It’s spring, and the cloud cover that has blanketed Sofia for days begins to break. Fresh green shoots brighten the landscape as snow-capped peaks surrounding the Bulgarian capital emerge from the haze, some rising above 2,000 meters. Three mountain ranges encircle the city—the Vitosha to the west, the Balkan to the north, and the Rila to the south. “We could be in a ski region within half an hour,” says Ivaylo Popivantchev with a wistful smile that won’t make much sense until later.
Popivantchev is understated, with a firm handshake and a calm manner. At 62, he is one of eastern Europe’s most successful automotive entrepreneurs, Bulgaria’s Porsche importer, and a noted collector of classic cars. Much of his collection is displayed at the Porsche Center in Sofia. His dealership, Vitosha Sports Cars, named for the nearby mountain range, earned a 2024/2025 Porsche Classic Partner Award for “Best Point of Experience – Showroom Setup,” the first such honor awarded in eastern Europe. “An extraordinary honor,” says Popivantchev. “It means the world to me.”
For today’s drive he selects a 1993 911 Carrera 2 (964) Cabriolet in Turbo look. “The ideal everyday vehicle,” he says. “Uncompromisingly sporty in its appearance, and yet comfortable.” Authenticity is central to his philosophy: every leather panel, bolt, and component should match the original specification for “a classic car to be a true classic.” His only concessions are practical ones. A phone mount, winter hardtop, upgraded headlights, Porsche Classic audio system, and Speedline wheels make the car suitable for daily use. “A small nod to the present,” he says with a laugh.
He stops beside Sofia’s oldest market hall, a Neo-Renaissance landmark built about 120 years ago with a glass roof supported by metalwork from Gustave Eiffel’s foundry. “Restored to perfection,” he says, revealing his admiration for preserving history. Sofia reflects more than 5,000 years of continuous settlement. Romans, Huns, Ottomans, Russians, and other rulers all shaped the city, which today sits near the borders of Serbia and North Macedonia while remaining about 400 kilometers from the Black Sea. The route passes restored historic buildings, aging Soviet-era apartment blocks, monumental Stalinist architecture, and sleek glass offices that reflect Sofia’s economic growth.
A Journey into One’s Personal Past
The drive becomes a tour of Popivantchev’s memories. He points out streets where he played soccer, his grandmother’s home, and the slopes where he learned to ski before working as an instructor after earning his economics degree. He still prefers ungroomed terrain, often freeriding with his two sons. For him, skiing represents “the epitome of freedom,” the “joy of motion,” and the “feeling of dynamism, of physical powers.” He also points to the site of his father’s watchmaking shop, where he spent afternoons assembling tiny screws, springs, and gears. Those early lessons in precision sparked his lifelong fascination with finely engineered machines.
The route passes Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches. Popivantchev buys four candles, including one for his guest, before stepping inside for a brief moment of quiet reflection. Outside, the 911’s original Wimbledon Green Metallic paint complements the cathedral’s weathered copper domes.
A Look Inside the Showroom
At the Porsche Center on Sofia’s outskirts, Popivantchev’s collection of more than 100 vehicles spans every era of Porsche history. Highlights include a 1953 356 1500 Cabriolet, an early 1966 911 Targa, and a 1974 911 Carrera 2.7 Targa. Yet the public display is only part of the story. Soon he opens the doors to the garage beneath his hillside home, marked with a sign reading “Ali Baba’s Cave.” Surrounded by the scent of oil, leather, and gasoline, he recounts importing American cars after the Soviet Union’s collapse before discovering Porsche through a 356 A Coupé and an original 911 2.4 Targa. Three years ago, he became Bulgaria’s official Porsche importer.
Among his favorites is a 1963 356 B Coupé—the year of his birth—restored to its original Bali Blue after arriving from Texas painted red. “Perfect craftsmanship – but not in the original paint.” Originality remains his guiding principle, extending to every component. To support that standard, he established in-house carpentry, paint, upholstery, metalworking, and engine shops at the Porsche Center while training specialists locally, where Porsche restoration expertise remains scarce.
He opens his laptop to share videos of his family skiing. The first rider launches off a jump into a backflip. “My son Mateo,” says Popivantchev. The second performs another flawless flip. “Rodin,” he says proudly. When the third skier begins descending, Popivantchev closes the laptop. “Oh, that’s just me …” he says. Does the run end with a backflip? Ivaylo Popivantchev only smiles.
Above contents © 2026 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee , @rexmcafee 🏁
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