Old is gold: Peshawar displays host of vintage and modified cars
Enthusiasts talk about their favourites and how they maintain them.
A total of 400 modified, exotic and vintage cars from all over K-P were exhibited at Shinwari Motors. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
With the aim of preserving heritage and educating people about the automobile industry’s development, a total of 400 modified, exotic and vintage cars from all over Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) were exhibited at Shinwari Motors on Saturday.
The event is taking place for the second time, drawing youth and corporate personalities from around the city to come and examine some of most beautiful cars and motorcycles, some of which date back to the 1950s.
On display were famous vintage classics from famous makes including Mercedes Benz, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet, Land Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser, Willys Overland, and Volkswagon. The modified section featured, among others, a Honda hatchback, Nissan 350z, Toyota 4runner and a Honda Accord.
Junaid Shinwari, owner of several vintage cars, said it takes a lot of time and hard work to maintain “my 1950 Hillman Minx, I have a specialist mechanic who maintains the vehicle’s originality.” He said the Minx ran perfectly even though it was not used daily.
Shinwari said the purpose of bringing classic cars to the exhibition was to share information about old vehicles and tell the rest of the world that people in Pakistan love history and know how to care for these antiques.
Vintages cars came from places such as Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi, while most of the modified cars belonged to enthusiasts in Peshawar. More than 300 cars displayed modifications in areas such as frames, engines, lighting and sound systems.
“The proposed changes cost millions of rupees,” said Shehryar Khan, the owner of a Honda Accord C19 which has been imported from UK. “Modifications, alterations and improvements are all part of motoring history.”
“The older the vehicle, the greater the likelihood it has been altered or modified,” said Musarat Shinwari, a businessman who deals in cars.
Musarat added such exhibitions could promote the province’s automobile sector and encourage local workmanship. He explained it would also portray the image of a peace loving Peshawar to the rest the world.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2013.
With the aim of preserving heritage and educating people about the automobile industry’s development, a total of 400 modified, exotic and vintage cars from all over Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) were exhibited at Shinwari Motors on Saturday.
The event is taking place for the second time, drawing youth and corporate personalities from around the city to come and examine some of most beautiful cars and motorcycles, some of which date back to the 1950s.
On display were famous vintage classics from famous makes including Mercedes Benz, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet, Land Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser, Willys Overland, and Volkswagon. The modified section featured, among others, a Honda hatchback, Nissan 350z, Toyota 4runner and a Honda Accord.
Junaid Shinwari, owner of several vintage cars, said it takes a lot of time and hard work to maintain “my 1950 Hillman Minx, I have a specialist mechanic who maintains the vehicle’s originality.” He said the Minx ran perfectly even though it was not used daily.
Shinwari said the purpose of bringing classic cars to the exhibition was to share information about old vehicles and tell the rest of the world that people in Pakistan love history and know how to care for these antiques.
Vintages cars came from places such as Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi, while most of the modified cars belonged to enthusiasts in Peshawar. More than 300 cars displayed modifications in areas such as frames, engines, lighting and sound systems.
“The proposed changes cost millions of rupees,” said Shehryar Khan, the owner of a Honda Accord C19 which has been imported from UK. “Modifications, alterations and improvements are all part of motoring history.”
“The older the vehicle, the greater the likelihood it has been altered or modified,” said Musarat Shinwari, a businessman who deals in cars.
Musarat added such exhibitions could promote the province’s automobile sector and encourage local workmanship. He explained it would also portray the image of a peace loving Peshawar to the rest the world.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2013.