Journey in time to happiness

The highlights include one F2000 and several CBE trucks: Mathias Heermann and his brothers have collected ten historic MAN Lions. Most have been restored piece by piece – with lettering and paintwork in the design of Heermann Abbruch GmbH. The classic vehicles look like they are still in full use and bring back many memories.

Mathias proudly presents his MAN F2000 19.414 with the unmistakable radiator grille including bumper and lights. The young classic vehicle from 2000, which is still so popular today, was bought new at the time by his parents for their company as a three-axle tipper. As a child, I slept the first night in a new MAN F2000, says Mathias. The 33-year-old has never forgotten this experience. When he sits in his restored F2000, his childhood memories come flooding back. A journey in time to happiness.

Mathias and his brothers Marco and Maximilian grew up with machines, engines and trucks. They continue to manage the demolition company Heermann in Münsterland, Westphalia, which was already run successfully by their parents and grandparents. They started collecting and restoring historic vehicles during the coronavirus pandemic. This has become a great passion.

At the time, the large truck fleet of Heermann Abbruch GmbH consisted exclusively of MAN trucks. After school, Mathias completed his commercial training in the construction department of a MAN service outlet. So there are many reasons why the MAN brand has grown particularly close to his heart. The classic vehicle collection of the Heermann brothers is really impressive. It includes a MAN F8 19.361 with all-wheel drive, a MAN 19.281 CBE truck with all-wheel drive, a MAN 26.240 all-wheel-drive tipper on three axles, a MAN 16.240 HAK short-bonnet truck, a MAN 26.280 DHAK CBE truck and a MAN 32.321 DHAK CBE truck. A MAN F2000 33.604 V1, a MAN F90 33,422 DFAK and a MAN F8 26,331 three-axle semitrailer tractor with all-wheel drive have not yet been restored.

This special F8 is probably the last model in Germany. Repairing the historic vehicles is complex, but the brothers, together with their own workshop and the partner company Stratmann Fahrzeugtechnik, like to spend time on the rare trucks: “Whether it’s our work as a demolition company or collecting MAN trucks: we do what we do with heart and soul.”