the scene has a long history. “And it is connected to a lot of work,” says the 65-year-old. He learned the basics of mechanics in his village. Everyone back then rode mopeds, and naturally, the two-stroke engines not only had to rattle but also had to be fast. However, why only Jürgen, among his seven siblings, developed such a strong passion for combustion engines, he still cannot quite explain. However, for him, it was clear that as soon as he turned 18, he would need a BMW 2002, the first of “a bunch of cool cars” that Jürgen Strasser has driven over nearly half a century. Apart from the Kadett City, which he had to use as a stopgap during his military service. However, the Opel was quickly overshadowed by a 924 from Zuffenhausen, his first Porsche.

The fact that Jürgen Strasser could afford this expensive passion back then, he attributes to three reasons: “Work, work, and work.” After earning his first money in his parents’ beverage shop in Niederhof, he began driving 40-ton trucks in long-distance transport. “I was always on the road, even on weekends and during holidays,” he recalls. When six years later, he was able to move to a freight company in Switzerland to do day tours, Jürgen Strasser’s daily life became more orderly. Although he had already started dealing in cars at that time, he and his brother took the plunge into entrepreneurship: in the southwestern tip of Germany, between Lörrach and Waldshut, they ran eight small casinos and gaming halls for a total of 31 years. Today, businessman Jürgen Strasser is much more broadly positioned and is involved, among other things, in the e-bike, real estate, and gastronomy businesses — and of course, he continues to nurture his Oldtimer Galerie.

“This is my life,” he says, looking at it: “I could never just sit at home doing nothing.” He is someone who likes to pull the strings, but at the same time, he seems to be able to let go in some areas. His Oldtimer Galerie is only open on Saturdays and by appointment, and at the same time, he sees with great satisfaction that his sons Florian and Tobias want to follow in his footsteps. The fact that both now have responsibilities in the Strasser companies and, of course, also have petrol in their veins, he considers a great fortune.

At the Eggentaler Herbst Classic, the Strassers have been regular guests with several cars for years. And anyone watching them quickly realizes that there is a spirit of passion in the family. They are among those who prepare particularly meticulously and drive particularly beautiful cars. “Together, it’s just more fun,” says Jürgen Strasser. He himself sits with his long-time friend Thomas Rüd in one of the few cars that are unsellable in the Oldtimer Galerie. His Mercedes 190 SL Roadster, built in 1956, which has already participated in the legendary Mille Miglia. Or “the most extraordinary car I’ve ever owned”: the SS Jaguar 100 built in 1939, which Jürgen Strasser and his wife Andrea fell in love with when they discovered it in an unrestored state. “We were immediately thrilled,” he says, which led to a spectacular project. The Swiss specialist Georg Dönni worked for over 5,000 hours meticulously to restore the one-off piece, modified by the coachbuilder Jacques Saoutchik, to its original condition.

Once again, this time, Jürgen Strasser will be at the start of the Eggentaler Herbst Classic with the pre-war car. “We always want to win,” he says of his ambitions — but he always has a relaxed smile on his face, also because he knows how to appreciate the atmosphere and landscape of South Tyrol. After the rally, the car will return to its exclusive spot in the Oldtimer Galerie and attract many curious looks. Like so many other jewels around it that make Jürgen Strasser’s eyes light up when he can tell their story.

Next to the pedal Ferrari stands the Hercules — the moped he rode at 16 and which his sons restored. Or a BMW Z1 in its original condition with just 943 km on the odometer. Or the Chevrolet 3600 pickup — once an almost scrapped car, today a fully functional jewel restored down to the last detail, both inside and out. “Super cool,” says Jürgen Strasser as he walks around the car — also because on the doors, you can see a tribute from the painter to the vintage car lover: “Jürgen’s Trucking and Towing” is written on it in big letters.

“When I discover something like that, I just have to grab it,” he says. With every car or motorcycle he finds and has restored, he develops an emotional relationship, even knowing that he will sell it someday. But as long as the vehicles are on display at the Oldtimer Galerie in Laufenburg, Jürgen Strasser can enjoy them. He visibly enjoys taking a bit more time than he used to. His companies used to “demand his full commitment, 365 days a year.” Today, he has no intention of retiring but can also look back with satisfaction and calm. At all the trophies and photos that testify to his passion for rallies and cars. At the old slot machines from his time in the casino business. Or at the beautiful jukebox he once found at a fair in Cologne. Needless to say, it is in perfect aesthetic and technical condition. When the selector grabs a 7-inch vinyl single and places it on the turntable, the tonearm drops, and Chris Farlowe’s “Out of Time” echoes from the speakers, everything fits perfectly into the nostalgic atmosphere of the Oldtimer Galerie. And even if much here revolves around preserving the past — it is anything but outdated.