Cool Classic Cars – a Valuable Asset for Sustainable Tourism

The Cool Classic Cars project addresses the need for more sustainable mobility by promoting the use of classic cars and "youngtimers" as an alternative to the continuous production of new vehicles. In a society increasingly critical of mass production and the throwaway culture, extending the life cycle of cars helps reduce the environmental impact associated with manufacturing. At the same time, the project responds to the growing demand for sustainable tourism. More travelers are seeking authentic experiences that minimize their environmental footprint, avoiding mass tourism and air travel. By encouraging routes that highlight local landscapes and cultural heritage, the project fosters responsible travel while integrating eco-friendly practices. It also supports the rediscovery of industrial and transport-related cultural heritage, including old railways, mills, and historic infrastructures. These sites are essential parts of European history but are often overlooked. By integrating them into engaging and sustainable travel experiences, the project creates a meaningful link between the past and the future. Cool Classic Cars demonstrates that sustainability and a passion for automobiles can coexist.

The main objective of the Cool Classic Cars project is to promote sustainable tourism, the integrated management of cultural assets, and the conservation of cultural and technical heritage, both tangible and intangible. Through an innovative approach, the project aims to demonstrate that these goals can be achieved without sacrifices or restrictions, but in an enjoyable and accessible way. To achieve these objectives, several products have been developed: a resource pack and training materials dedicated to the concept of sustainable tourism, a handbook featuring a selection of practical examples from across Europe, a curriculum for adult education trainers with guidelines on integrating the project concept into educational activities, and a handbook for stakeholders. Additionally, an interactive e-learning platform has been created, gathering all these materials and making them available in English, Italian, Catalan, Spanish, and German. To enhance accessibility, a mobile application featuring the same resources has also been developed. All materials will be freely available until 2028, ensuring a lasting impact.

The Cool Classic Cars project successfully concluded, following a well-structured program of activities and meetings that ensured the achievement of its planned objectives. Between February and April 2022, two virtual kick-off meetings were held, during which the implementation methods, financial management, and intellectual property aspects were defined. During this initial phase, the project logo was developed, and the dissemination strategy was planned. In October 2022, the official website was launched, accompanied by the production of a flyer and the first newsletter. The first in-person meeting took place in February 2023 in Barcelona, marking a crucial moment for the partners, who had the opportunity to deepen their mutual understanding and discuss key issues related to the promotion and development of the project’s contents. In September 2023, the partners met at the Campagnano Romano circuit, where project progress was reviewed, and dissemination activities were planned. In February 2024, another meeting was held in Vienna, where educational and digital materials were finalized. The final meeting took place in October 2024 in Rome, where the project’s products were officially validated and presented alongside the dissemination plan to ensure access and use of resources until 2028. Three newsletters were produced over the course of the project, providing updates on the activities, milestones, and results achieved. The project also included extensive online promotion. The official website and the interactive platform made all materials available in English, Italian, Catalan, Spanish, and German, while the mobile application ensured easy and intuitive access to the resources. Social media campaigns further expanded the project’s reach and raised awareness among a wide audience. In the last months of the project, the partners organized multiplier events in their cities to promote the Cool Classic Cars themes to a wider audience and to demonstrate the educational tools produced live.

The Cool Classic Cars project produced a series of concrete results that significantly contribute to sustainable tourism, the enhancement of technical-industrial heritage, and environmental education. The main outputs include: 1. Resource Pack and Training Materials: This comprehensive course introduces sustainable tourism and the concept of cultural heritage, addressing topics such as ecological footprint, energy impact throughout a product’s life cycle, the connections between sustainable tourism and conservation of technical means of transport, and activities supporting local and regional economies.It is enriched with podcasts and external links. 2. Best Practice Manual: A document compiling case studies and examples of good practices related to sustainable tourism and the promotion and conservation of industrial heritage. This manual demonstrates how a sustainable future can be achieved through practical and replicable examples. 3. Curriculum for Adult Education Trainers: A comprehensive guide for trainers illustrating how to integrate the project’s concept into educational activities. It includes practical tools for organizing awareness measures and knowledge transfer, based on the R1, R2, R4 contents. 4. Handbook for Stakeholders: This handbook addresses the same issues as R1 and R2, addressing destination managers and adult education stakeholders. Written in accessible language, it addresses topics such as environmental education, sustainability in tourism, the promotion of industrial heritage, and the conscious use of classic cars and youngtimers. It is designed to be a practical and user-friendly resource, available online with modular chapters and a glossary. 5. Interactive Platform: The Cool Classic Cars platform serves as the digital hub of the project, integrating the Resource Pack, Best Practices Manual, Curriculum, and Handbook. It is available in Italian, English, Catalan, Spanish, and German. 6. Mobile Application: Designed to make the project’s content easily accessible on smartphones, the app features materials adapted from the main outputs, offering an intuitive and practical user experience. In addition, the following outputs were achieved: 7. Official website: A central resource providing information about the project, partners, and materials, accessible until January 2028. 8. Three newsletters: Published to update partners and beneficiaries on project progress and developed resources. 9. Multilingual flyers: Promotional materials distributed at events and conferences. 10. Project management guidelines: A document outlining methods for managing resources, communication, and timelines. 11. Quality management and monitoring plan: Tools for systematically monitoring progress and ensuring quality. 12. Promotion toolkit: for supporting the promotion and exploitation activities. 13. Evaluation report: An analysis documenting the effectiveness of the resources, the results validation and the use of funds. 14. Deployment plan: a document that shows future possibilities.