The Oldtimer Club Mostar is the only one in Europe that has a museum of vintage cars, and within it, a museum of antiques. It is a member of the global organization FIVA for vintage vehicles, as well as a member and partner of UNESCO. They have no sponsors or any financial support, yet they attract the attention of tourists and media from around the world.
“The Oldtimer Club Mostar has introduced FIVA and all international laws into Bosnia and Herzegovina. We brought Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European Union before our politicians ever did. The museum was opened to the public three years ago, and I have been involved in this for 20 years. Recently, at the world conference in Vienna, in front of 150 countries, we received the highest recognition – the license of a world museum. We received it for our work, for connecting people, especially in the Balkans, because there are no divisions here; people who love culture are with us,” said Zdravko Vidović, club president, to the Visit BiH magazine.
The Oldest Car
The Oldtimer Club Mostar has 450 members from 32 countries worldwide, as membership is available online for a symbolic 50 BAM per month.
“Since our appearance on Discovery Channel, everything has been on an upward trajectory. Bloggers, actors, singers, students come to us. But as our reputation grows, so do our enemies because everything you see here has been created purely out of love. We have no financiers, and this museum will be handed down to future generations,” Vidović emphasizes.
The Museum of Oldtimers possesses very valuable exhibits, and besides cars, their collection also includes bicycles and motorcycles.
“The oldest car is a Ford T from 1929, and we believe it is one of the oldest in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have many interesting vehicles from 1962, 1950, 1952. Summer is the time for gatherings, so we travel constantly – of course, when we have the funds. We are a club that has united the Balkans. We were the first to visit all the countries in the region, and now they regularly come to us. No one who has visited us leaves without a bottle of homemade wine and rakija, and our presentation about Bosnia and Herzegovina as a unique country. When you show love, it comes back to you. But it’s important to note that this museum is not just about cars; we’ve also opened an antique museum, and soon we will have a museum of vinyl records and gramophones. Come listen to a record from 1945. We have a piano that is one of a kind, made in Yugoslavia, and an accordion from the movie “Ko to tamo peva.” We also possess huge collections of rare books, paintings, and especially old tools. Our museum is a real time machine,” he says.
Unfortunately, this beautiful story also has a sad side. They face numerous problems daily because they lack concrete and continuous support.
“Our biggest problem is how to finance shelves, although we have so many items waiting to be displayed. We look for discarded shelves, materials… We restore, repair, and create from whatever we find. I must thank friends and ordinary people because when they give something, it comes from the heart. We are happiest when someone invites us to take materials, because we can make so many things from that,” Vidović stresses.
According to him, they have done a lot for the country, but they haven’t received anything in return.
Great Humanitarians
“I go on trips in a car without air conditioning, sell a few things to attend the world conference to promote Bosnia and Herzegovina. Imagine the love behind that. At the world conference in Bucharest, more than half the countries didn’t even know where Bosnia and Herzegovina is, yet we have houses older than America. That’s why I tell them about our landmarks, culture, rivers, drinking water, and the fact that all our churches and mosques are literally side by side – that our diversity is our wealth,” says Vidović.
Club members are also great humanitarians, helping children with special needs and orphans.
“We took responsibility for 53 children in Vareš who are without parents. This project was initiated by our friend Gera, who does wonderful things. He is the greatest collector of gramophones and vinyl records, and this story will now become a part of us. Also, interested children can come to the museum and learn how to technically restore oldtimers. We started youth education program but don’t know how it will develop because we lack funds. We are small people with big hearts, and we hope for the best,” Vidović emphasizes.
He says they are happy because young people are already showing up, whom he believes will continue the museum story.
“There’s no interest here, only pure love. You don’t get anything; you only give. But it’s worth it,” Vidović concludes.
