Our History

From racing engines to historic tank restoration – the Ilja Sercl story spanning over 50 years of engineering excellence.

The history of Ilja Sercl and Armytech
1957–1961
4 years of German School: Autowerkzeugmeister und Maschinenwerkstattmeister at old arms factory Franz Neumann. At 15 years old, Ilja learned from German experts shortly before they were deported to Germany. After the war, the factory produced arms for the Russian army instead of the German Wehrmacht.
1961–1965
Werkzeugmeister in munition production – mastering precision engineering and quality control.
1965–1969
Automobile School in Mlada Boleslav – deepening automotive knowledge and technical expertise.
1969–1975
Technician in Car Service – hands-on experience with vehicle maintenance and repair.
1975–1990
Ilja Sercl became technical manager of RTL (Racing Team Liberec), representing Czech Republic in the Eastern bloc. Through technical improvements, RTL won 12 times in 15 years the main cup of "peace and friendship" – races with all Eastern bloc countries including Russia, using Skoda 140.
1990–1992
The Eastern bloc collapsed and the state stopped investing in racing engine development. Ilja Sercl started small-scale overhaul and mechanical tuning of motorcycle, car, ship, small airplane and ship engines for private owners.
1992–1995
Tuning BMW engines for "Master of Czech Republic". Driver Josef Wenz won 5 consecutive seasons with racing engines built by Ilja Sercl.
1995
Started general larger-scale overhaul of all kinds of engines: car, motorcycle, tank, ship engines and rare old-timer engines. Armytech was born.
1995–2000
Tuning for Formula Skoda (Mister Republic). Engines by Sercl won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places for 5 consecutive years – dominating Czech motorsport.
2000–Present
Dedicated all time to high-quality engine overhaul as Czech racing teams lacked capital. One of the most important clients: the War Museum in Prague (Lezany). Specialization in historic tank engines, aircraft engines, and rare classic car restoration.
Ilja Sercl in the workshop

Ilja Sercl – A Legacy of Excellence

Born in 1942, Ilja Sercl's journey from a 15-year-old apprentice at Franz Neumann arms factory to becoming the Czech Republic's leading engine specialist spans over six decades of dedication, innovation, and uncompromising quality.

His unique training under German engineers who worked during WWII gave him unparalleled knowledge of historic engine designs. This expertise, combined with his racing experience and precision engineering background, makes him one of the last masters capable of restoring rare Wehrmacht tank engines and transmissions.

"We love to restore historic engines piece by piece. We can get your engine running smoother and better than new because we bring them up to today's usage needs."

The Armytech Legacy

Today, Armytech continues the tradition under the leadership of Pavel Sercl, Ilja's son, who runs the workshop together with his father and a team of highly qualified engine enthusiasts.

Why Armytech is Unique

  • One of the last companies in Europe providing historic tank engine overhaul services
  • Inherited knowledge from German engineers and Czech manufacturers (Praga, Tatra, CKD)
  • Access to original materials from the WWII era (Protektorat Böhmen und Mähren)
  • 50,000 km or 5 years warranty on restored engines – confidence in our work
  • Worldwide reputation among collectors, museums, and enthusiasts
  • Preserving knowledge through our engine museum for future generations

With the largest specialized engine overhaul machine park in the Czech Republic and machines overhauled to 1/100 mm precision, Armytech represents the pinnacle of historic engine restoration.

Continue the Legacy

Ready to restore your historic engine with the same expertise that has powered champions for over 50 years?

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