On the 127th birthday of the automobile, the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) has introduced important guidelines for owners of historical vehicles. The Turin Charter, presented at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, provides guidance on questions of authenticity.
“As the inventor of the automobile, our company is in an excellent position”, said Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. “We are the only people with access to the full range of sources to allow us to prove the authenticity of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle”.
FIVA’s Turin Charter underlines the significance of the automobile in terms of cultural heritage and addresses questions of authenticity – an important issue for all owners of classic automobiles. It sets out the case for a responsible approach to dealing with classic vehicles and provides guidance about their use, upkeep, repair and restoration.
The Charter was presented yesterday in the Mercedes-Benz Museum, exactly 127 years after Carl Benz registered his patent at the Imperial Patent Office in Berlin. The corresponding policy paper had previously been approved by delegates at the General Assembly of the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens in October 2012.
FIVA was established in 1966 and today encompasses 85 member organisations in 62 countries. The organisation describes itself as an international association of historic vehicle clubs, representing altogether more than 1,500,000 classic vehicle enthusiasts.
