IVVCC planning jubilee celebrations

A Golden Jubilee Grand Tour of Ireland and a special running of the Gordon Bennett Rally are among the events being planned to mark the 50th anniversary of the Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club next year.

The club has over 650 members and 50 affiliated clubs across Ireland. Its first president was the late Knollys Stokes who was elected to office in 1964.

A 170-page book recalling the people, cars and events that make up the club’s history will be published next October. Compiled and edited by club member Anselm Aherne, it is supported by the sponsorship of Motor Distributors Limited.

Affiliated to FIVA, the Paris-based Federation Internationale Des Vehicules Anciens, the club is part of a membership of 1.5 million spanning some 62 countries worldwide.

Amongst the most cherished vehicles preserved by IVVCC members is Ireland’s first motor car—a Benz Velo Comfortable imported here in 1898 by Dr Colohan, then owner of what is now the Grand Hotel in Malahide.

Restored to its original condition by IVVCC member Denis Dowdall, the vehicle registered IK 52 is part of a collection of historic vehicles currently in the possession of Motor Distributors Limited.

Denis is pictured here on the right in the car, with the late Bill Duffy, then (2002) Mercedes-Benz Sales Manager with MDL.

(Pic by Brian Byrne/carandtravel.ie)