February 26, 1966, marks the day that a group of organizations representing historical vehicle enthusiasts from a number of countries banded together to form an international body dedicated exclusively to the promotion, protection and preservation of motorized historical vehicles including automobiles, motorcycles, buses, trucks and tractors. That organization emerged into what is known today as the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA). In the sixty years that have passed, FIVA has come a long way, growing exponentially and is now represented in over ninety countries, present in every continent and having over two million members. Complementing this membership are the multitude of professional members comprising of, inter alia, global automotive manufacturers and suppliers, a number of the world’s leading historic vehicle museums and international rally and event organizers.
Today, on the sixtieth anniversary of its founding, FIVA stands as the worldwide governing body for historic vehicles. Together with the FIA (Federation International Automobile), the governing body of motorsport and the leading federation of mobility organizations and the FIM, (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) the global governing /sanctioning body of motorcycle racing, FIVA is allied with these two global entities towards promoting historic motoring, culminating in the execution of a tri-partite manifesto between the three organizations in 2023.
In light of FIVA’s global stature and its dedication towards the promotion of the preservation of historic vehicles and passing on their related technologies to future generations, FIVA has worked to enhance the value of this truly unique industrial heritage and to foster intercultural exchange. This can be evidenced by the fact that FIVA has a proud and longstanding cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) culminating in a comprehensive cultural partnership and consultative NGO status in 2017. Since 2022, FIVA has also been in partnership with the International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage better known by the name ‘TICCH’ which serves to preserve, conserve, investigate and advance education of industrial heritage. Together, FIVA and TICCH present the FIVA-TICCH Automotive Industrial Heritage Recognition Award, serving to identify excellence in the conservation of automotive industrial heritage. These activities are complemented not only by the ‘FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame’, now in its fifth year, which has emerged as a highly prestigious award, garnering global recognition and contributing significantly to the cause of the historic vehicle movement worldwide, but also the newly launched ‘FIVA World Heritage Vehicle Programme’ an award recognizing a vehicle’s importance within a country’s automotive heritage.
Today, among FIVA’s key priorities is not only the promotion, protection and preservation of historic vehicles, but also the responsible use of historic vehicles and young timers (vehicles between 20 and 30 years old) on public roads for the benefit of their owners, enthusiasts and the general public.
However, FIVA must prepare for new challenges, including tackling a multitude of new issues such as alternative fuels, green tech, and responsible restoration practices to keep historic vehicles on the road—without compromising their authenticity. The answers and solutions are not simple, but the message is clear: preserving the past while embracing the future is not a paradox. It is our collective challenge and FIVA is at the forefront, whether through the work of the Legislation Commission, the FIVA Technical Commission or whether it be the work and research of FIVA national members such as, inter alia, ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italiano), FBHVC (Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs and FFVE (Federation Francaise de Vehicules d’ Epoque) all of whom are carrying out ground-breaking work in a number of areas, including sustainability. The results of such work are being put into actual practice by the FIVA Events Commission, as witnessed by the common thread in all of the FIVA World Events held in 2025. By way of example, the World Motorcycle Rally in Italy and the World Utilitarian Event in Netphen each served to highlight environmental sustainability by working to promote the compatibility of alternative fuels with historic vehicles, whilst the FIVA World Car Rally in Turkiye stood out for its promotion of social sustainability, emphasizing and highlighting diversity, empowerment and investment in the next generation.
With the emergence of new challenges in a broad spectrum of areas, including energy and mobility, FIVA will continue to work and set the stage for continuing to achieve and maintain the balance between enjoyment and responsibility for the use of historical vehicles for the years to come.
FIVA will be holding its 60th Anniversary celebrations concomitant with the 2026 General Assembly to be held in November in Brussels, Belgium together with our national member the Belgian Historic Vehicle Association (BEHVA). Details of the celebrations shall be made available soon.
Click below to see FIVA members from around the world join FIVA in commemoration of its birthday.
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