Fredy's Classic Car Rent

A different kind of car rental in Bassersdorf

Fredy's Classic Car Rent calls itself "die etwas andere Autovermietung" (the slightly different car rental). It hires out classic cars from Klotenerstrasse 10 in Bassersdorf, in the canton of Zurich, and the team page names Fredy Eckstein. Weddings are the second occasion on its list, after family celebrations and before birthdays, anniversaries and special weekends, and every car can be taken "Zum Selberfahren oder mit Chauffeur, ganz wie Sie es wünschen" (to drive yourself or with a chauffeur, just as you wish). For a couple who want a choice of cars, from a tiny Fiat to a Mercedes roadster, the fleet is unusually varied, and the whole offer is run on a small, personal scale.

The homepage lists cars such as the Porsche 356, MG TD, Ford Mustang, Fiat Topolino, Jaguar XJR, Mercedes Benz 190SL, Mini Roadster, VW Käfer, Citroën 2CV and Chrysler 300, and says a drive in one of them, with or without a chauffeur, will stick in the memory and also works well as a gift. It also offers the cars for advertising films and photo shoots, which is useful to know for an engagement or after-wedding shoot, and it shows a music video, Annie Taylor's "A Thousand Times", made with one of its Mercedes coupés. The same page notes that a drive "kommt auch als Geschenk immer gut an" (always goes down well as a gift), so friends or family could give the couple the wedding car, or a drive on the anniversary, as their present.

The fleet by category

The vehicle menu sorts the cars into five categories, which is how the price list is organized:

• Kategorie A: Citroën 2CV Dolly, Fiat Topolino, VW Käfer.
• Kategorie B: Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1600, Hillman Super Minx B1600, MG C6, Mini Cooper S Roadster.
• Kategorie C: Chrysler 300C, Ford Mustang V8 Convertible in blue, Ford Mustang V8 Convertible in yellow, Jaguar MK II 3.8.
• Kategorie D: MG TD Cabriolet.
• Kategorie E: Mercedes-Benz 190 SL.

The picture gallery also shows a "Chrysler 300 V8 Big Block" and a VW Käfer 1200. The Porsche 356 and Jaguar XJR are named in the homepage text but do not appear in the category menu, so it is worth checking whether they are still available.

For a wedding, the categories suggest themselves. The two Mustang convertibles and the Mercedes 190 SL are the open cars that photograph best with a couple in the back or at the wheel. The Jaguar MK II and the Chrysler are saloons with more presence; the site does not give seat counts, so ask about room for a dress. The 2CV, Topolino and Beetle are the playful end of the fleet, and the Mini Cooper S Roadster and MG TD sit in between.

Self-drive or chauffeur

The choice between driving and being driven is the most important decision for a wedding booking, and the site leaves it entirely open. A chauffeur means nobody in the wedding party has to learn an old car's habits on the day, and both partners can sit together. Self-drive suits a couple who enjoy driving and want to take the car out for the day, perhaps with a photo stop along the way. The site's terms put it plainly: "Oldtimer (auch Vintage Cars genannt) sind speziell und unterscheiden sich doch wesentlich von den heutigen modernen Fahrzeugen" (classic cars, also called vintage cars, are special and differ considerably from today's modern cars). Anyone planning to drive should read those terms first.

Prices and terms

Unlike many classic-car businesses, Fredy's publishes its rates. Under the heading "Transparente Preise" (transparent prices), the site says that everything has its price, including its special, well-kept classic cars, and that the rates are "Klar und übersichtlich, ohne versteckte Nebenkosten" (clear and easy to follow, with no hidden extras). Because the fleet is grouped into categories, a couple can shortlist cars in the same band and compare them on looks alone. The rates themselves are in a PDF (Tarife), linked from the page together with the rental contract (Mietvertrag) and the general terms (AGBs). The terms are described as meant to be "fair und partnerschaftlich" (fair and cooperative), setting out how both sides should treat each other and the valuable cars. Those documents are where a couple will find the minimum rental period, deposits, insurance and cancellation rules; the homepage itself does not summarize them.

Booking and contact

Booking starts with the Buchungsanfrage, a request form the site calls the "Anfrage-Talon", or with a call or email. The phone number is 044 837 19 29 (+41 44 837 19 29 from abroad), and the email is info@fccr.ch. The page invites visitors to ring or send a request, promising advice ("wir beraten Sie gerne").

The site's links section includes several garages and a Zurich wedding photographer, dein-hochzeitsfotograf.ch/zuerich, although the site does not describe what the link involves.

What the site does not settle

The site is in German only, with no English version, and it does not say whether English is spoken. It does not state how far from Bassersdorf the cars travel, whether a chauffeured car can be delivered to a venue, or what travel beyond the local area costs. It gives no seat counts and no word on decoration. The rate PDF and terms will answer the price questions; the practical ones (travel, language, decoration, whether the chauffeur waits during the ceremony) are for a phone call or email.

For a couple writing from abroad, a short message in English or simple German, naming the preferred car or category, the date, the pickup and venue addresses, and whether a chauffeur is wanted, is the quickest way to a clear answer.

Who it suits

Fredy's Classic Car Rent suits a couple marrying in or near Zurich who want to choose from a varied classic fleet with published rates, and who either want a chauffeur or have a confident driver in the party. The range, from a Citroën 2CV to a Mercedes 190 SL, lets a couple match the car to the style of the wedding. It suits less well a couple who need everything in English, or who are marrying far from the Zurich area, unless travel is agreed in advance.