The Fédération International des Véhicules Anciens or FIVA (English: international federation of ancient vehicles) is the worldwide federative association of historic automobile clubs, be they for
veteran
A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military.
A military veteran that h ...
,
vintage
Vintage, in winemaking, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product—wine (see Harvest (wine)). A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In cer ...
, pre- or post-war
classic car
A classic car is an older car, typically 25 years or older, though definitions vary.While other languages, such as German and Dutch, may refer to classic cars as "oldtimers", this usage is unknown in English, where "old-timer" refers to an elder ...
s, at least thirty years old.
FIVA statutes define it as: ''"a non-profit international association of clubs, federations and other organisations concerned with the preservation, restoration, use and culture of mechanically propelled road vehicles."''
[FIVA Statutes – 2016 – Paris (English)]
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FIVA member clubs represent more than 1.5 million oldtimer enthusiasts in 64 countries,[ through more than 85 member organizations.][The FIVA Organisation – FIVA]
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The FIVA's executive board bestows so-called ANF-Status (''Autorité Nationale de la FIVA''), or national FIVA authoritative status, upon one member organization per country, with the American Historic Vehicle Association
The Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) was founded in 2009 in America to promote the cultural and historical significance of the automobile, and protect the future of automotive history. The society has been an influential part of the U.S. Depart ...
(HVA) as the designated North American representative of FIVA – both for the U.S. and Canada.
In 2013 all 61 national member organizations of FIVA ratified and enacted the so-called ''"Turin Charter"'', set forth by (TICCIH) ''"to preserve and safeguard the history of vehicles including their engineering, form, functions and documented histories and their many and diverse relationships with society and social environments, .."'' [
]
Founding and objectives
The “Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens” was founded in 1966, when several historic vehicle associations and classic car clubs in a number of different countries felt a need for a worldwide body to promote and direct the interests of a historic vehicle movement internationally.[
FIVA's primary objective was to: ''"encourage the safe use of self-propelled, mechanical vehicles, more than thirty years old, on the roads for the benefit of both their owners, dedicated enthusiasts and the general public."'' ][
The FIVA's three main goals and objectives include:
* Protecting responsible use of historic vehicles, through policies and legislation, specific supportive actions relations with authorities
* Preserving historic vehicles, related artifacts and records, including research and cataloguing
* Promoting historic vehicle culture, including international events, forums, and seminars
]
Methods, activities and collaborations
FIVA's ''Culture Commission'' works to achieve recognition of historic vehicles and related objects, as culturally significant artifacts, by legal and political authorities and other stakeholders. FIVA's ''Events Commission'' collaborated with the European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body ...
to create a freely downloadable Driver's Code for general guidance of historic vehicle users, and also has devised a code for the safe promotion of rallies or mildly competitive events. The ''Technical Commission'' works to support the preservation of as many historic vehicles as possible, by cataloguing them with FIVA's ''Vehicle ID-card''. FIVA has forged links with UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. I ...
and has persuaded the European Commission to accept that historic vehicles represent an important part of industrial heritage. FIVA has further linked up with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; en, International Automobile Federation) is an association established on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users. It is the governing body for ...
(FIA), to promote the interest of historic cars in more sporting arenas, and with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM; en, International Motorcycling Federation) is the global governing/sanctioning body of motorcycle racing. It represents 116 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six region ...
(FIM), to help achieve similar objectives for motorcycles. FIVA's ''Legislation Commission'' works to address legislation that (threatens to) limit(s) the continued use of historic vehicles. Sofar this has primarily been concentrated on European countries and the European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been ...
, but legislation pressures on motor transport are ever increasing generally.[Our Mission – FIVA]
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Commissions
FIVA has Ambassadors, and a number of dedicated commissions working on its (members') national and international goals:
* Legislation Commission
* Culture Commission
* Technical Commission
* Trade, Skill & Youth Commission - Integrated since 2018 in the culture commission
* Events Commission
* Motorcycle Commission
* Utilitarian Commission
Definitions and classifications
According to FIVA and its Charter of Turin, a historic vehicle is "a mechanically propelled road vehicle:
* which is at least 30 years old,
* which is preserved and maintained in a historically correct condition,
* which is not used as a means of daily transport
* and which is, therefore, a part of our technical and cultural heritage."
Vehicle classifications Event Definitions – FIVA
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References
External links
FIVA on facebook
(official account)
FIVA on YouTube
(official account)
{{Authority control
Motor clubs
Conservation and restoration of vehicles
Historic preservation of transport