Vintage cars on display at Medina Central, The Pearl-Qatar. The exhibit will run until October 31. Pics by Abdul Basit
Forty antique and vintage cars are on display at Medina Central at The Pearl-Qatar as the Qatar Classic Cars Contest & Exhibition formally opened yesterday.
The event is organised by the Gulf Qatar Classic Car Association in collaboration with the United Development Company (UDC). It will run until October 31.
Gulf Qatari Classic Cars Association Board Chairman H E Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani told The Peninsula that the interest in classic cars has been increasing, and there’s attraction for vintage cars.
Gulf Qatari Classic Cars Association Board Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (third right); Gulf Qatari Classic Cars Association Board Vice-Chairman Omar Al Fardan (third left); UDC Chairman Turki bin Mohammed Al Khater (second left); UDC CEO and Board Member Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman (second row middle); Ambassadors of various countries including Saudi Arabia and Türkiye along with other officials during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“Different age groups and people from all backgrounds can relate to classic cars, and Association’s goal is to spread knowledge about classic cars and create a community in Qatar by organising events like this on a yearly basis.”
The event is being held under the supervision of International Classic Car Federation (FIVA) which is “very important and gives its international flavour,” said Omar Al Fardan, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Qatari Classic Cars Association. This is the third year of the event since it was launched in 2020.
Speaking to The Peninsula he said that there’s a growing interest in classic cars in Qatar. Moreover, he revealed that next year, they will start inviting other participants from Gulf countries to join the exhibit.
Sheikh Faisal and Omar Al Fardan honouring Deputy CEO of Dar Al Sharq Jaber Al Harmi.
Visitors are in for a classic car experience. There is something for every taste from a 1934 Ford Saloon, 1937 Rolls Royce – Phantom III, 1939 Ford Deluxe – Sedan; 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood – Sedan; 1947 Rolls Royce – Silver Wraith Cabriolet, 1948 Packard – Convertible, 1948 Fiat Topolino – 500B, 1951 MG, 1951 Jaguar – Saloon, 1954 Sunbeam Alpine – Saloon, 1955 BMW – 502 Saloon, 1957 BMW – Isetta 300, 1957 Chevrolet – Bel Air, 1958 Chevrolet – Impala, and 1959 Austin Healey – Sprite.
Qatar Tourism COO, Berthold Trenkel said that efforts are being made to highlight the automotive industry. “Qatar has a lot of car collectors, you see the museum that’s coming up [Qatar Auto Museum] ... and we’re heavily involved in the Geneva International Motor Show, we’re working with all these organisations together, trying to organise automotive industry, making it even bigger.”
“The market is there, the interest is there, people love their cars and it’s fantastic to see some of those historic pieces that Qataris were collecting – for me, it’s amazing.”
Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani with officials during the tour of the Qatar Classic Cars Contest & Exhibition.
The first edition of Geneva International Motor Show Qatar will take place in Doha from October 5 to 14, 2023. The event will be staged to coincide with the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023 being held in Doha on October 8, 2023.
Also in attendance during the opening of the Qatar Classic Cars Contest & Exhibition were UDC Chairman, Turki bin Mohammed Al Khater; UDC CEO and board member Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman; Ambassador of Türkiye to State of Qatar H E Dr. Mustafa Göksu; Ambassador of the United States of America to Qatar H E Timmy T Davis, along with other officials.
