PESHAWAR: Old automobiles on Saturday rolled through the roads of the provincial capital, marking the end of the fourth annual Karachi-Khyber vintage car rally.

The rally’s concluding ceremony held at the Peshawar Garrison Club, where vintage and classic car lovers showed up in large numbers.

The Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sponsored the event, which was organised by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of Pakistan (VCCCP).

More than 70 vintage and classic cars from across the country and of models from 1925s to 1990s were put on display, said a statement of the TCKP issued here.

Major attractions at the event were the 1947 Buick, the oldest car at the event, besides the 1949 MG Y, the 1954 Chevrolet, the 1957 Austin Healey, the 1957 Thunderbird, the 1976 Cadillac Alldorado and the 1986 Jaguar XJS.

Also Field Martial General (r) Ayub Khan’s 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood was among the cars.

Adviser to the chief minister on sports and tourism Amjad Afridi, tourism secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani and TCKP officials attended the ceremony.

Visitors also enjoyed traditional Khattak dance.

Though the TCKP had publicised the event and invited people to it, visitors complained about inappropriate venue.

As the Garrison Club’s management restricted sale of edibles and cold drinks and water, visitors were seen requesting in vain the staff for drinking water.

“I was surprised when the members of staff told me that they are not authorised to sell or provide even drinking water to non-members and that such things are available for the members of the Garrison Services Club only,” said a visitor, who needed a glass of water for his five-year-old daughter.

He said the TCKP should ensure availability of facilities for visitors while organising such events in future and that events should be arranged at proper public places and not at a club run by the army.

The statement said the VCCCP was the only club in the country, which acknowledged automobiles of the bygone era and made efforts to create a common platform for classic car enthusiasts.

VCCCP president Mohsin Ikram said the club’s primary goal was to provide a platform for all classic car enthusiasts in the country.

“We are always very excited to provide the people with an opportunity to bring vintage cars back to life by participating in events such as vintage car shows,” he said.

Ikram said unlike the last three years, a large number of vintage cars owners traveled to Peshawar this time around.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2014