LAHORE: Visitors to the Vintage & Classic Car show at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club on Sunday were simply amazed to see the “private collection” of old models.

The show was organised by the Vintage & Classic Cars Club with the support of INH Pakistan’s biggest independent auto shop. The show was also opening of the fifth annual Vintage & Classic Car Club of Pakistan (VCCCP) Cross Country Rally 2014.

Lovers of stylish and old cars enjoyed every bit of it; some of them were seen taking ‘selfies’ with four-wheeler ‘fairies’.

The oldest among the time-honoured four-wheelers were a 1947 Buick, a 1949 MGY, a 1954 Chevrolet and a 1957 Austin Healey. There were also majestic cadillacs, Fiats and Musungs.

Besides, there were 57 thunderbirds among a total of 80 or so vehicles. Some 30 cars were from Karachi and the remaining from Lahore and other places.

Dr Kamran Hussain , a neurologist by profession, told this reporter that he himself had redone and manufactured a 1959 Caterham. “The car had an open design so I designed it myself,” said Mr Hussain. He also has in his collection a 1978 Porche. According to him, there are very few such (Porche) cars in the country.

His collection also boasted a 1969 Alpha Romeo, a very rare car in the country.

Khalid Aslam, a proud owner of a 1949 MGTD, said he had bought the car 15 years ago and redone it. “It’s been an exciting journey from Karachi to Lahore,” he said and added that such car shows generated immense interest among people.

VCCCP President Mohsin Ikram, while speaking to Dawn, demanded that the government allow import of 50-year-old cars. “We went to Mian Nawaz Sharif’s house with our old cars in 2010 and discussed this issue with him but there is no response so far.”

He said in December 2012 he also met Asif Ali Zardari for the same issue. Import of 50-year-old cars wouldn’t harm the trade, he said.

He said the goal of the car club was to provide a platform to the classic cars’ enthusiasts in the country. “We are always very excited to providing an opportunity to people to bring their vintage cars back to life by participating in events and what better place than Lahore,” he said.

Haydar Kirmani, founder of INH, said: “We are first and foremost car lovers which is why our attitude towards our clients is that of support and advice. We don’t fix cars; we treat them. And this why we are always very excited to promoting events such as the 5th Annual VCCCP Cross Country Rally 2014”.

The Vintage & Classic Car Club of Pakistan is the only club in Pakistan that acknowledges and pays homage to the automobiles of the bygone era and endeavours to create a common platform for classic car enthusiasts.

The club has been known to have organised numerous motoring and social events for its members creating awareness about vintage cars.

INH was founded by Imran Naqvi, Naeem Asghar and Haydar Kirmani.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2014