FIVA launches Hall of Fame
Announcing its first 14 ‘heroes of motoring history’
FIVA has announced the first 14 winners of the new FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame awards, celebrating both world-famous figures and unsung heroes in the history of the automobile. As Tiddo Bresters, president of FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens or international federation of historic vehicles), explains:
“Not every hero of the motoring world is a household name. Induction into the FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame is a tribute to an individual’s genuine lifetime achievements, but it’s a very personal selection. It reflects the opinions of FIVA clubs around the world, who nominated their own favourite national figures. Some of these heroes are world-famous, others are names you might not know – but each has made a real and long-lasting impact on automotive history.”
In this, the first year of FIVA’s Hall of Fame initiative, individuals were first nominated by FIVA clubs across the globe, from which 14 individuals – of the past and present – were selected by a knowledgeable and prestigious panel of international judges (listed at the end of the release). FIVA can now announce the first 14 motoring heroes inducted into the Hall of Fame as:
- From Belgium: Roland D’Ieteren (1942-2020), enthusiast, defender and patron of the classic car world, who developed the D’Ieteren Group from a local family business into an international player employing more than 30,000 people.
Biography: Roland-D’leteren - From Brazil: Og Pozzoli (1930-2017), car collector extraordinaire, whose 200-odd automobiles will become a museum in the city of Campos do Jordão, including two Fiats from 1912 and 1914 that he refused to sell to Gianni Agnelli for $1 million.
Biography: Og-Pozzoli - From Chile: Rodrigo Velasco, an all-round motoring hero with a history of classic motorsport, car collecting, an active member (and founder) of car clubs and a highly respected motoring historian and journalist.
Biography: Rodrigo-Velasco - From Germany: Carl Hahn, whose achievements include building a solid market for VW in the USA, and taking a pioneering role in introducing the marque to the People’s Republic of China.
Biography: Carl-Hahn - From India: Nazir Hoosein (1940-2019), racer and rally driver, who enthusiastically entered every form of motorsport available in India in 1969 when he started competing, and who went on to be the founding president of the Indian Automotive Racing Club (1971) and the Motorsports Association of India.
Biography: Nazir-Hussain - From Italy: Mauro Forghieri, Marcello Gandini and Giorgetto Giugiaro, three heroes who require very little introduction. Forghieri – an engineering legend at Ferrari, followed by his influential roles at Lamborghini and Bugatti. Gandini – designer of many of the world’s most beautiful cars, from the Lamborghini Miura and Espada, to the Alfa Romeo Montreal. Giugiaro – is one of the greatest car designers the world has ever known, responsible for more cars on the roads today than anyone else in history.
Biography: Mauro-Forghieri
Biography: Marcello-Gandini
Biography: Giorgetto-Giugiaro - From Japan: Shotaro Kobayashi (1929-2013) and Osamu Suzuki
Shotaro Kobayashi founded Japan’s premier monthly automotive magazine and was an active automotive journalist, automotive historian and Chairman of Classic Car Club of Japan. Meanwhile, with more than three decades as the head of Suzuki.
Biography: Shotaro-Kobayashi
Osamu Suzuki is one of the longest-serving leaders in the auto industry, transforming Suzuki into a global giant by selling small, low-cost cars and desirable motorcycles.
Biography: Osamu-Suzuki
From Lithuania:
Saulius Karosas (1958-2019), renowned mechanic, engineer and businessman, Karosas was a phenomenally active collector and restorer of rare pre-War cars in particular, and a philanthropist who created a foundation to support young artists, musicians, plus historical and cultural projects.
Biography: Saulius-Karosas
From Poland:
Sobieslaw Zasada, who overcame restrictions, red tape and prejudice to become one of the greatest rally drivers of all time, largely unknown and unsung except in Poland, where he is a true national hero.
Biography: Sobieslaw-Zasada
From Serbia:
Bratislav Petkovic (1948-2021), a former minister of culture, qualified confectioner, connoisseur of art, literature, Serbian history, car mechanics, restoration, and a passionate collector of historic vehicles who founded the Belgrade Auto Museum.
Biography: Bratislav-Petkovic
From Spain:
Damian Mateu Bisa (1863-1935), who – together with Marc Birkigt – founded Hispano-Suiza in Barcelona in 1904, a brand synonymous with elegance, luxury, sportsmanship and hugely innovative technology.
