Roots in the motor trade
From selling nearly new cars to operating an independent master automotive workshop, the Meyendorf family was part of the Essen-Steele motor trade for decades.
COMPANY HISTORY
A tradition dating back to 1963.
From a filling station in Essen-Steele to the family dealership and today's specialisation in classic VW engines.
MEYENDORF IN ESSEN-STEELE
A tradition that became a specialisation.
The Meyendorf family's history in the motor trade goes back to 1963. The filling station at Grendtor in Essen-Steele developed into a car dealership and later an independent master automotive workshop. For decades, personal advice, technical support and lasting relationships with regular customers were central to the business. Drawing on experience in the family firm, his master craftsman qualification and motorsport, Dirk Meyendorf eventually developed today's specialisation in classic VW engines.
Original photograph from the company's historical archive
MILESTONES
Our history at a glance
1963
Meyendorf filling station at Grendtor
The family opened a filling station on what was then the main road at Grendtor in Essen-Steele, near today's Kurt Schumacher Bridge. Alongside fuel, they were already selling nearly new cars.
Danach
The first dealership at Grendtor
Changes to the road layout meant the filling station had to close. The family concentrated on vehicle sales and opened its own dealership nearby.
1983
New premises at Ruhrbruchshof 10
Autohaus Meyendorf GmbH opened at Ruhrbruchshof in Essen-Steele. The focus was initially on nearly new VW cars, later joined by Audi, SEAT and Škoda. An independent master automotive workshop was also established.
1989
Master automotive qualification
Dirk Meyendorf completed his master automotive technician training. From 1990 he worked independently in the family business.
1990er
Motorsport and technical experience
Alongside workshop work, motorsport involvement grew: rally events, building competition cars and later technical roles with racing teams.
2010
Independent workshop
Dirk Meyendorf has run his own workshop since 2010, steadily developing his specialisation in engine rebuilding and assembly.
Heute
VW Motorentechnik Meyendorf
The focus today is on professionally rebuilt classic VW engines, precision engine machining and individually specified engine builds.
From filling station to specialist engine technology
Meyendorf stands for tradition and service. The company looks back with pride on two generations and many successful years. Meyendorf was already a familiar name to motorists in Essen-Steele in 1963, during the early decades of widespread car ownership. It all began with the Meyendorf filling station on the former Grendtor main road, close to today's Kurt Schumacher Bridge, linking Langenberger Straße with the Essen-Überruhr district. Alongside its fuel pumps, Meyendorf was already offering nearly new cars, making it one of the area's early car dealers.
When the main road was redesigned and relocated, the popular filling station had to make way. The company decided to concentrate on selling cars and opened Autohaus Meyendorf on its own premises nearby at Grendtor. In the early 1980s, new urban-development plans again required the business to move, this time to make way for housing and modern apartment buildings. The Meyendorf family made the most of the situation and secured a plot next to the Essen-Steele fire station at Ruhrbruchshof 10, 45276 Essen, beside today's junction of Bochumer Landstraße and Grenoblestraße. In 1983, Autohaus Meyendorf GmbH opened its new building and continued doing what it knew best: selling cars, particularly nearly new Volkswagen models, followed later by Audi, SEAT and Škoda.
The high proportion of returning customers reflected the appeal of its new, nearly new and used cars. The independent Meyendorf master automotive workshop was a reliable partner for its loyal customers. Diagnostics, servicing, repairs and sound advice were always part of the service. Urban development turned the site into one of the area's largest junctions, where Bochumer Landstraße, Grenoblestraße, Henglerstraße and Ruhrau meet. The premises are now occupied by a fast-food chain.
From car dealership to today's engine specialisation
Dirk Meyendorf completed his master automotive training in 1989 and has run his own workshop since 2010. Today the focus is on rebuilding and individually specifying classic VW engines, drawing on many years of workshop and motorsport experience.
Experience through motorsport
Building and maintaining competition cars and working with racing teams laid the foundations for an in-depth understanding of engine technology and dependable repairs.
Motorsportgeschichte entdecken →OUR FOCUS TODAY
Generations of experience. A focus on engines.
What began with car sales and workshop services has evolved into a specialisation in rebuilding classic VW engines.
Unser Motorenprogramm →