COLLECT TO PRESERVE
AXEL MARX
10 June 2025 • Written By Marius Pop
Ticino-based Swiss collector Axel Marx brought together an array of concours-condition Alfas that is second to none. The kind of cars that the former vascular surgeon’s collection preserves include both the famous and the oft-forgotten, from Mille Miglia entrants to unique prototypes. It also shines a light onto the South American chapter of the Milan-founded brand, showcasing all the FNM-produced Brazilian market cars, the one chapter that even Museo Storico doesn’t yet cover. On a sunny day on the shores of a placid Lake Lugano, Axel, a historian at heart, sat down with Alfattitude founder Marius Pop to discuss his memories, his passion and his global perspective on Alfa as a cultural force.
What was your first car, how did it all begin?
It all started when I was 5-6 years old. My mother was an art history teacher and we often visited museums in Italy. There was a pact between us: I would behave during her entire visit and at the end of each day she would take me outside the museums to check out the cars in their parking lot. These were mainly filled with Fiats, but amongst them were also some really beautiful Alfa Romeos. I remember the first time I saw the Giulietta SS.I was in Passignano sul Trasimeno and I said to myself: “When I grow up, I want a Giulietta SS.“
What makes an Alfa Romeo worthy of being in your collection?
Everything together – design, engineering, historical significance. Even the Arna is part of my collection, because it’s part of Alfa Romeo’s history. Beautiful or ugly, whatever it may be. Brazilian cars tell a super interesting story. You can understand them only if you know Brazilian history well. You must understand the context, the culture. That’s the beauty of cars for me. Brazilian cars tell the story of their country. But as a small child, design attracted me a lot. For me, design is maybe one of the most important things. Alfas are mainly beautiful. It’s hard to find an ugly Alfa.
Why are all your cars capable of being driven straight away?
I love to keep all the cars I have ready for use. They’re all registered, all in working order. Just put in the battery and drive away. Otherwise it’s a cemetery of cars. It’s called an automobile, not “autostatic”. This distinguishes my collection from museums where cars are static. Mine are all very usable.
Do you still have the desire to add more cars to your collection?
When I had 3-4 cars, I told my wife, “This is the last one now”. Until one day I said, “I promise you to never promise again that this is the last one.” A few cars are still missing. Of the ones in serial production, many are already here. Everyone has their dream in the drawer – for me it’s the TZ2. It’s missing from the SZ, TZ, GTA sequence.
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