Emaar honours winners of 8th Emirates Classic Car Festival

Emaar Properties honoured the winners of the eighth Emirates Classic Car Festival for an exceptional showcase of classic vehicles, which were evaluated for various parameters including upkeep, value, originality, uniqueness, finishes, and visual aesthetics.

Representatives from Emaar and the Automobile & Touring Club of United Arab Emirates (ATCUAE) were present at the award ceremony, which was held on Saturday, March 26 at Emaar Pavilion, in the presence of Patrick Rollet, president of the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA). Rollet’s attendance of this year’s edition highlights FIVA’s recognition and support of the Emirates Classic Car Festival as the Middle East’s premier showcase of classic cars.

Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Emaar Properties Managing Director, and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of ATCUAE, presented the awards to the owners of the winning cars that were driven down the red carpet during the award ceremony. 

The winners in the various categories are: The Best in Show Award (1950 Mercedes Benz 170 - Received by Select Nano), The UAE Award (Mohammad Al Tahery for his Mercedes Benz 450 SL), The Dubai Award (Balint Szeoke for his Skoda Felicia), The Emaar Award (Tomini Classics for the Ferrari Dino), European Car Award (Gargash Family for the Mercedes Benz 220S), American Car Award (Khalil Gerges for his Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 1963), British Car Award (General Tariq Al Qimzi for his Ford Consul), Best Open Top Award (Tarek Hasbini for his Mercedes Benz Pagoda), Pre-World War II Award (Sharjah Old Car Museum for the Rolls-Royce), Heritage Car Award (Abdullah Khalid for his Mercedes 300), Best Recreation Award (Porsche Zagato 1958 – Received by Select Nano), Club Merit Award (The UAE Classic Mini Cooper Club), Best Microcar Award (Majid Saleh Al Nimr for his Mini Cooper Rover), Modern Classic Award (Wayne Stewart for his Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman), Classic Truck Award (Tariq Javiad for his late 1960’s Pinzgauer), Custom 4x4 Award (Nostalgia for the Land Rover Minerva), First Public Choice Award (Mr. Hasnain for his Bentley S1 1957), 2nd Public Choice Award (Nostalgia for the Citroen Traction Avant), 3rd Public Choice Award (Mohammed Yusuf for his Mercedes Benz 280SE), Custom Motorcycle Award (Marco Moto for the Street Tracker Royal Enfield 500cc), Classic Motorcycle Award (Tomini Classics for the 1972 Harley Davidson XR750 TT) and Original Motorcycle Award (Hayder Al Ani for his 1952 MV Augusta 125cc TEL).

Winners of the three new categories for the 2016 edition include: Concours Legendary Award (Adel Rajab for his Mercedes Benz 1955 300 SEL Gullwing), Concours D’Elegance Award (TT Custom for the 1957 Desoto Sportsman) and Concours Best Design Award (Tomini Classics for the 1976 Lancia Stratos HF).

Thousands of spectators visited the 4-day spectacular event held at Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, the bustling lifestyle destination in Downtown Dubai. Organised by Emaar, in association with ATCUAE and the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth & Community Development, the festival was one the largest to date with over 350 classic cars, trucks and motorbikes on view, some over 100 years old.

An outstanding breadth of classic European and American vehicles, dating back from 1916 to 1986, by world-renowned manufacturers including Mercedes, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Harley Davidson and Chevrolet, were on display at the festival. 

One of the most-awaited events in Dubai’s calendar, the expanded festival also included this year an exclusive photography exhibition titled “ECCF Through the Lens of Dave Saunders” and movie screenings on classic cars at Emaar Pavilion, as well as live restorations of a 1926 Ford Model T Coupe and 1974 Honda CB 550.