View source for Willem Hascher

WILLEM ‘PIM’ HASCHER

Certainly one of the very first collectors of fine automobiles, motorcycles and automobilia in The Netherlands, Mr. Hascher expressed a great taste for unique motorcars and other automotive treasures.


Immediately after World War II he acquired with borrowed money a Mercedes 500 K that had been hidden away from the Germans in an old basement located at the famous Albert Cuyp Market, near the centre of Amsterdam. With this acquisition he got a taste for fine motorcars and despite limited funds he turned out to be a talented collector specialized in locating exquisite machinery in The Netherlands. Important cars were steadily added to his growing stable. They used to be garaged not far from the same Albert Cuyp Market and due to a lack of space an additional and provisional simple wooden platform had to be constructed in the basement of his cramped garage to store another four cars. In spite of this creative attempt the collection expanded outside the building and 'lesser' cars like a Talbot Lago Baby and a rare 6 cylinder Lagonda drophead coupe had to slumber along the sidewalks of the nearby streets for years. That did not satisfy Mr. Hasher very much and consequently his acquisitions found another home in a barn located at the borders of the Amstel river adjacent to one of the major graveyards just outside Amsterdam. A white Veritas Komet in complete and original order was as rare as it was attractive to some of us, but attempts to buy his rare gems were consistently turned down. A beautiful Bugatti 57 cabriolet and a Talbot Lago Record covered under a thick layer of dust accompanied the lonely Veritas. At that time his collection included among others several important Bugattis, a fascinating and complete Alfa Romeo 1750 Super Sport rolling chassis with impressive blower, the famous Hans Herkuleyns 6 cylinder Blown MG Q-type racing car, a BMW 328 roadster in which he preferred to take a nap when there was no time to get home in time and the very special BMW Cotura racing special that successfully served some of the best racing drivers in the country. But also other rare and venerable collectables were packed together in his premises like a complete set of furnishing handmade by Rembrandt Bugatti himself that he discovered at a flee market downtown Amsterdam. Meanwhile the collection moved a couple of times and finally found its resting place in Blaricum, hidden away in a garage building behind his home. Over the years Mr. Hascher - a highly regarded Contrabass player of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam- acquired some of the cars that are being offered for sale at this auction. He particularly treasured the famous Guillaume Prick Bugatti T43 for many years; he successfully bought this from the Prick family after the death of the legendary Bugattist. Several of the aforementioned cars were sold since, bringing back the collection to a fair size enabling him to concentrate on the cars of his personal preference. Unfortunately this unique and sympathetic Dutch collector passed away last autumn leaving a major gap in the ranks of automobile connoisseurs and collectors in The Netherlands and will be remembered as a true pioneer of the early postwar period combining a unique taste for the rare and venerable motorcar and a true passion for authentic automotive history.


Prof.dr.Paul F. Schouwenburg 
Aerdenhout, 7.1.08