Türkiye's Classic Car Rallies and Meetups

Classics and Collections
Author: Lütfi Mete Odabaşı
Creation: 16 October 2026

In Türkiye, the passion for classic cars turns into a meeting point almost every month of the year; from rallies to convoys, the calendar is always full.

Share This Page

The heart of classic car passion beats in Türkiye: rallies run on the TOSFED calendar, festivals organized city by city, convoys lined up along the Bosphorus shore, and collectors turning their garages into museums... All together, there is a meeting point almost every month of the year. In this guide, I explain those points, the requirements for entering rallies, and how to step into this world even without a car.

Highlights

The entry limit for classic rallies is usually 25 years and older vehicles; for example, cars in the 25-50 age band registered for the Istanbul Republic Rally.
The 2026 Türkiye Classic Car Championship consists of 3 rounds and started with the Spring Rally in Çanakkale.
Around 120 classic cars took part in the FIVA World Rally-status Istanbul Republic Rally; the second day's stages were run on the Formula 1 circuit.
To become a competitor you need to be 18 years old, hold a driver's license, and have the TOSFED Classic Car Driver's License - even without owning a car, you can take part in everything as a spectator.

What exactly is a classic car rally, and what kind of event is it?

Just picture it: the usual rally excitement, but behind the wheel of a 1968 model instead of a Mercedes sits a retired engineer who smiles as he presses the accelerator. Classic car rallies are roughly that. By the generally accepted definition, they are events held with vehicles over 25 years old and of classic character, primarily for touring and enjoyment. In other words, rather than super-fast races chasing seconds on a track, it is a journey shared with time and the roads.

But calling it "just a tour" would fall short. TOSFED runs this category on its national calendar as a serious championship with points. So the same event is on one hand a nostalgic gathering, and on the other a competitive series run for championship points. Both readings are true; whichever side you look from, the field is full and rewarding.

What should someone who wants to compete do?

First, the rulebook: in the classic car category, the driver age requirement is 18 and holding a driver's license. In the team registering for the competition, both the driver and co-driver must hold the TOSFED Classic Car Driver's License; registration forms must be filled out completely and signed by all members of the team. If you want to take part in internationally sanctioned races, one more document comes into play: the FIVA Identity Certificate, essentially your car's passport declaring "I am a true classic." This document is issued in Türkiye by the Classic Car Club.

Let's also unpack FIVA: the International Federation of Antique Vehicles, the global umbrella of the classic vehicle world. The FIVA-status rallies in Türkiye are also organized by the Classic Car Club. The club was founded in 1990 by a group of enthusiasts and, with over 600 members, is one of the country's most established automobile clubs. It is a community whose doors are open even to those who come not with a car, but with curiosity.

What's on the 2026 calendar: Championship rounds and major rallies

The 2026 season looks quite lively for classics. TOSFED announced the 2026 National Competition Calendar on February 5; the Türkiye Classic Automobile Championship consists of 3 rounds this year and started with the Bahar Rally in Çanakkale on April 18-19. The championship's second round took its place on the calendar in early June. The Bahar Rally's name is not for nothing: in the club's previous years' events, vehicles ranging from 1940s models to the 1980s hit the roads of Çanakkale; think of it like a sandy-grained nostalgic film scene.

Let's look at the major events outside the championship. The Classic Automobile Club's 2026 calendar included, along with the Çanakkale Bahar Rally, the 28th Western Anatolia Rally held in Çeşme on May 30. The club reported the season with the headlines "Classics Passed Through Çanakkale Like the Wind" in mid-April and "Western Anatolia Rally Held in Çeşme" in early June.

One of the brightest examples of the past year came in 2025: the Istanbul Republic Rally with FIVA World Rally status, held October 24-26. About 120 classic cars registered, the route extended from central Istanbul to the Ömerli-Şile line, and the second day's stages were run on the Formula 1 track at Istanbul Park. Imagine a classic Otosan or an old model lapping the F1 asphalt - the event's theme built exactly this bridge: "Wheels of Industry - Time Travelers: The Past Meets the Future". Are your eyes set outward on a more ambitious plan? Promotions for the Silk Road, that is, the Silk Road Rally 2026, continue in Europe; in March, the Luxembourg Automobile Museum hosted the promotional event.

What if not rallies? Festivals, convoys, and meetups

Ralli pistinin dışında da bir sahne var: festivaller, konvoylar ve bayram kortejleri Anadolu'nun her köşesinde klasikleri bir araya getiriyor.

The rally calendar appeals not only to racing enthusiasts; Türkiye's classic scene actually breathes through festivals and meetups. The Nostalgic Automobile Festival in Sincan brings together classic vehicle enthusiasts from all over Türkiye; in its latest edition, a total of 49 vehicles competed in the automobile, motorcycle, truck, and SSV categories. The Türkiye Classic Automobile Festival, launched in Ankara in cooperation with the municipality, also gathered classics from different provinces in the same venue; a club in Thrace contributes to the scene with events such as the October 29 Republic Day cortege and an Edirne tour.

