1. Bugatti Bolide, LEGO Technic by Sophie Künnecke

“I really like this model because I built it with my brother Marius from more than 900 pieces. You can steer the model and you can see the pistons moving. I also like the colours, which make the model look really cool. The model is roughly 1:18 scale.

We both have a lot of fun building models ourselves. We also really like Siku cars, because we enjoy playing with them together. With my dad, we like going to flea markets to look for well-kept ones. We also have a Märklin railway from my grandad, where I can build my dream world. Maybe we are a family that is just a bit crazy about model cars.”

2. Benz Victoria by Karl-Heinz Rehkopf

“When I first held this paper model in my hands, I was deeply moved. It was created by the Brazilian artist Francisco Iorio, also known as ‘Kiko Iorio’. My wife gave it to me as a very personal present for my 80th birthday. With remarkable precision and attention to detail, Iorio has turned simple paper into a small motoring treasure.

Whether as this miniature, or as the original vehicle in our Experience exhibition, the Benz Victoria is in many ways an outstanding highlight. This model shows that fascination with vehicles knows no boundaries, neither geographical nor material. That is why it has been given a place of honour in my living room. We owe its journey to us to a business traveller from KWS SAAT, who brought it from Brazil to Germany. If I were ever to fall on hard times, it would be the last classic car I would part with.”

3. Porsche 911 Carrera Targa by Andreas A. Berse

“In 1989, I started the model car magazine MODELL FAHRZEUG. Today, the magazine is published by Delius Klasing in Bielefeld and is not only the largest German-language specialist magazine, but also one of the leading European specialist magazines in this field. For the 25th anniversary of MODELL FAHRZEUG, the company Premium ClassiXXs gave me a one-off model in nagaro blue – a Porsche 911 Targa in the large 1:12 scale. This 911 G-model is one of my absolute favourite cars.

The unique model is now on display at the PS.SPEICHER. For me it was always clear: I accepted this gift on behalf of our readers. Perhaps our magazine has made the world of model cars a little more colourful. And that is exactly why this unmistakable 911 belongs in this exhibition. After all, a Blue Mauritius does not only look good in the world of philately – it also has its place in a model car show.”

4. CMC Ferrari 250 GTO 1962/64 by Shuxiao Jia

“In 1995 my husband and I founded CMC Modelcars. We started out in Stuttgart, the home of the automobile, and our development and sales office is still based there today. At that time, in my home country of China, we had already set up our own production facility. From the very first day we placed great value on absolutely faithful detail and the highest-quality materials. This is a philosophy we have remained committed to until today.

A CMC model consists of up to 2,000 parts. We use high-quality metals such as stainless steel, copper and brass, but also leather and textiles. Each wheel is spoked by hand. This makes our work truly distinctive, and we never stop striving to surprise our collectors with new details.”

This model is part of a limited edition of 1,500 pieces created for the 30th anniversary of CMC. Each model was hand-signed on the roof by the company’s founder, Shuxiao Jia.

5. Schuco Examico by Peter Brunner

“I am a passionate collector and also have a veritable model car career behind me. It all started at Herpa, then my path led me to Gama and Schuco, before I finally founded Premium ClassiXXs together with a companion. As a Porsche enthusiast, I donated a classic model by Schuco to the PS.SPEICHER – with a manual gearbox and a clockwork motor, it’s a toy that has been around since the 1930s.

How did this come about? In 1993, a man named Helmut Grundmann called me and told me a moving story: as a child he had to flee from East Prussia, and the only toy he was allowed to take with him was his red Examico by Schuco. Whatever happened – it was always with him, hidden under his blanket. The original car is now part of my private collection. For this exhibition, however, I have provided an example from the 1980s. Sometimes a model car is a bit like a teddy. That really is touching!”

6. Opel Manta B “Die Ludolfs” by Patrick Sievert

“I am from Einbeck and a passionate collector of Manta B models – from the full-size 1:1 car down to tiny 1:87 miniatures. The car on display here is a Revell Manta from 2001, which I received as a birthday present when I was eleven years old.

In 2007, my family and I went to an open day with the Ludolfs. I was fourteen at the time and very proud that I had brought the Manta with me and was able to have it signed by all of them. There were about 17,000 people there, so getting anywhere near the Ludolfs was extremely difficult. They showed real enthusiasm for my favourite Manta model, and one of them – I believe it was Uwe – took it and passed it around so that I could get every single signature. That is why this car is one of my absolute favourite models.”

7. BMW 518G (E34) Touring, 1995, by Uwe Brand

“I actually collect Matchbox cars, Beetles and Porsches, as well as Siku models from the plastic era. This Herpa car brings back very special memories for me. For the opening of a multi-storey car park, I was looking for a striking car to draw attention. My acquaintance Hans-Joachim Wietheger from the BMW dealership Vogelsang in Recklinghausen provided me with a BMW 518G of the E34 series from 1995 – at the time a real sensation with its natural gas drive.

As a keepsake, Hans-Joachim Wietheger gave me a matching Herpa special model in 1:87, together with an official badge and a quirky wooden toy car from ‘Erdgas Mobil’. This is the very model I donated to the PS.SPEICHER. After all, it also represents an important technical milestone.”

8. Bugatti 57 SC Corsica Roadster 1938 by Dr Günter Diener

“This Bugatti 57 SC Corsica Roadster – commissioned in 1937 by Colonel Godfrey Giles, designed by his brother and bodied by Corsica – exists as an original car, with only one ever made. After a restoration by John Mozart, it won the title ‘Best of Show’ at the 1998 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, one of the most renowned concours events for classic cars worldwide. It is exactly this significance that also makes the CMC model so special to me.

I am fascinated by cars of the 1930s. The era of the Silver Arrows and the rivalry between Mercedes and Audi was particularly exciting. The first model by CMC that I ever saw was the Mercedes W125. I was immediately thrilled by the precision and attention to detail in these models. Over time, CMC released four Mercedes and two Audi Silver Arrows. All editions are limited – and this model here is no longer available to buy. For me, these models are truly unique, in a class of their own – and they make collectors’ hearts beat faster.”