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BMW E30 M3
A defining driver’s car with motorsport roots.
Swiss collector vehicle sourcing · Worldwide
Great cars.
Swiss roots.
We find original, well documented collector vehicles in Switzerland and help international buyers see the full picture before they decide.
Collector vehicles · SwitzerlandOriginalityDocumented historyCareful evaluationPersonal coordination
Our focus
Cars worth finding.
Collector cars, distinctive European classics and exceptional enthusiast vehicles — selected around your brief.
Air-cooled era
Porsche 911
Timeless form, character and detailed provenance.
Automotive heritage
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
An icon that calls for exceptional care in evaluation.
Swiss & Alpine character
Puch G
Purposeful four-wheel-drive heritage.
Rare performance
Classic Alpina
Understated performance from a special chapter of BMW history.
Modern classic
Lamborghini Murciélago
Striking presence and a memorable V12 era.
Illustrative renderings only. They do not show vehicles in our inventory or cars sourced by Alpenwerk. Have another model in mind? Tell us what you’re looking for.
Why Switzerland
Where exceptional cars have a paper trail.
Switzerland is a compelling place to find beautifully kept European collector cars. Its periodic vehicle inspections, specialist care and documentation give us valuable starting points for a serious search.
Swiss vehicles are subject to official roadworthiness inspections, while owners of cherished classics often keep service invoices, registration records and restoration details. For eligible veteran vehicles, the authorities make a separate assessment of age, technical condition and use. These are meaningful signals when we investigate a particular car.
No country guarantees perfect cars. Swiss winters, road use, ageing components and past repairs still deserve scrutiny. We compare the story with the car, check the records we can obtain and choose examples that earn their place on your shortlist.
Explore what Switzerland can — and cannot — tell you
01 / DISCOVERYWhat can we find here?
The Swiss market can offer European-market specifications and vehicles that buyers abroad might not see in their local listings. We search around your exact model, configuration and budget instead of treating every Swiss car as a match.
Availability depends on the market at the time of your search.
02 / DOCUMENTSWhat do Swiss records add?
When available, registration papers, the last MFK date, service invoices and ownership records help establish a timeline. Official veteran status is a separate assessment, not a blanket quality certificate.
We explain which documents we have actually seen and where information is missing. Understand the MFK →
03 / CONDITIONWhat still needs checking?
A passed MFK cannot prove originality, exclude hidden corrosion or certify every mechanical component. We look for signs of prior body repairs and modifications, compare seller claims with the available records and recommend further specialist checks when appropriate.
If something cannot be verified, we say so.
Our advantage is being present in Switzerland to ask the next question, examine the car more closely and help you decide with clearer information.
Private acquisition
How it works.
One search shaped by your brief. Open each step to see what we discuss and what happens next.
01Define your carWe start with the model, the specification and your priorities.
Tell us what belongs in your garage and which details are essential. That gives the search a clear direction before we approach a seller.
- Model, year range, gearbox, colour and options
- Desired condition, originality, mileage and service history
- Vehicle budget, destination and acceptable compromises
02Search the Swiss marketWe narrow down candidates and speak with sellers.
We compare available vehicles against your brief and request additional details where a listing leaves questions open. A shortlist should be relevant, not simply long.
- Check the advertised specification and asking price
- Ask for photographs and available records
- Flag obvious mismatches before spending more time
03Review the evidenceCondition and documentation come before a decision.
We look at the available vehicle papers, MFK information, service history and body condition. Where the decision calls for it, we can coordinate a closer independent mechanical or specialist inspection.
- Separate verified facts from seller statements
- Identify visible repairs, corrosion or modifications
- Present open questions alongside the strengths
04Decide and coordinateYou choose whether the car is right for you.
If you want to proceed, we support communication with the seller and coordinate the practical next steps. For sea freight, we can collect the vehicle and bring it ourselves to the European port.
- Agree on the purchase and handover steps
- Arrange appropriate road, sea or air transport
- Connect with export, freight and US import specialists as required
Every search is different. We keep the process personal and tell you when the evidence is not yet strong enough to decide.
Tell us what you seekFrom Switzerland to the United States
Follow the journey.
Explore a real map of the route from Switzerland to three different US destinations. Choose a transport method and destination.
Loading the map… The route and transport steps are described below.
Our road transportOcean freightAir freight
01 / COLLECTION
Switzerland
We review the vehicle and its documentation, then transport it ourselves from Switzerland to the European departure port.
