Non-Profit Association
The definitive digital archive for European automotive heritage
Auto Heritage is a project by ECAH (European Contemporary Automotive Heritage), a non-profit association dedicated to preserving and documenting the heritage of significant European automobiles. We exist to become the trusted reference that brands, collectors, museums, and enthusiasts all turn to.
Our mission
We believe that the most significant European automobiles deserve rigorous, accessible documentation. Not as products for sale, but as cultural artifacts worthy of preservation and study.
Every vehicle in our archive is a documented subject: verified specifications sourced from manufacturer press releases, production history cross-referenced with factory records, designer attribution, and editorial context that explains why each car matters.
The goal is not to sell advertising. It is to become a recognized authority, so that Mercedes, Porsche, and Ferrari come to Auto Heritage as the independent platform they trust to document their heritage.
Who we serve
For Brands
A prestigious, independent platform to preserve and showcase automotive heritage. Not advertising, documentation. Brands invest heavily in heritage programs. Auto Heritage serves as the trusted, cross-brand curator of that history.
For Collectors
A curated community of serious collectors who want research depth without marketplace noise. Verified specifications, provenance context, and editorial assessments, not cold calls from dealers.
For Enthusiasts
The definitive place to discover historically significant vehicles. Original specifications, heritage narratives, transparent cutout imagery, and editorial context that goes beyond specs into cultural significance.
For Institutions
The digital infrastructure that federations, museums, and universities have been missing. FIVA gets a platform. Museums get online catalogs. Universities get a research partner and publishing channel.
Our journey
Foundation
ECAH (European Contemporary Automotive Heritage) established as a non-profit association. First prototype built with 6 vehicles.
Archive Launch
92 vehicles across 10 active European brands. 470+ multi-angle transparent images. Supabase database live. Full-text search, tag filtering, and 10 curated collections.
Auto Heritage
Public brand launched at autoheritage.eu. 525 verified technical specifications. 117 reference links to primary sources. GTM tracking with 15 events. SEO with 8 JSON-LD schemas.
Brand Expansion
Vehicle Imagery paid plan activation. Adding Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar, and more. Target: 200+ vehicles across 15+ brands.
Institutional Partnerships
FEVA (Spanish federation) outreach. Background removal for classic pre-1980s vehicles. Journal expansion to 15+ articles.
FIVA Partnership
Formal outreach to FIVA (2.5M enthusiasts, 70+ countries). Position Auto Heritage as their digital heritage platform. EU cultural funding application.
What we document
Verified technical specifications from manufacturer press releases and factory records
Production numbers, variant breakdowns, and chassis code identification
Designer and engineer attribution with historical context
Multi-angle transparent cutout photography, explorable from every perspective
Heritage narratives explaining cultural and engineering significance
Market context with editorial value assessments based on auction results
Primary source references: Wikipedia, manufacturer archives, specification databases
Non-profit independence
Auto Heritage operates under ECAH, a registered non-profit association. We do not sell vehicles, facilitate transactions, or accept commission from dealers. Our archive exists to preserve and share knowledge, not to monetize it.
Revenue supports the mission through brand heritage partnerships, institutional grants from European cultural programs, and community contributions. Every revenue stream must strengthen Auto Heritage's position as an independent, trusted authority.
Strategic partnerships
International Federation of Historic Vehicles, 2.5 million enthusiasts across 70+ countries, UNESCO cultural heritage partner
Spanish Federation for Classic Vehicles, established 1993, regulatory and advocacy body for Spanish automotive heritage
Academic partnerships modeled on the Revs Program at Stanford, digitization, research access, and scholarly publishing
Manufacturer heritage departments at BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, independent documentation that complements brand-specific archives