20.11.2025 17:58
Tuncay Sönmez, a businessman who purchased the 1966 model 21-window Volkswagen Samba, which is said to be the only one in Turkey, takes great care of his vehicle.
Sonmez, who has been involved in the textile business with his wife for many years in England, is known for his passion for classic cars. Among his collection are six models from Rolls Royce and several models from Mercedes, but one of his favorite cars is the very rare 21-window Volkswagen Samba.
"WE BOUGHT IT FOR 55 THOUSAND LIRA IN TODAY'S MONEY"
Sonmez, who stated that he had a hard time buying this 1966 model car 40 years ago, said: "We saw it in Hürriyet Neighborhood 40 years ago, it was very neglected. We found the owner but he didn't want to sell. We constantly wanted to buy it, we talked to him but he always turned us down saying 'the lady won't sell.' One day we decided to approach differently and made a plan. We dressed like we were poor. We said we would collect eggs from mountain villages and sell them in the city, we would work to earn some bread. This time the lady said 'okay, if the kid is going to work, let's sell it.' We bought it for 55 thousand lira in today's money, but it was very neglected."
IT DRAWS ATTENTION WITH ITS GASOLINE ENGINE
Sonmez explained that they have restored the gasoline-powered Samba three times so far, saying, "It has 21 windows and opens from the top. Very few were produced in the world at the time and it is rare now. In Turkey, it is unique, I am the only one who has it."
IT IS SOLD FOR 120 THOUSAND EUROS ABROAD
Sonmez emphasized that those in good condition abroad range between 100 to 10 thousand euros, saying, "It exceeds 5 million lira in Turkish money. In Belgium, it is around 120 thousand euros. You can't even see this at Volkswagen events in Turkey. There are no original 21-window models on the market. When they were on a road trip in Switzerland and Germany, they couldn't see this from inside the car. They made it with 21 windows so they could see the Alps comfortably, and it opens from the top. It was produced for only one year at the time, and it is one of the least produced models," he said.
Sonmez stated that it is extremely difficult to use it in the city of Bursa, saying, "Those who see it look at it with admiration. While driving in traffic, drivers look at our car instead of looking ahead. I love this car of mine. Its use, engine sound, and classic design are different for me," he expressed.