by Ahmed Shafiq
CAIRO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian lovers of vintage cars gathered Saturday in Cairo's Smart Village Club where 250 classic automobiles were displayed at the 7th Cairo Classic Meet, the country's biggest event for vintage cars.
Hundreds of visitors from across the most populous Arab country attended the show to have a rare look at the well-preserved classic cars made in the 20th century.
An amazing collection of old models such as Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet, BMW, Mustangs, Mini-Coopers, Beatles, and Ford, lined up in harmony, captivating the hearts and eyes of the visitors.
Every owner stood proudly next to his vehicle, receiving visitors with warm smiles and answering their questions about the history of their cars.
"I'm in love with classic cars, that is why I decided to participate in the event," Sherif Ramzi, owner of a 1960 Mercedes Benz car, told Xinhua.
Ramzi, who joins the Cairo Classic Meet for the first time, said the event helped him get some knowledge to keep his old automobile.
Ameer al-Husseini, an owner of two 1960s Mercedes Benz, said the show was important for him not only to show his own cars, but also see other vintage vehicles that he had not seen before.
"It is a big event that gathers owners and fans of vintage cars. I hope this event will be held more than once a year," al-Husseini told Xinhua.
The visitors to the event not only saw classic cars, but also enjoyed live entertainment, fun activities for children, delicious food as offered by various commercial booths.
"We are celebrating our love for classic cars with a unique experience that happens once a year," Mahmoud Ezzeldin, event organizer and founder of Vintage Wheels Egypt Company, told Xinhua.
"This event gives fans a chance to closely see these rare priceless pieces of art," Ezzeldin said.
He added that the event showcases rich categories of vehicles, including vintage cars, modern classic cars, micro cars, classic trucks, customized cars, and super cars made that were made from 1900 to 1989.
Ezzeldin, whose company boasts unique expertise in organizing and documenting events related to antique vehicles, said that such event was meant to raise awareness of the importance of owning and preserving vintage cars among Egyptians since the country has no museums or exhibitions for classic cars.
"Thanks to passionate and dedicated owners who set a record of more than 200 vehicles during the previous Classic Meet, we have now increased the event's display space to display 250 cars, paving the path for a new Cairo Classic Meet record," he explained.
For visitors, the open-air exhibition served as a bridge between the past and present.
"I feel like I'm living in the 1970s or the 1960s," Hussein Adly, a visitor in his 30s, told Xinhua. "I came to see classic cars, but the whole atmosphere took me back in time."
"These events satiate my passion for vintage cars...I wish I could have a classic car someday," he said.
