Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum

The Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum opened in 2002. It is located in the Umurbey neighborhood of Bursa. The museum offers visitors the opportunity to explore vehicle examples from different eras and learn about their production processes. Additionally, the production equipment belonging to Tofaş and other vehicles in the museum form the core of its main collection.

^{Entrance to the Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

The Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum occupies an area of 17 hectares and houses several historical structures within its grounds. These include the 1850s-era “Eski İpek Fabrikası,” the French-built “Mancınıkhane,” the 19th-century “Kozaklık,” and the 15th-century “Umurbey Hamamı.” These buildings form the historical fabric of the museum site and have been restored by Tofaş. Notably, following the completion of the Umurbey Hamamı restoration in 2008, it is now used as the “Tofaş Art Gallery.”

The Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum holds a detailed collection showcasing the historical automotive culture of Anatolia. The museum displays vehicles that reflect the evolution of automotive use in Anatolia from the past to the present. This collection includes various types of vehicles developed to meet the needs of different regions based on local geography and production techniques. For example, traditional vehicles such as horse-drawn carts, phaetons, and kağnıs are exhibited. Additionally, agricultural transport vehicles and wooden wheels are also part of this collection.

The museum also documents the development of Turkey’s automotive industry. Vehicles produced by Tofaş have played a significant role in the historical evolution of Turkey’s automotive sector. The Murat 124, produced in 1971, is recognized as one of Turkey’s first domestically manufactured automobiles. Additionally, the Murat 131, produced in 1977, is among the first automobiles manufactured in Turkey. These vehicles symbolize Tofaş’s contributions to the nation’s automotive industry. Furthermore, modern Tofaş models such as the Fiat Tempra and Fiat Doblo are also displayed. The museum also features the 2002 4x4 Fiat Doblo, developed by Tofaş for the Dakar Rally, symbolizing its international achievements.

Dating to the late 19th century, this traditional nalbant workshop in the Bursa region displays the process of fitting horseshoes. A nal is an iron piece attached to a horse’s hoof to support movement and balance pressure, and the nalbant is the master craftsman who forges these shoes.

^{Nalbant Workshop (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

In the traditional semerci workshop, semers—equipment placed on the backs of animals such as horses, donkeys, or oxen to carry loads or serve as riding platforms—are manufactured. The semerci is the craftsman who produces and sells these items.

^{Semerci Workshop (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

This workshop, constructed by local artisans in accordance with the architectural features of its time, is built with a wooden frame, brick infill, mud-straw plaster, and traditional Turkish tile roofing. It displays the tools and equipment used in traditional phaeton production. The tools inside were sourced from the workshop of the renowned carriage maker Mustafa Babik.

^{Yarım Esebey Horse-Drawn Carriage (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

Saraçlık is the craft of making and selling horse harnesses, bridles, animal decorations, and similar items. The traditional saraçevi workshop is where masters produce and sell these goods. The saraçevi displayed in the museum presents Bursa’s traditional craftsmanship and the labor of local artisans to visitors.

^{Saraçevi Workshop (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

Twelve motor vehicles produced by Tofaş Türk Otomobil Fabrikası during different periods are exhibited in the museum. These vehicles reflect key milestones in Tofaş’s automotive history and the evolution of automobile manufacturing in Turkey. The exhibited vehicles include:

^{First Murat 124 Produced by Tofaş (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

^{First Murat 131 Produced by Tofaş (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

^{1983 Model Murat 131 Kartal (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

^{1994 Model Fiat Tempra (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

^{2004 Model Fiat Palio Go, the Two-Millionth Vehicle (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

^{Fiat Palio Competing in National and International Rally Championships (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

^{Fiat Egea (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

In addition to its automobile collection, the Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum hosts various art-related activities. The Umurbey Hamamı, restored in 2008, was converted into the “Tofaş Art Gallery” and has since hosted numerous temporary exhibitions.

The Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum is not only an exhibition space but also contributes to society through educational programs. Traffic safety education and various workshops for children form a vital part of the museum’s educational mission. The traffic education program for children combines theoretical instruction with practical experience. Children learn traffic rules while receiving engaging, hands-on training using Fiat 500 vehicles. Additionally, the museum organizes activities such as yoga and games for adults.

Below are some notable past exhibitions held at the museum:

Organized in collaboration between Yapı Kredi Private Banking and Yapı Kredi Kültür Sanat Yayıncılık, the “This Is My Zeki Müren” exhibition displayed over ten thousand photographs, costumes, poems, notes, and personal artifacts belonging to Zeki Müren, sourced from the archives of the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV) and the Turkish Armed Forces Mehmetçik Foundation. The exhibition, which celebrated Zeki Müren’s art and life, attracted more than 20,000 visitors.

^{This Is My Zeki Müren Exhibition (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

This exhibition, featuring over 1,800 clock models from the 19th century selected from the collection of Architect Naim Arnas, also displayed the tools and equipment used by clockmakers. It welcomed a total of 56,670 visitors.

^{Time Machines: Clock Exhibition (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

Curated by Architect Naim Arnas and featuring pieces from the private collection of Rahmi M. Koç, the “Toy Exhibition” traced the evolution of toys from the past to the present and attracted 114,000 visitors.

Organized to commemorate Tofaş’s 40th anniversary, this exhibition focused on the founding of Turkey’s first automotive factory by Vehbi Koç, founder of Koç Holding, in Bursa in 1968, and on Tofaş’s development over the decades. Important documents and photographs from the Tofaş and Vehbi Koç archives were displayed.

^{Tofaş and Vehbi Koç on the Occasion of Tofaş’s 40th Anniversary (}

Organized by the Turkish Ceramic Society, the “International Ceramic Biennial” brought together Hacettepe University’s “Macsabal Sculptures Collection” with the museum’s facilities, hosting a significant ceramic collection.

^{Ceramic Biennial Exhibition (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

The Tofaş Anadolu Cars Museum offers visitors an experience within a natural environment. The site features ancient trees, including a 375-year-old giant plane tree and a 200-year-old black mulberry tree. These trees provide visitors with tranquil resting areas.

^{The Museum Garden (}Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum⁾

The Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum is a museum that showcases Anatolia’s automotive culture, the development of Turkey’s automotive industry, and its cultural heritage. In addition to its automobile collection, the museum houses historical buildings and an art gallery. It offers visitors the opportunity to observe the transition from traditional Anatolian vehicles to modern Tofaş models and the evolution of industry. With these features, the Tofaş Bursa Anadolu Cars Museum provides both a cultural experience and an educational environment.