Biography: Damian-Mateu-Bisa
Judges
The nominations from motoring clubs around the world were sorted, assessed and judged by the following panel:
Nick Mason (United Kingdom)
Shiro Nakamura (Japan)
Gaby von Oppenheim (Germany)
Patrick Rollet (France)
Navaz Bhathena Sandhu (India)
Tiddo Bresters (The Netherlands) – as FIVA’s acting president
Nine new motoring heroes join the FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame
FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens or international federation of historic vehicles) has announced nine heroes of motoring history who will join its Heritage Hall of Fame, launched last year to celebrate both world-famous figures and unsung heroes in automotive history.
As Gaby von Oppenheim, one of the judges, explains: “FIVA clubs around the world were invited to nominate their own motoring heroes, regardless of whether these individuals are household names or relatively unknown. The primary criterion is that they choose men or women who have made significant contributions to our automotive heritage. From among the nominations, a prestigious international panel of judges selects the final inductees.”
For 2022, the following nine motoring heroes have joined FIVA’s Heritage Hall of Fame:
From the Netherlands: Evert Louwman (born 1940)
Founder of the Louwman Museum, one of the oldest private collections of historic vehicles in the world, dating back to 1934 and now comprising more than 275 cars from 18 countries and more than 100 manufacturers.
From Iran: Shahrzad Paknyat-Hamedani (born 1971)
It is thanks to Mrs. Paknyat-Hamedani’s tireless efforts to preserve the cars, motorcycles and even golfcarts abandoned in the Niavaran Imperial Palace following the 1979 Iranian revolution, that Iran’s smallest – but most perfectly managed – auto museum was created.
From Italy: Cesare Fiorio (born 1939)
Italy’s leading motorsport figure from the 1960s to the 1990s, his achievements include helping the Fiat Group to win 17 world titles and, as Ferrari’s F1 racing manager, overseeing 25 podiums and 9 victories out of 36 Grands Prix.
World Rally Championship 1988 – Miki Biasion (ita) with Cesare Fiorio (Ita) Team Lancia Martini
From Ireland: Rosemary Smith (born 1937)
A female pioneer in a notoriously male-dominated sport, she drove in the Monte Carlo rally eight times, as well as most other iconic rallies all over the world, including an outright victory in the 1965 Tulip Rally, beating all the male drivers to the finish.
From Argentina: Luis Spadafora (born 1944)
Creator of the Museo del Automóvil in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a four-storey building that opened in 1998 and remains committed to expanding its superbly exhibited 75 historic vehicles, as well as providing a veritable shrine to Argentine racing history.
From Germany: Walter Röhrl (born 1947)
Among rally drivers, Walter Röhrl was voted champion of the millennium by his peers. His many victories in rallies and races include winning the Monte Carlo Rally four times, while his active support of the classic scene makes him a true ambassador of automotive tradition.
From the Czech Republic: Elisabeth Junek (1900 to 1994)
The most famous and successful lady racing driver of the 1920s, Elisabeth Junek – ‘queen of the wheel’ – was born in 1900 in what is now the Czech Republic, and in her racing career mastered hillclimbs, racing and long-distance driving, coming fifth in the Targa Florio.
From Italy: Battista Pininfarina (1893 to 1966)
Founder of Carrozzeria Pininfarina, based in Turin, he is remembered not only for the styling house’s vast number of European and American car designs, but also for his generous philanthropy, thanks to his numerous charitable and social initiatives.
From Japan: Soichiro Honda (1906 to 1991)
A world-class entrepreneur and inventor, Soichiro Honda was the founder of the Honda Motor Co., Inc. Corporation, which is successful on five continents and is actively investing in high-tech projects to radically improve the environmental performance of its products.
Judges
The nominations from national historic vehicle associations around the world were sorted, assessed and judged by the following panel:
Jay Leno (USA)
Alberto Lenz (Mexico)
Nick Mason (United Kingdom)
Shiro Nakamura (Japan)
Gaby von Oppenheim (Germany)
Patrick Rollet (France)
Navaz Bhathena Sandhu (India)
Eli Solomon (Singapore)
Tiddo Bresters (The Netherlands) – as FIVA’s acting president
FIVA names nine new champions of motoring for its Heritage Hall of Fame 2023
FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens, or international federation of historic vehicles) has revealed the names of nine leading car designers, engineers, drivers and collectors who will this year have their names added to its Heritage Hall of Fame.
