News

Bookings open for 4th European Conference for Automotive History

Published: 08/07/2024

The Society of Automotive Historians in Britain (SAHB), together with the FIVA Culture and Youth Commission, has put together the final programme for the fourth European Conference for Automotive History, to be held at the renowned Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Germany, from 4 to 6 October, and bookings are now open.

Supported by FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Vehicules Anciens), this event promises to be an unparalleled gathering of automotive historians and enthusiasts.

Following the resounding success of its previous conferences—held at the Musée National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse (2017), the Louwman Museum in Den Haag (2019), and Mauto in Torino (2022)—this year’s event at Autostadt, an automotive theme park of the Volkswagen Group, is set to be its best yet.

Autostadt boasts the Zeithaus museum, showcasing 280 historic cars, seven brand-specific pavilions, a VW Touareg test track, cinemas, restaurants, and the iconic glass towers. With over two million visitors annually, it is the perfect venue to immerse yourself in automotive history.

Key Highlights

Welcome Dinner & Networking: Start the conference with a warm welcome dinner on 4 October, where you can network with fellow enthusiasts and experts.
Engaging Presentations: Enjoy a day and a half of insightful presentations from renowned experts on Saturday 5 October and Sunday 6 October, with topics ranging from the history of Ford in Hungary to the significance of automobiles in 1920s novels.

Esteemed Speakers

Anders Ditlev Clausager (SAHB, UK)
Nataša Grom Jerina, VP FIVA, Culture and Youth Commission
Armin Maus, Autostadt Representative
Tiddo Bresters, FIVA President

Participation Diploma: All participants will receive a diploma, acknowledging their involvement and commitment to automotive history.
Exclusive Tours: For those extending their stay, enjoy an exclusive tour of Autostadt’s exhibitions and collections.

Featured Presentations:

Dr. Pal Negyesi (SAHB, UK and Hungary) will delve into the History of Ford in Hungary, highlighting how Hungarian designers have influenced the brand's presence in the country.
Dr. Michael Edwards (SAHB, UK) will explore the rapid rise and ultimate demise of the De Dion Bouton company in his presentation, ‘De Dion Bouton: a lingering death’.
Hans Lipp (AHG, Germany) will provide a historical overview of the city of Wolfsburg, home to the conference's venue, Autostadt.
Autostadt representatives will discuss the further development of ZeitHaus and other classic themes within the Volkswagen Group's brand pavilions.
Dr. Stefan Dierkes (AHG, Germany) will uncover the history of the unknown Swiss coachbuilder Italsuisse (1960–1967), including the story of the 1960 VW Italsuisse.
Claus Wulff (AHG, Germany) will present on the AGA automobile company, founded by a Nobel prize winner.
Jaap Horst (CONAM, The Netherlands) will discuss the use of patent databases for research on specific automobile marques and technological developments.
Dr. Alessandro Silva (AISA, Italy) will examine the history of the Diatto company from Torino.
Jens Møller Nicolaisen (DVK, Denmark) will present on researching the Citroën Traction Avant production records.
Dr. Wolfgang Munzinger (AHG, Germany) will analyze the significance of automobiles in 1920s novels, focusing on works like Michael Arlen's The Green Hat and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
Klaus Preuschhof (AHG, Germany) will delve into the history of rear-engine design, a significant automotive powertrain layout.
Dr. Susan Grunewald (SAH, USA) will discuss the transfer of German automobile technology to the Soviet Union from the 1940s until the Soviet collapse in 1991.
Anders Ditlev Clausager (SAHB, UK) will explore the history of the historic and classic vehicle movement in Britain from 1909 to the present, drawing parallels with other countries.
Dr. Rosella Maspoli (Torino, Italy) will present on Motor Towns: Innovation, redevelopment, and tourism from Turin to other cases.
Dejan Breznik (FIVA) will share his personal story, Collector's Dream: How I Bought a Never-Unpacked Norton Motorcycle.
Anette Vogel (ADAC/FIVA) will discuss Preserving the Legacy: an exploration of art and archives in the automotive world.

Conference Details:
Dates: 4-6 October 2024
Location: Autostadt, Wolfsburg, Germany
Conference Fee: €175 (includes Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner, Sunday light lunch, and welcome gifts)
Fee for Accompanying Persons (dinners only): €85

To attend the conference, please complete the booking form here: https://fiva.org/en/fiva-pan-european-conference-for-automotive-history-2024/

Book your accommodation through the same link with special rates available until 6 September 2024. The recommended hotel is Innside by Melia, Heinrich-Nordhoff-Straße 2, 38440 Wolfsburg, which is where the welcome dinner will be held.

The organizers reserve the right to modify or cancel any part of the programme.

We look forward to welcoming members of the societies for automotive history including: