This Sunday, seventy vintage vehicles from Galicia and Portugal will gather at Pontevedra’s Praza de España for the eighth Concentración de Vehículos Clásicos e Antigos. The basic attraction is a 1957 Messerschmitt bubble car: a three-wheeled microcar designed by Fritz Frend and built in a former aircraft factory. Imported from Finland, this particular Messerschmitt has never been restored, preserving its original 1950s details. Its tandem seating, with one passenger behind the other, reflects the inventive solutions that shaped postwar European motoring. The compact Messerschmitt stands out beside the large sedans usually seen at these events.
Classic vehicle clubs in the region, including AVA in Pontevedra, keep a busy calendar of events, as dedicated sections on platforms such as Mi Clásico show.
The Isocarro motocarro, another three-wheeler, will also be on display. Once a common sight hauling goods, the Isocarro recalls an era when city transport prized practicality and simplicity. Tuk tuks now dominate tourist routes elsewhere, making the Isocarro’s appearance in Pontevedra a rare nod to the past. These vehicles are seldom seen on Spanish roads today.
The rally also features classics such as the 1930 Ford A Standart Phaeton, a model familiar to film fans and car historians. Vintage buses and other restored vehicles round out the lineup, each with its own story. The AVA club has planned more than static displays: participants will tour the city by catamaran, with a meal and visits to local landmarks also on the program. The rally is a celebration of car culture.
Anabel Gulías, Pontevedra’s councillor for Economic Promotion, called the event “a journey into the past” that brings life to the city center. Organizers Enrique Vázquez and Manuel González say the rally is drawing more tourists, with enthusiasts from Spain and Portugal meeting over their shared interest in automotive history.
Reports from Diario de León and other regional outlets say September 2026 has brought a surge in classic vehicle events across northwest Spain, including public exhibitions and rallies in cities such as Ponferrada and Vigo. Local calendars regularly feature gatherings centered on historic machinery, including vintage cars and trucks, reflecting strong interest in automotive heritage across Galicia and neighboring regions.
Interest in classic vehicles has grown in recent years, and events like this one reflect a fascination with the craftsmanship and stories behind each machine. As reported earlier, the revival of historic models and prototypes continues to attract collectors and the public, keeping mechanical heritage relevant in a digital world.
Pontevedra’s rally spotlights unusual vehicles that fall outside the usual mold. By featuring the Messerschmitt and Isocarro, organizers make the case for preserving the full range of automotive history. In a country where car culture often centers on speed and status, the event reminds visitors that outliers have stories worth remembering.
