The 50km radius search

The ClassicIndex.eu website was founded in the autumn of 2006. The founding principle was that every piece of information published on the website was to be directly related to classic vehicles or be of interest to classic vehicle enthusiasts. This information would not be useful unless it could be easily located by users, therefore we designed a search engine. We also linked to other internet search engines such as GoogleTM & Co. The 50km radius search is one of the tools. Individuals are normally well aware of what services are offered in their local area. Travel farther away and there are just as many services – they just need to be found. The 50km radius search makes the search very easy. All that is required by the search engine is the name of the place, the country and a subject for the search, for example, vehicle make or model. Firms offering rust protection or restoration services may also be easily located of course. It really works! Click here to test the function.

There is a false rumour that classic vehicles are less reliable than their modern equivalent. On the contrary, modern vehicles with their complex electronics, miles of cable and overcrowded engine compartment have much more potential to fail that well-maintained classics that quite only have a couple of fuses and very few electrical switches. Mechanically, there are also substantial drawbacks with newer vehicles. Today parts are carefully planned and deliberately built with a finite life, meaning that a lifespan of more than thirty years is not expected. This has been made possible with modern computer technology and modelling; something that was just not possible and would be considered massively over-engineered by today's reckoning. So a well-maintained classic vehicle has a relatively low risk of breakdown.

However, should a technical problem arise with either classic or modern vehicle, a workshop will have to be found. This is usually not a problem for newer cars since there is usually a dealer nearby wherever you are and they are easily located. Classic vehicle specialists are also common; however they are usually well hidden in back streets, industrial estates or even old farmyards. Only insiders will know the contact details and addresses.

ClassicIndex.eu was founded to make it easier for classic car owners and enthusiasts to find these specialists......and it works! Thanks to the many workshops, spares dealers and clubs who subscribe to the website, it is possible to find specialists when they are needed, wherever you happen to be. European roadside assistance providers such as the ADAC and AvD have been using the ClassicIndex website officially for a number of years. Smartphones have greatly enhanced the utility of the 50km radius search function. A classic car owner, therefore, now has the opportunity to get help quickly. Usually the cause of the breakdown was relatively minor such as a broken distributor arm or a worn out screw thread that required imperial sized replacement. ClassicIndex can help to quickly locate a new part.

The probability of breaking down in a professionally restored classic vehicle is very small. However, the worry rises the farther the distance from home that is travelled: at home are the spares that might be needed and the knowledge of who can be called to help if there is a problem.

My wife and I are keen travellers, we drive our classic cars all over Europe. It is some time ago now that we were in the Alsace with our Morris Minor Traveller that was in tip-top condition. We sprung an oil leak and, because a seal was perished, we could not drive any farther – oil was spraying out of the little Brit in all directions, even more than usual! Believe it or not we were not able to find a workshop. My wife was (and remained so for many years) extremely angry; after all our holiday had only just started. Luckily our insurance was sufficient to recover us and the Traveller back home by train. That experience is what spawned the idea for ClassicIndex.
A couple of years ago an exhaust clamp on our MG boke near to London. ClassicIndex was active in the British Isles by then. It worked very well indeed. The unplanned break whilst the car was being repaired allowed us to have a quite lovely short break in London.

The workshop itself was well organised and had the required spares in stock. Without the 50km radius search neither we nor the AA mechanic would have been able to find it; the work shop was situated in the High Street of a London Borough, hidden in a backyard. The only indicator that it was there was a small sign saying „Rescue", no banner or sign saying MG, Triumph or Leyland was to be seen.

It is true that the German speaking countries in Europe are those with the most presence – I am of course German myself. However, we do have a very strong presence now in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. We are working hard on the rest of Europe and support is growing throughout the continent. Thanks to Facebook, interest in ClassicIndex has also grown substantially in France, Spain, Italy and Portugal. We are most keen to help classic car owners wherever we can.

You can also help classic car owners and enthusiasts; it costs absolutely nothing for Classic Car clubs and service firms (such as workshops with breakdown service or spares suppliers) to have a presence on our website. Without the support of classic vehicle specialists we do not have a raison-d'ȇtre. Of course we would be pleased to assist you with designing and creating an entry. Please join us and help our network to expand further and hopefully bring you new business.