Tofaş Şahin / Doğan / Kartal (Bird Series) History

In February 1977 Tofaş introduced the Murat 131, a near-exact licensed replica of the Fiat 131, as the replacement for the Murat 124. From 1981 the range was reorganised under Turkish bird names that would define the lineup for the rest of its life: the Şahin ('Hawk') became the entry-level two- and four-door sedan; the Doğan ('Falcon'), announced in September 1981 and on sale by October, was the up-market five-speed sedan with fabric upholstery, a heated rear window, and from 1983 a distinctive rectangular headlight treatment; and the Kartal ('Eagle') was the station wagon variant with a locally engineered raised roofline and rear body.

The Bird Series — collectively called Kuş Serisi in Turkish — was updated aesthetically in 1988, with a smoother nose and revised interior, and continued in Turkish production until 2002. Export and CKD assembly extended the model's life in other markets: Egyptian assembly by state-owned Nasr ran from 1991 to 2009, and Ethiopian assembly continued until 2010. A Kartal Kargo panel-van derivative (1998) added a commercial vehicle option with 600 kg payload capacity.

For two and a half decades the Bird Series was Turkish motoring: affordable, robust, easy to repair, and everywhere. More than any other model, the Şahin and its siblings defined Tofaş as an automaker — a status echoed by their enduring cult following among Turkish classic-car enthusiasts and a cameo in the Forza Motorsport wish-list community.