Timeless treat for vintage car lovers
February 23, 2009
Karachi
A car show exhibiting the timeless and classic cars, including Edwardian and vintage cars, was held at the parking enclosure of The Forum on Sunday. About one hundred cars and a couple of trucks were exhibited at the day-long car show which was organised by Vintage & Classic Car Club of Pakistan (VCCCP).
The exhibition attracted a large number of local and foreign visitors. Young visitors got their photographs taken inside and outside the vehicles on display, while the old preferred to inquire about the historical features of the automobiles. “I love these old cars, they are rare and attractive,” said a young visitor. “One rarely gets the opportunity to see such an attractive collection of classic cars at one place,” he added.
The car which attracted most attention was Karim Chapra’s Rolls Royce Silver Ghost of 1924, which originally belonged to the collection of Nawab of Bahawalpur. “It was used to take Quaid-e-Azam and Lord Mountbatten on August 14, 1947 to what is now called the Sindh Assembly building for the ceremony that commemorated the handing over of the government,” Chapra said. Chapra owns the Silver Ghost since 2004, and had displayed 10 vehicles at the show.
Jaguar MK-VII, originally owned by Adamjee family, also attracted significant interest. Although some dignitaries were said to have used this vehicle, including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Field Marshal Ayub Khan, it could not be confirmed due to lack of evidence.
Ford F1 of 1948, a red coloured truck, also fascinated visitors due to its 4000 cc engine, which distinguished the car from other vehicles. The Lincoln Continental Convertible of 1940’s, owned by Mohsin Ikram, the chief organiser of the show, was also on display, with its 12-cylinder engine that is said to be the biggest in Pakistan. Ikram claimed that the vehicle belonged to former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah.
Talking to The News, Ikram, Co-founder and President of VCCCP, said that the show was an annual event which was being organized since 2004. VCCCP was founded in 1987, but it could not attract people in the first 10 to 12 years. Later however the VCCCP received awesome response. “We have displayed some 100 cars in the show, and a few of them are as old as 1924,” he said.
“This show has been organised specially to create awareness among kids that these cars are a heritage of the country. It is a very positive activity and gives positive message to the rest of the world,” he said.
According to him, some 50 foreigners visited their show last year, and many are expected to visit the show this year as well. “They have also asked us to arrange for a rally of classic cars to facilitate them while they are staying in Sindh. When foreigners visit our show, they get to know that we were progressive people in the past and even now,” he commented.
A car show exhibiting the timeless and classic cars, including Edwardian and vintage cars, was held at the parking enclosure of The Forum on Sunday. About one hundred cars and a couple of trucks were exhibited at the day-long car show which was organised by Vintage & Classic Car Club of Pakistan (VCCCP).
The exhibition attracted a large number of local and foreign visitors. Young visitors got their photographs taken inside and outside the vehicles on display, while the old preferred to inquire about the historical features of the automobiles. “I love these old cars, they are rare and attractive,” said a young visitor. “One rarely gets the opportunity to see such an attractive collection of classic cars at one place,” he added.
The car which attracted most attention was Karim Chapra’s Rolls Royce Silver Ghost of 1924, which originally belonged to the collection of Nawab of Bahawalpur. “It was used to take Quaid-e-Azam and Lord Mountbatten on August 14, 1947 to what is now called the Sindh Assembly building for the ceremony that commemorated the handing over of the government,” Chapra said. Chapra owns the Silver Ghost since 2004, and had displayed 10 vehicles at the show.
Jaguar MK-VII, originally owned by Adamjee family, also attracted significant interest. Although some dignitaries were said to have used this vehicle, including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Field Marshal Ayub Khan, it could not be confirmed due to lack of evidence.
Ford F1 of 1948, a red coloured truck, also fascinated visitors due to its 4000 cc engine, which distinguished the car from other vehicles. The Lincoln Continental Convertible of 1940’s, owned by Mohsin Ikram, the chief organiser of the show, was also on display, with its 12-cylinder engine that is said to be the biggest in Pakistan. Ikram claimed that the vehicle belonged to former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah.
Talking to The News, Ikram, Co-founder and President of VCCCP, said that the show was an annual event which was being organized since 2004. VCCCP was founded in 1987, but it could not attract people in the first 10 to 12 years. Later however the VCCCP received awesome response. “We have displayed some 100 cars in the show, and a few of them are as old as 1924,” he said.
“This show has been organised specially to create awareness among kids that these cars are a heritage of the country. It is a very positive activity and gives positive message to the rest of the world,” he said.
According to him, some 50 foreigners visited their show last year, and many are expected to visit the show this year as well. “They have also asked us to arrange for a rally of classic cars to facilitate them while they are staying in Sindh. When foreigners visit our show, they get to know that we were progressive people in the past and even now,” he commented.
