Oldtimer Tankstelle

We’ve all seen the films. A hero pulls up to the gas station pump, out bounds an eager young dungareed teen, hero barks some instructions to check the oil and water, fill her up, and goes off to call his wife while precariously smoking a Lucky Strike. Wife lied to, back comes the hero, throws the kid a quarter, which includes all fuel, service charges and a week’s salary as a tip, and wheel-spins away to a “Gee whizz thanks mister!” from the wide-eyed employee.

Cut to today. A sales drone pulls up to the pump, does all the gruntwork himself in the pissing rain, it’s after 10pm so he has to talk to the solitary employee through 3 inches of bulletproof glass, infuriates the employee by asking for a Snickers that involves them clambering off their stool, employee treats drone as though he just buggered his dog, drone hands over all the money he possesses in the world, drives away feeling like he’s been robbed at knifepoint.

Got to love progress.

Harking back to the golden age of motoring is Oldtimer Tankstelle in Hamburg, tapping into the nostalgia of a happier time with its beautifully restored original 1950s features. This place is so retro you’d be embarrassed to pull up in any vehicle younger than yourself. From the pumps (soon to be working), to the crank-handled cash register, it’s full throttle in reverse here.

The venue holds meetings for vintage vehicles as well as serving as a traditional motorists’ pitstop, where you can enjoy your refreshments while at the same time enjoying some great classic furniture and floor-to-ceiling tiling in the service area. Be warned though, it may look like 1953, but you’ll probably need more than a quarter to pay your bill…