The German magazine Motor Klassik reports that the insolvency administrator is in negotiations with the Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH division to buy parts of Kienle Automobiltechnik.
Photo: Calendar Kienle Automobiltechnik
A few months ago, we wrote about the scandal involving the Mercedes classic model restoration company Kienle Automobiltechnik.
A Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing with a duplicate chassis number has been discovered at the office of well-known restorer Klaus Kienle. A classic car dealer, Ralph Grieser from Mulheim Karlich, wanted to register a red Mercedes 300 SL Roadster bought from Switzerland.
But when he intended to register it in Germany in the name of his Depot 3 company, he found that a yellow Mercedes 300 SL with the same chassis number was registered in Germany. Grieser called the police to look for the second car because he believed he owned the original.
Grieser reported it to the police, and the charges were serious: commercial fraud with the sale of fake classic cars against Kienle. Kienle denied all the charges and said he does not own duplicate models.
However, after this incident, the company went into insolvency, and Kienle was fired from the company. According to the German magazine Motor Klassik, the Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH division may be interested in buying parts of Kienle Automobiltechnik GmbH.
Mercedes already has a strategy to expand its heritage operations, and acquiring part of Kienle Automobiltechnik could be a good opportunity. Motor Klassik magazine claims that insolvency administrator Philipp Grub of law firm Grub Brugger has confirmed negotiations with the Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH division over what he called the asset deal.
Mercedes would be interested in employees, spare parts, and tools. Kienle Automobiltechnik was founded in 1984 and currently has 53 employees and 50,000 original spare parts. The company is recognized worldwide as a specialist in the restoration of Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, roadster, 600 series, and other pre-World War II models.
