The next generation: Ludo de Vries

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At the age of 21, most enthusiasts would consider themselves very fortunate to have one vintage car to trundle around in, but to have an ever-changing showroom full of pre-war stock would be nothing less than a dream come true. For Ludo de Vries, though, it's all in a day's work.

Ludo, founder and proprietor of Luud Vintage Cars in the Netherlands, stopped to talk to us on the PreWarCar.com stand at the Beaulieu Autojumble, where he told us a bit about what he does and how he made a start for himself in the vintage motor trade.

"When I was 15," he says, "I built an Austin Seven with my father and we did many rallies. I grew up with vintage cars as my father had a lot and I would help him. After we'd enjoyed the Seven, I sold it and one year later I bought a Citroën. I put it online and thought maybe there'd be some interest. After two months, I sold it, and that's how I started in business."

Ludo very much liked the idea of being completely immersed in old cars and gaining experience of lots of different models, so to become a full-time dealer seemed like the ideal line of business, and Luud Vintage Cars was formally established in 2020, when he was just 18.

Since then, business has really taken off, and Ludo now has several satisfied customers. He continues, "I got my showroom in February. First, I used my father's shed. I'm planning to get premises with more room. Ideally, I'd have space for 10 to 12 cars."

As it stands, the current showroom allows him to rotate a stock of five cars, which includes some decidedly rare and unusual models, as well as evergreen favourites. At present, the stock includes a jaunty, patinated 1928 Austin Seven Type RK saloon, 1933 Austin Seven Ulster replica, 1930 Citroën C4 berline, 1932 La Licorne LRW torpédo and, most wonderfully of all, a 1924 Hanomag 2/10PS Kommißbrot. A Hanomag is an interesting car at the best of times, but this one is particularly so as it has had only two owners and wears a well-preserved restoration from 1965. With the current stock, prices range between €8,495 for the Seven saloon and €27,500 for the rare Hanomag.

As a Dutchman, it was natural that Luud's earliest consignments came from his home country, but he now takes on cars sourced from France, Belgium, Germany and Britain. For the time being, his cars are all pre-war, but he hopes one day to be able to expand into cars of the 1940s, '50s and '60s. So far, the oldest car he has sold has been a 1921 Citroën B2, but he's very keen to handle veteran and Edwardian cars as well.

Of course, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but Ludo allows himself time to have fun with cars, too. His personal transport is a 1921 Benjamin cyclecar, which readers will have seen if they paid a visit to the Louwman Museum recently, as it starred in the summer exhibition From Cyclecar to Grand Sport.

Very much the enthusiast, another of Ludo's ambitions is to get out and about a bit more and meet fellow enthusiasts internationally, with a view to having stands at the Beaulieu Autojumble in England, Reims Autojumble in France and Prewar Days in Belgium in future years. Until then, you can may him a visit at his showroom, which is located at Bedrijvenpark Rengers, Kolham, the Netherlands, or you can speak to him on the telephone by calling (+31) 06 20419972.

You can read more about Luud Vintage Cars and browse stock here.

Words: Zack Stiling; photographs: Ludo de Vries
 

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