Now in its third year, the scheme celebrates the men and women who have made an historically significant impact on the world of motoring. Those being honoured this year range from the man who designed the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato to a woman who took on – and beat – the best rally drivers in the world.
Around two dozen individuals were nominated by FIVA clubs around the world and an international judging panel whittled that number down to nine.
FIVA President, Tiddo Bresters, says: “The FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame is there to celebrate the innovators who have taken forward the development and popularity of all aspects of motoring, and also those who work so hard to preserve and protect our automotive heritage for future generations. Every one of these additions to the Heritage Hall of Fame is deeply deserving of their place and we would thank them for what they’ve done for the world of motoring.”
Those being celebrated this year are:
From the USA: Jay Leno (born 1950)
The popular television talk-show host and comedian is famous for his collection of historic vehicles and is described by many as America’s greatest ambassador for classic cars and motorcycles. His television motoring show Jay Leno’s Garage is internationally popular.
From Switzerland: Robert Lutz (born 1932)
Swiss American Bob Lutz has been an influential senior executive with General Motors, BMW, Ford and Chrysler. He helped lead the creation and development of some of the most familiar and iconic cars of the past half-century, including the Ford Sierra, Dodge Viper and Cadillac CTS.
From France: Michèle Mouton (born 1951)
Michèle was a dominant rally driver for over a decade through the 1970s and 80s, winning many times against the best in the world. In 1982, she was the second-placed driver in the World Rally Championship. She chaired the Women in Motorsport Commission at the FIA for 12 years.
From Italy: Ercole Spada (born 1938)
One of Italy’s most important designers, Ercole was chief stylist at the Zagato design studio in the 1960s where he shaped sports cars for Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo, among others. He created the BMW look of the 1980s, and went on to design cars for many manufacturers, including Ferrari.
From Italy: Giampaolo Dallara (born 1936)
Engineer and founder of the the world’s largest manufacturer of racing cars, Giampaolo has collaborated with major car manufacturers and contributed to sporting success in all motorsport categories. He is committed to performance and safety and works with motorsport-orientated training courses in schools and universities.
From Mexico: Carlos L. Dorantes del Rosal (born 1945)
A businessman who has founded several educational institutes and a hospital, Carlos has also set up two significant motor museums; the Brownsville Car Collection in Texas with 56 classic cars, and the Museo del Automóvil y el Transporte de Tampico in Mexico with 114 historic vehicles and a remit to spread knowledge about their importance to new generations.
From Italy: Nuccio Bertone (1914 to 1997)
A name instantly recognised as one of the most important coachbuilders ever, Bertone is associated with experimentation, freedom of expression and a great sense of beauty. His design house worked with Lamborghini, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Fiat, among others, and helped bring on other young designers who would go on to achieve greatness.
From India: Pranlal Bhogilal (1937 to 2011)
The man who established the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India also built one of the most important collections of historic vehicles in his home country. The Auto World Vintage Car Museum near Ahmedabad is India’s most important car museum and is still run by his family.
From Sweden: Per Gillbrand (1934 to 2016)
An award-winning innovator, inventor and influential engineer, Per worked first with Volvo and then with Saab on some of their most famous power plants. Known to many as “The Man Who Tamed the Turbo”, he was in charge of the Saab-Scania engine laboratory when the company was the first to introduce small turbochargers to petrol engines.
Further details on the Heritage Hall of Fame can be found at https://fiva.org/en/heritage-hall-of-fame/
Judges 2023
Navaz Bhathena Sandhu (India)
McKeel Hagerty (USA)
Alberto Lenz (Mexico)
Nick Mason (UK)
Shiro Nakamura (Japan)
Gaby von Oppenheim (Germany)
Patrick Rollet (France)
Eli Solomon (Singapore)
Tiddo Bresters (The Netherlands) – as FIVA’s acting president
FIVA announces Heritage Hall of Fame inductees for 2024
Nine new additions to the FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame have been announced for 2024. From a total of 29 nominations from 16 countries around the world, FIVA’s international judging panel voted for the individuals – both living and no longer with us – that they believe to have made the most historically significant impact on the world of motoring.
FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens, or international federation of historic vehicles) is able to report that the following individuals accrued the most support from the judges, and will therefore be accepted into FIVA’s Heritage Hall of Fame in 2024:
Living legends:
From France: Jean Todt (born 1946)
The former director of the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team, before becoming director of Ferrari from 2004 to 2008, was also president of the FIA from 2009 to 2021. Most famously, under Todt’s leadership, Ferrari won 14 Formula 1 World Championship titles.
From Italy: Paolo Martin (born 1943)
Paolo Martin began designing cars in 1960 at Studio Michelotti and, after a brief experience at Carrozzeria Bertone, in 1967, he became head of the Pininfarina Style Centre at just 24 years old. His most famous models include the Dino Ferrari Berlinetta, and Rolls-Royce Camargue.
From Hong Kong: Sir Michael Kadoorie (born 1941)
Sir Michael promotes the classic car movement as Chairman of the Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels, which runs the annual Quail Rally, The Quail, a Motorsports Event, and The Best of the Best. A regular participant at concours, he won Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 2019.
From France: Paul Bracq (born 1933)
Bracq began work in the 1950s at the design studio of Philippe Charbonneaux, then at Citroën, before 10 years at Mercedes-Benz. In 1970, he became design director at BMW, where he was responsible for the design of the 5 Series (E12)2, 3 Series (E21), 6 Series (E24)3, 7 Series (E23).
From Brazil: Roberto Suga (born 1963)
Roberto Suga is a former president of the Brazilian Federation of Vintage Vehicles (FBVA), known for championing collectors regardless of their purchasing power. He did much to break the stigma that the activity of preserving old vehicles is something for wealthier classes.
From Uruguay: Carlos Scoseria (born 1952)
Carlos Manuel Scoseria, known as ‘Manolo’, is a hero of the Uruguayan historic vehicle world, an engineer who’s dedicated an entire life to the university where he is a professor and his passion for old cars. His achievements include a successful campaign to allow the import of used classic cars.
Legends no longer with us:
From the USA: Peter Mullin (1941 to 2023)
Peter Mullin, renowned collector of French automobiles, founder of the Mullin Automotive Museum, friend to many, and longtime visionary within the automotive hobby, passed away at the age of 82. His legacy lives on through his philanthropy, his museum, and the cars that continue to be shown around the world.
From Argentina: Juan Manuel Fangio (1911 to 1995)
Fangio is best described in the words of other racing drivers…
“He was the most important of all time. He was a driving artist. Despite being my rival all my life, for me he was a father figure.” – Stirling Moss
“I don't think it’s fair to compare me to Fangio, because he achieved his championships at tremendous speed considering the vehicles that existed at his time. He was far superior to us.” – Michael Schumacher
From Japan: Keinichi Yamamoto (1922 to 2017)
A Japanese mechanical engineer and business executive, Yamamoto supervised the development of the famous Mazda Wankel rotary engine, and served as Mazda’s President from 1984 to 1987, before taking up the role of Chairman, a position he retained until stepping down in 1985. He died on 20 December 2017 in Kanagawa Prefecture, at the age of 95.
Says Tiddo Bresters, President of FIVA, “The legends chosen to join our Heritage Hall of Fame range from the world-famous, to the unsung heroes of the historic motoring world. From racing drivers to designers, engineers to world-class businessmen, our eclectic group of motoring heroes have just one thing in common – a passion for historic automobiles.”
FIVA Announces 2025 Heritage Hall of Fame Inductees
FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens) is proud to announce the 2025 inductees into its prestigious Heritage Hall of Fame, celebrating nine outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the preservation, promotion, and appreciation of automotive history.
This year’s honourees hail from nine countries across four continents—from Albania to the United States, from Chile to India—highlighting the truly global nature of the historic vehicle movement. Selected by an international panel of esteemed jurors, the 2025 inductees include passionate collectors, pioneering designers, visionary museum founders, and legendary figures in motorsport.
