The 1991 model red sports car used by Barış Manço, the unforgettable name of Turkish music who has a special place in the hearts of the Turkish people, during his years in Belgium, was exhibited for the first time in Türkiye at the Marmara Park AVM.
The 1991 model red sports car used by Barış Manço, the unforgettable name of Turkish music who has won the hearts of the Turkish people, during his years in Belgium, was exhibited for the first time in Türkiye at the Marmara Park AVM. The launch, which was presented by Doğukan Manço, was attended by ECE Turkey Co-General Manager COO Semet Yolaç Canlıel and Ece Turkey Co-General Manager CFO Nuri Şapkacı, Marmara Park AVM Manager Selma Birinci, as well as the artist's fans. This iconic vehicle, which was brought back to Türkiye after many years, will provide visitors with nostalgic and emotional moments for three days.
Barış Manço, who settled in Liege, Belgium in the 1960s and spent part of his life there, had his 1991 Honda Prelude missing for a long time after the floods in the city. The vehicle, which was found years later, underwent a comprehensive restoration process. The car, which was renewed with its original parts, was restored to its original condition both aesthetically and mechanically.
“This vehicle does not belong to Doğukan and Batıkan, but to the Turkish people”
Barış Manço's 1991 model car is on display at Marmara Park AVM after its 1,5-year restoration. Making statements on the subject, Doğukan Manço said, “This is a story of loyalty and success. There is a lot of emotion and effort behind this project. Two years ago, we, as the Manço family, started to reflect our sadness. We made our voices heard thanks to the press support. We have been trying to bring this vehicle to Türkiye for 15-20 years. However, a very unfortunate event happened to the vehicle in 2022. It was exposed to a flood. After the flood, the vehicle became completely unusable. While we could not bear to get into this vehicle, it was very saddened for it to become like this. We reached the Customs Directorate of the Ministry of Trade very soon after. They asked how we can help you. They opened all the doors to us. The vehicle was brought to Türkiye before it reached its age. After the vehicle came to Türkiye, my brother and I worked from top to bottom to repair it. The vehicle was completely stripped, all the components inside were removed. All the non-working components were made functional. After the vehicle came to Türkiye, nearly 200 people asked what they could do for this vehicle. At the end of the day, the first day the vehicle left the factory "It was brought. Today, it is exhibited for the first time in Türkiye at the Marmara Park AVM. This vehicle does not belong to Doğukan and Batıkan, it belongs to the Turkish people. From now on, it will be exhibited at the Barış Manço Museum," he said.
“The vehicle remained in 55 centimeters of water”
Manço, who stated that the vehicle was completely unusable after the flood, said, “We kept this vehicle in a closed garage for 25 years so that nothing would happen to it. I was shattered when I saw the flooded state. The vehicle was waiting for its age. The vehicle was in 55 centimeters of water. It was wet for a long time during this process. This caused the vehicle to be damaged. We tried to do the best possible procedures. We completed this operation in about 1,5 years.”
“I think we have fulfilled our duty of loyalty as his family”
Emphasizing that he spent his childhood with the vehicle, Manço said, “I had the best holiday of my life with this vehicle. We started our journey from Istanbul with my father. We went to Izmir. We went to Italy by car ferry from Izmir. Even talking about it gives me goosebumps. We got in the vehicle from Italy and first went to Aosta. We picked up my brother from Aosta. From there we went to France. Then we traveled to Belgium. It was an unforgettable moment for me. We kept the vehicle because we thought there were traces of our father’s hands. We didn’t use it because there were strands of hair left. The flood upset us. I think we fulfilled our duty of loyalty as a family.”
Ece Türkiye Marketing and Marmara Park AVM Manager Selma Birinci said, “As Marmara Park Shopping Center, for the first time in Türkiye, we are hosting Barış Manço's beloved companion, whom we all love very much, with the support of Doğukan Manço. We are exhibiting the car for the first time in our shopping center. It is a great pride for us to do this for the first time in Türkiye. We are very happy as a shopping center to have this opportunity. We are also a little sad," he concluded his words.
