Autoshow 2013: ‘A jaw-dropping experience to see rich people’s toys’

Unregistered vehicles turn up at the country’s ‘largest autoshow’.

LAHORE:

The highlight of the 2013 Lahore Autoshow held at Liberty Market on Sunday was the entrance of 10 bikers at about 3pm. Driving into throngs of people in a cinematic manner, the men, and their bikes, were swarmed by fans who snapped them with mobile phones and cameras.

Pak Wheels Marketing Manager Ahmad Saeed said they had been expecting more than 500 cars at this, the third Autoshow. He said some 60 bikes and 290 cars had been registered prior to the show. However, on the day of the show, many vehicles owners turned up without any registration with their cars in tow.

Pak Wheels and the Tourism Development Corporation Pakistan were the main organisers of the event.

Vintage cars including Buick, Chevrolet (several models), Mercedes, Cadillac, Datsun and Morris Minor were found at the show. The newer cars included Nissan Z4, Nissan Skyline, Nissan Fair Lady, Nissan GTR, Jaguar, Honda Integra, BMW M5 and 5 series, Lexus, CLS Mercedes and Porsche. Jeeps, cruisers and unimogs were also part of the show.



A group, 4x4 Engage, which travels around the country on all sorts of terrain and has more than 16 vehicles, were exhibiting their vehicles. Adeel Khlaid, owner of a unimog, said the group had travelled on terrains including Noori Top and Babusar. The autoshow, he added, provided an opportunity for many to question them regarding their activities.

Abdullah, another participant, said that he had gone to the border of China on his bike. He owns a chopper and a trail (both motorbikes) and was encouraged to find people interested in their activities.

Mian Farooq had brought his cars to the autoshow (one of which was an S class Mercedes). He said that expense did not matter when one had a passion for cars. About the Mercedes he had brought along, he said that five such Mercedes had been imported for a prince of Hunza and he had managed to get one.

Model Town resident Daud Ali said it was a jaw dropping experience to see rich people toys in one place. He said thanked the organisers for giving the public a chance to see classic cars. “I am impressed the passion people have for maintaining vintage cars.”

The event was inaugurated jointly by TDCP Managing Director Habibur Gilani and Pak Eventures CEO Muhammad Raza Saeed. Secretary Tourism was the chief guest. A musical show was part of the festivities.

Pak Wheels Marketing Manager Ahmad Saeed said that this autoshow was the largest such show in the country. He said the purpose of the show was to entertain people.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2013.