In 1961, Türkiye decided to produce its first domestic automobile as part of its industrialization drive. This automobile, which was produced in a short period of 129 days at the Eskişehir Railway Factory under the instructions of President Cemal Gürsel, went down in history with the name Devrim. However, the story of the Revolution was a process full of misfortunes and the vehicle never went into mass production.
The birth of the Revolution and the production process
In Turkey in 1961, President Cemal Gürsel drew attention to the importance of industrialization and emphasized the need to produce a domestic automobile. At the Automotive Industry Congress opened on May 15, 1961, Gürsel stated the necessity of the country producing its own transportation vehicles. Immediately after the congress, 24 engineers working at the Eskişehir Railway Factory rolled up their sleeves to produce a completely domestically designed automobile within 129 days.
The production process of the car was quite difficult. At a time when there was not even sheet metal production in Turkey, many parts of Devrim, from its bodywork to its engine, were produced using domestic means. Despite various difficulties, engineers managed to complete four prototypes: One was black and the others were cream. However, since this process was carried out in a short period of only four and a half months, many problems were encountered.
The unfortunate display of the Revolution on Republic Day
The Revolution was sent to Ankara to be introduced on Republic Day, October 29, 1961. However, during the train journey, for safety reasons, the fuel tanks of the cars were emptied and only enough gasoline was added to allow maneuvering. At that time, high octane gasoline could only be found in Ankara. On the day of the ceremony, President Cemal Gürsel got into the black Devrim, but the vehicle stopped after driving about a hundred meters. The vehicle, which ran out of gas, caused a great disappointment and the next day the newspapers published the headlines “Devrim went 100 meters and stopped.”
This misfortune overshadowed the success of the Revolution, and the vehicle remained a laughing stock for many years. Gürsel’s words, “You built cars with a Western mindset, but you forgot to refuel with an Eastern mindset” summarized this situation. After this incident, Devrim could not find sufficient support from the public and could not start mass production.
Why couldn’t the revolution move into mass production?
There were many reasons why the first domestic car could not go into mass production. First of all, automobile demand in Turkey was quite limited at that time. Requirements such as mass production of a new car brand, distribution, dealership services and spare parts production were a great economic and technical challenge. In addition, the lack of good documentation of the production process and the shortcomings of the prototypes also affected this situation.
On the other hand, the Otosan factory, established in 1961, started to produce Anadol, Turkey’s first mass-produced automobile brand, with the joint venture of Ford Motor Company and Koç Holding. The mass production of the Anadol A1 in 1966 led to the continuation of the domestic automobile project under another brand.
Devrim’s technical and engine features:
| Technicial Specifications | |
| Engine | 10 Engines: 4 A4L type 3 A4T types 3 B3T types Number of Cylinders: 4 four stroke Cylinder Diameter: 81 mm Stroke: 100 mm Compression Ratio: 6.8:1 Cylinder Volume: 2070 cm³ Maximum Engine Speed: 3600 rpm |
| Capacity | 50HP (A4L), 60HP (A4T), 70HP (B3T) |
| gearbox | A type (3 pieces) B type (4 pieces) |
| maximum speed | 135 km/h |
| fuel system | Carburetor, Side (A4L) and Overhead Valve (A4T and B3T) |
| Length | 4500mm |
| Width | 1800mm |
| Height | 1550mm |
| Curb weight | 1250kg |
The legacy of the Revolution and its place today
The revolution is remembered as a symbol of Turkey’s industrialization efforts. This historical vehicle, produced in 1961, is today preserved in TÜLOMSAŞ facilities in Eskişehir and waiting for its visitors. The equipment and visuals used in the production process of Devrim are also exhibited in the museum.
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Even though the revolution could not go into mass production, it has an important place in Turkey’s engineering history. This project showed that Turkish engineers could achieve great success in a short time and inspired future projects. Turkey’s first domestic automobile, Devrim, is still remembered with respect by many people and is seen as the symbol of the domestic automobile.