Moscow calling: inside Russia’s biggest classic car event

Meet Russia’s second biggest show of 2018

In case you didn’t know, there’s a rather large event going on in Russia at the moment.

Before the World Cup, though, Moscow hosted a second spectacle – and it was almost as exciting.

It's called Oldtimer-Gallery, it's been running since 2002 and it's now one of Europe’s largest indoor events for classic and vintage machinery. 

This year’s centrepiece? A celebration of the centenary of the Soviet fire service, which coloured the March event a different kind of Russian red.

Join us as we peruse the most unique and intriguing exhibits from this Moscow institution.

16 years old and growing

First held in 2002, the annual Oldtimer-Gallery exhibition of classic cars and vintage machinery has grown to cover more than 10,000m2 and two pavilions of Moscow’s Sokolniki Exhibition Center – and this year’s main event was quite the crowd-pleaser.

Sound the alarm

Nothing draws an audience quite like an unusual headline display, so full marks to Oldtimer-Gallery for its mammoth celebration of the centenary of the Soviet fire service.

Red army

The impressive display featured an array of machinery – ranging from early horse-drawn pumps to hook-and-ladder rigs, to more recent fire trucks.

First of its kind

Of course, there was much more to this colossal show than simply fire tenders – from the truly ostentatious to the first Russian-built small passenger car, the 1929 NAMI-1.

From the everyday to the unique

Throughout the halls there were workmanlike Russian Gaz Pobedas and impressive Chaika and ZIS limousines.

Mighty bird

Perhaps the most unusual local model was the enormous ZIL PEU-2 ‘Bluebird’ rescue vehicle.

Bespoke Bluebird

Built in 1991 for the Soviet space programme, this amphibious all-terrain six-wheeler was created to search for and rescue astronauts upon their return to Earth and its 'Top Secret' status was removed only a few years ago.

Prototype Lada

Also garnering plenty of attention was the car that paved the way for the ubiquitous Lada Niva 4x4, the prototype 1959 Moskvitch 415S off-roader.

Lost and found

The sole example built, it was making its debut at the show after its recent rediscovery, having being lost from the classic community for more than half a century.

Still steaming

Also on display was a Clapp & Jones steam engine which, despite dating from 1868, remains in perfect working condition – as demonstrated at regular intervals across the long weekend.

Royal wagon

The oldest vehicle at the show, however – in fact, the oldest to appear in the Oldtimer-Gallery’s 16-year history – was King William IV of England’s 1835 carriage.

Back to the future

In complete contrast, meanwhile, youngtimers and customs – from a very blue Audi cabriolet with RS2 mods – brought the show bang up to date.

Americans in Russia

There were plenty of American classics scattered all over the exhibition halls, too, including this fetching ‘73 Ford Thunderbird.

More Americans in Russia

A 1934 Packard limousine and 1940 Cadillac convertible sedan were also among the most notable US machines in Moscow.

'Vette array

An impressive line-up of Chevrolet Corvettes presented almost every generation of this legendary US sports car.

Stingray, stingray

Among them was a gorgeous ‘split-window’ Sting Ray coupe...

Pace setter

...and a desirable C3 Indy Pace Car special edition

A blazing history

Returning to the main exhibit, fire apparatus has a far longer history than that of the truck-based fire engine, and part of the exhibit demonstrated what it was like to be part of a crew before engines came along to help.

Engine central

These archaic offerings were far outweighed by the selection of more modern, motorised fire-fighting machines, though.

International rescue

Inside the hall you could encounter a 1929 REO fire truck from the USA or a German Magirus-Deutz machine.

Dennis and the Russians

There was even the famed Dennis G-type rig from the late 1920s – though, inevitably, Russian-built vehicles were the most plentiful.

Local appliances

The country’s very first fire truck – the AMO F-15 ‘Promet’ tender built in 1926 – was on show, although it’s sadly now in need of plenty of restoration.

Lonely YaG

Other local offerings included PMG-1, PMZ-1 and PMZ-2 engines from the ’30s, along with a huge truck based on a YaG-6 chassis, the sole surviving example left in the world.

A different kind of hybrid

There were more exotic hybrids to be found at the Sokolniki Exhibition Center, too, such as a Swedish fire engine based on an American International Harvester chassis.

Six-wheeled climber

Elsewhere, there was a Metz mechanical ladder from Germany mated to a post-war Russian six-wheeled ZIS-6 chassis...

Caddy conversion

...and even a 1926 Cadillac converted into a fire truck.

Pre-war rarity

Another true rarity was a pump truck on the ЯT-6 chassis, also a pre-war creation. Once plentiful, these machines were prone to wear and precious few survive today.

High capacity

Its water tank holds some 5000 litres, so could be used immediately upon arrival at a blaze, without having to wait for its hose to be rolled out to the nearest fire pond or hydrant.

Moscow calling back

Russia certainly knows how to put on a show, then – and not just when it comes to footie.

Dictator's wheels

From cars favoured by Stalin…

Paint the town red

...to fire engines from every decade.

No penalties

If classic cars do more for you than penalty shootouts, you know where you should be headed next year.