A Global Jury for Global Icons
The nine-member jury responsible for this year's selections includes:
McKeel Hagerty
Malcolm Forest
Nick Mason
Navaz Bhathena Sandhu
Eli Solomon
Shiro Nakamura
Gaby von Oppenheim
Patrick Rollet
Tiddo Bresters, President of FIVA
Their collective expertise ensured a diverse and representative selection of inductees who reflect both the spirit and substance of historic motoring culture.
Living Inductees:
Medi Halilaj (Albania)
A central figure in Albania’s historic vehicle community, Halilaj was inspired by his father’s military vehicle work. After training in electromechanics and working as an electric car technician and battery specialist, he collaborated with the ‘RON’ Museum (co-founded by Arben Prrenjasi) to locate and restore rare historic vehicles of Chinese and Russian origin throughout Albania.
Lia Maria Aguiar (Brazil)
Philanthropist and founder of the Fundação Lia Maria Aguiar, which supports around 700 underprivileged youth, she also launched the CARDE Art Design Museum in 2024. Built around part of Og Pozzoli’s antique car collection, the museum displays approximately 100 fully functional, rare vehicles. CARDE blends automotive history and artistic expression, supported by a Restoration School and cultural programs that empower local youth.
Bernardo Eggers Reccius (Chile)
A pioneer in Chile’s classic car movement, Eggers Reccius founded the country’s first automobile museum, the Auto Museum Moncopulli near Osorno in 1995. The museum now houses dozens of historic vehicles, including the world’s largest Studebaker collection outside the United States.
Dr. Friedhelm Loh (Germany)
A renowned German collector with more than 150 historic vehicles, Dr. Loh has created a unique museum space within a historic industrial building, complete with a restaurant and cinema. Highlights of his collection include Michael Schumacher’s 2000 Ferrari F1 car, a Benz Victoria from 1897, and a Ferrari 288 GTO once owned by Albert Uderzo, co-creator of Asterix.
G. D. Gopal (India)
Son of the famed inventor G. D. Naidu (often called the ‘Edison of India’), Gopal founded the Gedee Car Museum in Coimbatore to honour his father's legacy. The museum features around 100 meticulously documented vehicles, focusing on practical, everyday models. Highlights include the Ford Model T, VW Beetle, Citroën 2CV, a replica of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, and several rare German microcars.
Miles C. Collier (United States)
A former racing driver and lifelong enthusiast, Collier is the founder of the Revs Institute® in Naples, Florida—home to over 100 rare and historically significant vehicles. A passionate advocate for preserving the automobile as a cultural artifact, Collier authored The Archaeological Automobile, which frames the car as a pivotal symbol of 20th-century society.
Posthumous Inductees:
Henri Chapron (France, 1886–1978)
One of France’s greatest coachbuilders, Chapron crafted bespoke bodies for marques like Delage, Talbot, and Hispano-Suiza. After WWII, he famously collaborated with Citroën to create convertible versions of the DS, including the iconic presidential cars used by General de Gaulle.
Flaminio Bertoni (Italy, 1903–1964)
An Italian artist and designer best known for his revolutionary work at Citroën, Bertoni helped design the Traction Avant and the legendary Citroën DS. His fusion of engineering and aesthetics influenced both automotive and industrial design, leaving a profound legacy in global design culture.
Ewy Rosqvist-von Korff (Sweden, 1929–2024)
A trailblazer in motorsport, Rosqvist broke barriers for women in racing during the 1950s and 60s. She won the European Ladies' Championship three times and became a factory driver for Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. Her crowning achievement came in 1962, when she won the Argentinian Gran Premio rally, defeating 286 male competitors by winning every stage and setting a new speed record.
Honouring a Shared Passion
Reflecting on the 2025 selection, FIVA President Tiddo Bresters remarked:
“The legends chosen to join our Heritage Hall of Fame range from world-renowned icons to unsung heroes of the historic motoring world. From a female rally driver to designers, engineers, passionate collectors, to visionary entrepreneurs, this year’s eclectic group shares one unifying passion – historic motoring.”
Jury 2025
Navaz Bhathena Sandhu (Inde)
McKeel Hagerty (États-Unis)
Malcolm Forest (Brazil)
Nick Mason (Royaume-Uni)
Shiro Nakamura (Japon)
Gaby von Oppenheim (Allemagne)
Patrick Rollet (France)
Eli Solomon (Singapour)
Tiddo Bresters (Pays-Bas) – en tant que président par intérim de la FIVA