Passion for MAN has been a part of Hans Rolfes’ entire life
The Hans Rolfes Transporte GmbH yard is home to sixteen MAN vehicles. The oldest truck is an MAN 19.361 underfloor engine model, which the senior boss likes to take on nostalgia tours.
When Hans Rolfes drives by in his expertly restored MAN underfloor engine truck, it’s as if you’re encountering a taste of the “good old days”. “Der Löwe lebt” (The lion lives) flashes by from the side window. And indeed, at Hans Rolfes, not only does “the lion live”, it is an integral part of the 60-year-old company owner’s life. He heads up the company, which was founded in 1932, and is the third generation to do so. The fourth generation – his son – is not only at the ready, but in fact already working hard alongside him. Hans Rolfes grew up with MAN vehicles. “We’ve been driving MAN vehicles since I can remember,” he says. He also shares a long history with the MAN underfloor engine truck, as this is the model with which he learned to drive.
Thus it is perfectly fitting that as of this year, in addition to the other MAN vehicles, the Rolfes yard once again features an MAN underfloor engine truck, which is driven regularly.
Hans Rolfes and his son originally drove to Holland in order to view an MAN F2000. “My son would have preferred to have this vehicle, since he grew up with it, but that wasn’t quite my experience,” reveals Hans Rolfes. Then, when he saw the MAN underfloor engine truck by the same vendor, in top condition, free of rust and beautifully restored, the old feelings of passion were very quickly rekindled; it was obvious that they should buy this vehicle.
The former Dutch owner had themselves purchased the vintage vehicle – which was in need of restoring at the time – from Germany a few years previously, and had lovingly breathed new life back into it, down to the last detail. Hans Rolfes ultimately brought the vehicle back to its old homeland, Germany. The vehicle’s paintwork could be kept; only the Rolfes company logo needed to be added. In addition, the truck was expanded to include a tipper attachment and furnished with a few details, such as independent heating, and original seats which Hans Rolfes found in Greece via Facebook. Many of the necessary spare parts could be directly obtained via MAN.
The radiator grille is adorned with a plaque with the inscription “MAN 500 000 km störungsfrei” (MAN 500,000 km of smooth operation). “That’s from another time,” explains the MAN enthusiast. Back then, the owner would receive this plaque, a certificate as well as a watch for 250,000, 500,000 and a million kilometres driven. Another thing Hans Rolfes knows from another time is the vehicle pick-up process at MAN in Munich. In 1968, he picked up his first truck directly from the plant without much fuss. When doing so, it was even possible to catch a glimpse into the production halls.
Nevertheless, the good old days continue to live on through Hans Rolfes and many other vintage vehicle lovers. With their shiny vintage vehicles, they take us on a charming journey through time. The first nostalgia tour with the finished MAN underfloor engine truck was undertaken by Hans Rolfes together with his son, to the Büssing-Treffen meet-up event in Oschersleben. “My son is just as crazy about trucks as I am,” says Hans Rolfes. The question of succession has thus been answered – the lion lives on at Rolfes.
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