Kurbads Takes Classic Cars to Tallinn

Classic cars are more than just vehicles – each one carries the stories of its era, from design and engineering to the people behind it. This time, with the support of Kurbads, several remarkable historic vehicles made their way to Tallinn to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Estonia’s historic vehicle club, Unic.

This year is a particularly significant one for Estonia’s historic vehicle movement, marking several important anniversaries. Sixty years ago, on 24 July 1966, Estonia’s first historic vehicle exhibition and parade took place in Mäksa. Ten years later, on 31 January 1976, the historic vehicle club Unic was founded. On 11 September of that same year, the club organised a major historic vehicle rally from Tallinn’s Town Hall Square to Rakvere, bringing together 54 cars and 18 motorcycles, all manufactured before 1940.

Fifty years later, Unic’s anniversary celebrations once again brought together historic vehicle enthusiasts and an impressive collection of unique automobiles. Latvia was represented by Ivars Dortāns and Gunārs Dortāns from the Antique Automobile Club and the Riga Motor Museum, who brought several remarkable classic cars to the event.

One of the most remarkable cars on the journey was a Talbot featuring coachwork by the legendary Parisian coachbuilder Jacques Saoutchik. In Tallinn, it was recognised as the oldest car at the event.

The Saoutchik name holds a special place in automotive history. Jacques Saoutchik established his coachbuilding workshop in Paris in 1906 and went on to become one of the most renowned custom coachbuilders of his era. His creations were known for their bold lines, Art Deco influences, luxurious materials and exceptional attention to detail.

At a time when the chassis and body of a luxury car were often produced by separate companies, Saoutchik created bespoke coachwork for wealthy and discerning clients. Each car could become a unique masterpiece, blurring the line between an automobile and a work of art.

Talbot-Lago was among the prestigious marques whose chassis were entrusted to leading French coachbuilders, including Saoutchik. Today, these cars are regarded as significant pieces of automotive history.

An impressive Cadillac powered by a 16-cylinder engine was also transported to Tallinn – a car from an era when manufacturers competed not only in performance, but also in engineering excellence, comfort and prestige. Alongside the Talbot and Cadillac, several other carefully preserved and restored classic cars made the journey, together forming an impressive collection representing different eras of automotive history.

Experience You Can Trust with Valuable Cars

Transporting historic and collectible cars requires exceptional care, experience and specialised equipment. The value of these vehicles cannot be measured in monetary terms alone – each one represents the craftsmanship of its creators, the stories of its owners and, in many cases, years of painstaking restoration work.

Kurbads is a trusted transport partner for exclusive, collectible and rare cars, not only across the Baltics but throughout Europe. Our professional team takes care of every detail – from safe loading and securing of the vehicle to its delivery at the final destination.

For the transportation of exclusive, sports, classic and collectible cars, we use modern Volvo and Mercedes-Benz car transporters, including both open and enclosed carriers equipped with Kässbohrer vehicle transport systems. Depending on the specific requirements of each vehicle, we can provide the most suitable transport solution, ensuring safe delivery throughout Latvia, the Baltics and across Europe. Read more here!

For the Kurbads team, it is a genuine pleasure to be part of projects that help preserve automotive history and ensure that these remarkable cars can continue their journey for generations to come.

We would like to thank the Antique Automobile Club and Riga Motor Museum representatives Ivars Dortāns and Gunārs Dortāns for their trust. Here’s to many more journeys together and many more cars with stories to tell!