ISLAMABAD: The annual classic car show combined the love of vintage automobiles and passionate stories about their acquisition on Tuesday.

“I waited for 30 years to own a 1957 Oldsmobile convertible. It says ‘I’m yours forever’,” said classic car owner Zahir Shah standing in front of one of the only two convertible models in Pakistan.

More than 40 cars and the guests populated the manicured lawns of Serena Hotel which organised the show in collaboration with the Vintage and Classic Cars Club Pakistan.

The cars were from histories premier automakers such as Austin Healey 100 1954, 1950s MG TD to Jaguars, VWs and Rolls Royce. One of the oldest in the show was the 1927 Ford Model T.

There were visitors who once owned classics and wished they still owned them.

The guests admired the classic car owners and the way they maintained the vintage vehicles. Many could see themselves behind the steering of American muscle car Ford Mustang and the fantastic gleaming blue 1960 Chevy Impala.

Chevrolet Impala 1967 (L) Eldorado 1974. (R) —Photos by the writer

Some wished they could take them out for a spin. However, the owners were generous to allow the car lovers to sit in the comfortable sofa-like leather seats, admire the old vintage dials and the dash, and few revved the engines to feel how the cars roared.

The Jaguar 1.5L seemed to grab the attention the most with its glinting black paint. The huge dull black Buick Electra was like a beast rolling up when it came in.

“I can feel the 70s and the 80s coming alive again. Almost every car we grew up watching on TV and magazines are here in flesh just sitting in front of me,” said another classic car lover.

Karim Chhapra had driven all the way from Karachi in his 1965 two-door convertible muscle car Ford Mustang. He touched a 100 miles to prove to some sceptics that the eight cylinder 4,740cc engine was as good as new. Karim Chhapra said he owned 13 vintage vehicles, including his favourite 1924 Rolls Royce Silver, that was used by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on Aug 13, 1947.

“A lot of sweat and blood has gone into restoring these cars. Had to search all over the world for parts to restore them to original condition,” said Karim Chhapra.

One of the rarely seen and possibly a new addition to the classic car club was the Chevrolet Corvette 1982 Ahsan Ikram bought about seven months ago. The T-top two door coupe 5,700cc was in its original gold colour. It looked old and roughed up but was an attention grabber.

Another guest explained how she was fascinated by the history and stories behind these cars and how they came to Pakistan and told about the families who owned these vintage vehicles.

Mercedes Benz, Cadillac, Leyland Mini and the Alfa Romeo were some of the classic cars in the show.

After Islamabad, the drivers of the classic cars were moving to Peshawar for a display there.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2014