Illustrative routes over a real map, not live vessel or flight tracks. Departure port, cargo airport, ocean routing, flights and final destination are confirmed for each booking. Los Angeles is shown for air freight only; the sea routes shown arrive in Florida or the New York area.
Our part of the journey
For sea freight, we collect the car in Switzerland and transport it ourselves to the European departure port. A shipping specialist handles loading and the sea crossing. For air freight, we coordinate handover at a Swiss airport with a qualified forwarder.
US entry
A customs broker can assess documentation, duties and release. Vehicle eligibility must be checked for each car: the NHTSA 25-year rule concerns federal safety standards; EPA requirements are separate.
Understanding Swiss inspections
What MFK means.
Swiss inspection language is useful, but it needs context when you are buying a collector car from abroad.
MFK is short for Motorfahrzeugkontrolle, the Swiss official vehicle inspection. Registered vehicles undergo periodic examinations under Swiss rules. A passed inspection tells you something about legal roadworthiness at a particular date. It is not a full mechanical diagnosis, an originality certificate or a guarantee of future condition.
01 / Periodic inspection
Regular MFK
The relevant cantonal authority calls registered vehicles for periodic inspection. Intervals depend on vehicle type and age.
We record the last inspection date shown by the available documents, rather than treating the words “MFK passed” as a complete condition report.
02 / Timing
Recent MFK
A recent inspection provides a more current reference for roadworthiness. It does not reveal every hidden defect or tell you whether a restoration, engine or paintwork is original.
We look at the date, any available inspection report and the condition of the car today.
03 / Separate status
Veteranenfahrzeug
A Swiss Veteranenfahrzeug is an officially recorded status, not simply a seller’s term for an oldtimer. Under the federal guidance, first registration must be over 30 years ago; the vehicle must be in technically flawless condition and used privately and sparingly. The authority assesses and records the status.
Our own ideal is an authentic, carefully preserved car with original or period-correct details and paintwork whose history we can understand. Veteran status alone does not certify untouched original paint, a scratch-free body or zero replacement parts. We examine and disclose those details for each vehicle.
Beyond the inspection
What we also review
The MFK is one piece of the file. A considered purchase requires a closer look at the car and its history.
- Identity & papersVehicle identification, registration documents and ownership history available to us.
- Service historyInvoices, maintenance records, mileage evidence and gaps in the timeline.
- Body & structureVisible corrosion, repairs, paintwork and signs of previous damage.
- OriginalityFactory specification, modifications and whether available records support the description.
Swiss reference: Canton of Bern inspection intervals · Federal veteran vehicle guidance (ASTRA).
About Alpenwerk
Built around the right car.
A personal approach to Swiss collector vehicles, from the first conversation to the next practical step.
Alpenwerk Automotive brings carefully chosen vehicles from Switzerland closer to collectors and enthusiasts abroad.
We started Alpenwerk because an overseas buyer often sees only a listing, a few photographs and a short description. There can be much more to understand: the car’s actual condition, its paperwork, previous repairs, originality and the person selling it. We work in the Swiss market to help bridge that distance.
Our background is hands-on automotive bodywork. That shapes the questions we ask when looking at a vehicle, especially around panels, corrosion, paint and the quality of previous repairs. We also pay attention to service records, specification and the details that make a particular example worth pursuing.
What working with us looks like
You tell us the car you want and the things you will not compromise on. We search for candidates, speak with sellers and share what we can substantiate. If a vehicle deserves a closer look, we discuss the next checks with you before a decision is made.
When the right car is found, we help coordinate communication, collection in Switzerland and the next transport steps. For sea freight, we can bring the car ourselves to the European departure port; shipping and US import formalities are handled with the appropriate professionals.
Our goal is simple: fewer assumptions, clearer information and a search built around the vehicle you actually want.
01 / CHOICE
Thoughtful selection
We focus on fit, condition and documented details rather than filling a catalogue.
02 / CLARITY
Honest context
We distinguish verified records from seller statements and identify open questions.
03 / CONNECTION
Personal coordination
One point of contact for your search and the steps that follow in Switzerland.
For international buyers
Tell us what belongs in your garage.
Share your ideal model and the details that matter. We will review your brief and get back to you personally.
A request is an enquiry, with no purchase commitment.
Start a private search
For Swiss vehicle owners
Have a special car to share?
We are interested in original or largely original vehicles with a documented history. Tell us about its condition and share a photo link if you have one.
Your submission is reviewed privately and does not automatically create a public listing.