The heartlands of Anatolia are not empty either: the 8th Türkiye-Wide Classic Automobile Festival was held in Kayseri on July 4-5; there was complimentary refreshments, photo sessions with classic vehicles, concerts, and antique stands. In Ürgüp, the 2nd Classic Mercedes Festival opened its doors on June 27-28; clubs focused on the star brand also published their own 2026 event calendars. In Istanbul, the meetup set up at Galataport on May 19 opened with a moment of silence and the singing of the İstiklal Marşı, followed by the entry of a convoy of 33 classic vehicles into the event area. Think about the location: the shore of the Bosphorus, engine sounds like trumpet fanfares following along... An impressive scene.

There are options on the fair and festival side too: the Classic Car Festival at Tüyap Fair and Congress Center took place from June 29 to July 1 with tickets. If you are looking for a somewhat broader umbrella, organizations like ANOK Fest'26 present classics alongside modified culture; drift shows, slalom, super sports and classic car exhibitions side by side. This appeals to a completely different audience from the FIVA approach, which views classics through the "originality is sacred" lens - and honestly, this diversity enriches the scene.

Event	Location	Date / Period	Notable detail
Bahar Rallisi (Championship Round 1)	Çanakkale	April 18-19, 2026	The opening rounds of the championship
28th Western Anatolia Rally	Çeşme	May 30, 2026	Run as the 2nd round of the championship
Nostalgic Car Festival	Sincan, Ankara	Saturday evening, August 29	49 vehicles, 4 different categories
8th Nationwide Classic Car Festival	Kayseri	July 4-5	Free refreshments and concerts
2nd Classic Mercedes Festival	Ürgüp	June 27-28, 2026	A gathering focused on a single brand
Classic Car Festival	Tüyap, İstanbul	June 29-July 1	Ticketed fair format

Clubs: Why is the social side of this so important?

It is true that classic car passion begins in the garage, but where it lives is the clubs. Members of the İstanbul Klasik Otomobilciler Derneği describe the club as "like a family" - which means that alongside the car, you also gain a community. Among the aims of the İzmir Klasik Otomobilciler Derneği are collaborating with clubs across Türkiye to organize national festivals and guiding classic car owners on restoration. So instead of taking on your first project and panicking with "now how do I remove this panel?", you can ask people who have made the same mistake dozens of times.

Brand-focused communities add a different color too: the Klasik Mercedes Benz Kulübü published its 2026 event calendar, emphasizing the opportunity to see important examples of automotive history up close. Some clubs operate as private groups on social media; membership conditions are determined by the group's own rules. If there is a community you are curious about, first go as a guest to one of their events, get a feel for the atmosphere, then knock on the membership door. And good news: TOSFED organized free Classic Car Rally Co-Pilot Trainings for all women with a driver's license. So the wheel of this scene turns for everyone.

No car but plenty of curiosity? Starting with museums and as a spectator

Here is my favorite message from this article: You don't need to be a 25-year-old car owner to enter this world. Festivals and museums are open to spectators; while the Kayseri and Sincan festivals offer free refreshments and photo opportunities, the Tuyap festival opens its doors to everyone in a ticketed fair format. Co-pilot training and rally watching are also among the things you can try without a car. Who knows, maybe one day you'll cross over to the other side of the stage - but first, learning by watching from here is the best first step.

The list of museums is generous too: the Mehmet Arsay Classic Car Museum, the Ural Ataman Classic Car Museum, and the Key Car Museum are counted among the main car museums to visit in Türkiye. Ural Ataman in Sariyer presents itself as a venue "celebrating the golden age of motoring" and is shown among Istanbul's best museums. Key Museum in Izmir is promoted as Türkiye's most comprehensive automobile and motorcycle museum; its collection spans from the earliest days of the automobile to the present. There are also lesser-known stops: a museum founded in 2023 in Gürün that uses the concept of "modern classic," and the Eylül Tractor and Automobile Museum in Geyikli, Çanakkale, which brings classic cars together with nostalgic tractors. Additionally, the Sabri Artam Foundation Classic Car Museum, the Rahmi M. Koç Museum, and the Tofaş Museum can be added to the list. More than enough options for a weekend plan, right?

Etiquette rules for attending a car show for the first time

The golden rules for first-time guests at the stage are simple: Look with your eyes, don't touch. Don't lean on the car; if you want to open the hood or a door, ask the owner first. Don't block anyone's view - because everyone has come to take photos. Keep in mind that owners have put hours of effort into their cars; the shine is no coincidence, it's patience. And after giving your camera a thorough maintenance session, don't rush to the stage in a panic about leaving early.

Final word: No matter which corner of the stage you start from, just start

Türkiye's classic car world is not a hall entered through a single door; it has its rallies, its festivals, its convoys, its museums, its clubs. Even if your budget or garage isn't enough, the calendar is waiting for you: go to a festival day, watch a convoy from the sidewalk, find your own reflection on the hood of a car in a museum. From there, the story writes itself - just like the first sound of the ignition of a 25-year-old engine, once it starts, it doesn't want to stop.