Our history
Nice to meet you
Alain Pralong
"My name is Alain Pralong and I have a soft spot for the Renault 5."
His first Renault 5
Alain's mother, Ursula, bought him his first Renault 5. He learned to drive it.
He only drove Renault 5s and Renault Super 5s.
Over the years, he discovered the rich world of different Renault 5 versions.
Over the past thirty years, he has devoted himself to collecting, restoring and preserving Renault 5s. Over the years, he has collected around forty vehicles that tell almost the entire story of this model.
" Meanwhile, I also began restoring and preserving Renault 4s and various Alfa Romeo and Fiat models. I founded and developed the APR workshops in Solothurn in order to create a specialized framework for the restoration and maintenance of youngtimers and older vehicles, which is often not or no longer available in the usual garages.
In addition, specific knowledge and experience are required to preserve old techniques. The APR-Werke team offer competent knowledge, fair prices and fast order processing. We are delighted to be able to share our passion with you."
Alain
A passion from generation to generation
The beginning
A passion for engines, vehicles and airplanes is already a long-standing tradition in Alain's family, even if it's skipped a few generations.
Albert Stucki
It all began with his great-grandfather Albert Stucki. As Alain was told, Albert was a great tinkerer who opened Solothurn's first car garage at the beginning of the 20th century, on the corner of Zuchwilerstrasse and Schöngrünstrasse.
"I can only imagine how exciting it was back then, taking an interest in these new technologies and trying to make a living out of it, a risky gamble but one that paid off."
Alain
Theodor Borrer
As airplanes also had engines and were very new at the time, his great-grandfather also came into contact with Theodor Borrer - the first Solothurn aviator (patent no. 39), who died accidentally in Basel in 1914.
Verena Elisabeth Valli
According to the accounts of his grandmother Verena Elisabeth Valli (bornStucki), his great-grandfather actively supported Theodor in the maintenance of his aircraft. From this collaboration also grew a friendship, and Theodor became godfather to his grandmother, born in 1912.