Turin Charter: Safeguarding automotive history
On 29 January 1886 Carl Benz received patent no. DRP 37435 for his three-wheeled vehicle with a gas-powered engine from the Imperial Patent Office in Berlin. And so, the automobile was born, marking the beginning of personal transportation.
Fittingly, exactly 127 years later on 29 January 2013, the Turin Charter came into force, having been adopted by the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) General Assembly in October 2012.
The Turin Charter is a policy paper that highlights the cultural and historical importance of the automobile and advocates the responsible treatment of historical vehicles. Also covered are principles and guidelines to provide support to owners of historical vehicles in the use, maintenance, repair and restoration of their vehicle. The charter is a landmark document. Not only is it recognised worldwide, it joins the ranks of the Barcelona Charter for the protection of historical ships and the Riga Charter for the protection of historical railways. It was FIVA’s response to demands from international political organisations such as the EU Parliament and UNESCO to provide safeguards for the preservation of vehicles.
In the Turin Charter, FIVA safeguards the right to drive historical road vehicles on international public highways. “If we want to be able to experience classic cars in the future, we must make sure they are recognised as a part of our culture worth protecting now”, according to FIVA president Horst Brüning.
And that doesn’t mean putting old vehicles in museums. “Quite the opposite, we hope this charter leads to people seeing more classic cars on public roads. This is the only way to share their history and the fascination they hold with everybody”, Brüning continued.
The charter instructs users to maintain as much of the original vehicle as possible in its running and restoration, to document all work undertaken and, of course, to maintain its roadworthiness.
