MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The Auto Moto Show 2024 commenced on Thursday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), drawing automotive enthusiasts, industry professionals, and consumers eager to explore the latest trends and innovations in cars and motorcycles.
This annual exhibition serves as a premier platform for showcasing cutting-edge vehicles, technological advancements, and automotive accessories.
Visitors can enjoy interactive displays, test drives, and expert seminars.
The Emirates International Classic Cars Club is turning heads at the event with five classic and rare vehicles, priced from Dh250,000 to Dh500,000.
Speaking with Aletihad, Saeed Al Hilali, the club's president, highlighted featured vehicles at this year's show, which include a 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe, a1967 Ford Mustang GT500 Eleanor, a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, a 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, and a 1979 Toyota FG40.
He explained that the allure of classic cars lies in their design, history, and rarity, with only a limited number ever produced and an even fewer number surviving the passage of time.
Founded in 2001, the Emirates International Classic Cars Club has grown from a small gathering of friends with a shared interest into a community of 1,300 members, boasting a collection of roughly 1,300 classic cars.
Also present at the Auto Moto Show is the Sharjah Old Cars Club (SOCC), affiliated to the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum. In an interview with Aletihad, Ahmed Saif bin Handal, the museum's director, noted that the SOCC's participation this year is focused on promoting the club's maintenance and repair center for classic cars through exhibiting two vehicles; one unmodified and another fully restored.
"The modified classic we have on display is a 1962 Mercedes 220 SE," bin Handal noted, explaining that once repaired, a classic car's value can significantly increase.
The SOCC, established in 2008, plays a key role in promoting classic car culture in the UAE, with over 3,000 registered classic vehicles among its 2,000 members.