MVPA: A Brief History

The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) began in 1976 as the Military Vehicle Collectors Club (MVCC), a small organization of fewer than 100 military vehicle enthusiasts. By 1978, membership had grown to nearly 800, and the organization had established annual conventions, vehicle judging, and member publications including ARMY MOTORS and SUPPLY LINE. As the hobby expanded internationally, the organization became the International Military Vehicle Collectors Club in 1988 and the Military Vehicle Preservation Association in 1990. Throughout the years, conventions, publications, affiliate groups, convoys, and member activities have helped preserve and share the history of military transportation.
For five decades, the MVPA has remained committed to its core mission: to promote, preserve, restore, share, and enjoy historic military transport with other enthusiasts and the general public. From the early days of printed publications and regional gatherings to international convoys and increasingly sophisticated vehicle restorations, generations of members have worked to keep historic military vehicles—and the stories behind them—alive and moving.
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50 Years of History—and a New Direction2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association.
Reaching this milestone provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the organization's history, but also to look toward its future.In recent years, the MVPA faced declining membership while also confronting major changes in the cost and delivery of traditional print communications. Rising postage and printing costs have made a primarily print-based organization increasingly expensive to operate. International postal rates, regulations, service availability, and delivery requirements have also continued to change, creating additional challenges for an organization with members around the world.These changes helped accelerate an important modernization effort. The MVPA is strengthening its online presence, expanding digital communications and resources, and creating more ways for members to connect with one another regardless of where they live. The objective is not to replace the traditions that have made the MVPA successful, but to use today's technology to make those traditions more accessible, sustainable, and relevant to the next generation.The organization is also broadening its focus to reflect the full history of military vehicles. From World War I and World War II vehicles to Cold War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, modern tactical vehicles, and vehicles of more recent service, all historic military vehicles have a place in the MVPA.Collectors, restorers, historians, museums, affiliate groups, and enthusiasts can now connect through an organization that recognizes the breadth of military vehicle history and the many ways people participate in preserving it.
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Fifty years after a small group of enthusiasts came together, the MVPA is once again evolving—building on its history while creating an organization ready for the next generation of military vehicle enthusiasts.
Keep history in motion.
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TIME LINE-- link
MVPA: 50 Years of History and Moving Forward2025–2026 — Building the MVPA for the Future
‍As the MVPA is passing its 50th anniversary, the organization is entering a new era. After years of declining membership and an aging membership base, the MVPA is undertaking significant changes to create a more modern, connected organization. Rising printing and postage costs, along with increasingly complicated and expensive international postal service, have made a primarily print-based organization more difficult to sustain. At the same time, the way people communicate, find information, and participate in organizations has changed dramatically.
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The MVPA is responding by strengthening its online presence, expanding digital communications and resources, and creating more opportunities for members to connect regardless of where they live. The organization is also broadening its emphasis to encompass all historic military vehicles, from early military transportation through World War I and World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, Desert Storm, and more recent military vehicles. The goal is to preserve the traditions and knowledge built over 50 years while creating an organization that is accessible and relevant to the next generation of military vehicle enthusiasts.
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2010–2020 — Adapting to Change
‍The 2010s brought continued changes in technology, communication, and the military vehicle hobby. The MVPA continued to modernize its membership and administrative systems while working to address declining membership, rising operating costs, and changes in how people participated in organizations. The Covid virus did not help the organization having to cancel a convention and many events were dropped. Digital communication and online purchasing became increasingly important, while publications, affiliate groups, and vehicle activities remained central to the MVPA experience.
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2000–2010 — Growth, Technology and New Challenges
‍The beginning of the new millennium brought significant growth and innovation. Membership reached an all-time high of more than 10,000 in 2002. The MVPA established its Historical Archives and received more than 100,000 original military vehicle drawings and blueprints from the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command. The organization also expanded its website and online services. By the middle of the decade, however, an aging membership, organizational disagreements, and changing patterns of association membership contributed to a decline in membership. Rising paper and postage costs also became an increasing financial challenge.
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1990–2000 — Becoming the MVPA
‍In 1990, the organization adopted the name Military Vehicle Preservation Association, reflecting its growing international role and its broader mission of preserving military transportation. In 1991, headquarters moved from Colorado to Independence, Missouri, as membership approached 4,500. The decade brought continued growth, including a new website, increasing use of email, expanded conventions, and the creation of the MVPA Historical Archives. Membership reached more than 6,800 by 1995 and continued to grow toward the 10,000-member level.
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1980–1990 — From Club to International Association
‍During the 1980s, the organization grew from a collectors' club into an increasingly international association. Membership expanded dramatically, vehicle judging became more formalized, and ARMY MOTORS and SUPPLY LINE developed into important resources for the hobby. In 1988, the organization became the International Military Vehicle Collectors Club, reflecting its growing international membership. Two years later, it became the Military Vehicle Preservation Association.
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1976–1980 — The Beginning
‍The MVPA's story began in 1976 when a group of military vehicle enthusiasts broke away from the National Military Vehicle Collectors Association and established the Military Vehicle Collectors Club. The first convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri, membership reached 370 during the first year, and ARMY MOTORS was created. By 1978, headquarters had been established in the Denver, Colorado, area, vehicle judging had begun, and SUPPLY LINE was launched. By 1979, membership was approaching 880.
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50 Years of Keeping History in Motion
‍From fewer than 400 members in 1976 to an international organization serving military vehicle enthusiasts around the world, the MVPA has continually evolved. Its publications, conventions, archives, affiliate groups, convoys, and members have helped preserve an important part of military history for five decades.
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Now, as the MVPA celebrates 50 years, the organization is building on that history while looking ahead—to a more connected, more accessible, and more inclusive future for everyone who believes in keeping historic military vehicles and their stories in motion.Keep ’em rolling. Keep history in motion.