WHAT IS DOLMUS

'Dolmus' (pronounce dolmouche) are collective taxis which always go along the same route between two points of the city and which leave only when they are full. The origin of their name: 'dolmus' which means full up. Not so long ago this role was held by old American cars of the 50s, today there are only a few left in the town centre because they are real collectors'cars, many of which very regrettably have left the country so they should become part of National Heritage! Today these old jalopies are replaced by minibuses, advantageously for safety, comfort and speed but not so for the pleasure of the eyes and for nostalgia !

It is funny to get into these vehicles for the first time, so accidentally if you find yourself in the middle of the vehicle, you will be asked by a pat on the shoulder by the persons at the back to hand in their fare to the taxidriver, then in the other direction in order to hand in their change. Solidarity between travelers is complete. As soon as the demand for taxis increases, this dolmus is straightaway transformed into a taxi, by rainy weather for example!

THE STORY OF DOLMUS

Our story begins in the early 1930’s during the Big Depression, when all of Istanbul felt the effect of the world economic collapse. During this time, even the wealthiest citizens had begun to use the public tram for transportation, instead of hiring private taxis.

One elderly man-Leon had been accustomed to taking a taxi every morning from his home in Nisantasi to his office in Eminönü. He typically had the same driver named "Halit, the Cook", named this by his friends because he was a cook before becoming a taxi driver. The ride to Eminönü usually cost him about 80 kurus, which in the troubled economy was the same amount needed to buy a whole chicken or five loaves of bread.

One day, the man decided to make a proposal to Halit."These are difficultdays my friend, for all of us. I can not pay you 25-30 lira every month but I have a new idea for you. If I find four other people that are going the same direction, you can drive five of us instead one. If the meter shows 80 kurus, we’ll pay you 100 kurus instead. Do you agree?"Halit was so happy that he adopted this pattern throughout the day. Whenever his car was filled with passengers, he would "press the pedal". Other drivers liked the idea too. As the owners of kayik’s that were transporting passengers between the two sides of the Bosphorus in the 19th century.

That’s how a legend was born in the city: The Dolmus. The Dolmus service became so established that overtime the Dolmus drivers even developed unwritten rules among themselves to protect their rights. For example, a man younger than 25 and bachelors were not able to be Dolmus drivers.
There were mostly American cars in Turkey prior to 1960, and American automobiles were particularly well suited for Dolmus driving because of their width. Chevrolet, Dodge, Plymouth and Desotos were among the most popular. But there came a time came when these old American Beauties were forced to retire from the transport business. Most were just buried in the car cemeteries or turned into scrap metal. But since then there has been a sadness in the streets ofIstanbul.

We are is reviving the wonderful tradition of Dolmus driving once again by purchasing and restoring large, comfortable American automobiles from the 1950s. We already have several American automobiles ready for service so that the popular Dolmus touring tradition can be enjoyed once again by all.

We invite you to join in our nostalgic adventure by touring our fair city by one of our 1950s American beauties.