The fourth annual Emirates Classic Car Festival was organized at Downtown in Dubai by Emaar Properties with the support of other giants such as UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and the Automobile & Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates (ATCUAE) and the official representative of FIVA. The event was arranged in partnership with Chevrolet Centennial and Blancpain. The event allowed the audience to cherish the extraordinary exhibition of classic cars and motor bikes. The owners of the cars were honoured at the end of the festival. The classic cars were judged on based on originality, engine cleanliness, original car colour, historical car value, finishing and aesthetics. Prominent personalities including Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the ATCUAE, and Horst Brüning graced this wonderful event of classic car display with their auspicious presence.

The esteemed "Best Preserved Original Car" was won by the Baker Family for their Rolls Royce Phantom II, 1930. This "FIVA Award" was presented by the President of FIVA, Mr. Horst Brüning. Imtiaz Sheikh bagged the the 'Best of Show Emirates Classic Car Award 2011' for his Ferrari Lusso 250 GT/L 1964. The "Classic Motorcycle Award'' was rewarded to Majeet Kwatra for his 1933 Harley Davidson.

There is some good news for the classic car lovers. The Classic Car Collection is set to start at Kearney today, November 25. All the vintage cars in the Classic Car Collection have been donated by Bernie and Janice Taulborg. The collection will showcase about 130 classic cars and automobiles from the period between early 1990s and 1980s. The Collection House is spread in an area of 50,000 sq. ft. with video and multi-media displays and photographs all around. A story associated with each legendary sedan is also displayed for the visitors. The walk down on the memory lane of classic cars becomes a complete experience with the drive in theater, a gas station, a diner with a juke box, and snack and coke machines.

Most people today think of hybrid cars as cutting edge technology, yet a different sort of hybrid classic cars were popular with celebrities like dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Eddie Fisher back in the 1950s. Of course these were not your energy-saving hybrids of today.

Rather, the Dual Ghias GT convertibles popular in the 50's were considered hybrids because they were part American and part European. These sleek, high-performance cars featured Dodge D-500 hemi engines and custom chassis hand-built by the celebrated Italian automaker Carrozzeria Ghia. The hybrids of the 50s and 60s were beautiful cars that led a renaissance in automobile design. At the 2011 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance in Greenwich, Connecticut these rarely-seen hybrids will be on display, including the Dual Ghia, Facel Vega, Cunningham C-3, Iso Grifo, Cobra, Allard P1, Hudson Italia, Fitch Phoenix and Nash Healy.

Cruisin' Ocean City is a classic cars show in Ocean City, California. Brightly colored and patterned classic muscle cars were on display at the Inlet lot and up and down Coastal Highway during the annual event. A ruby red '56 Bel Air convertible was among them.

The owner purchased the car when he was 18 in 1973 for $450, and has driven it around for all of his adult life. You wouldn't have guessed by looking at the car, which has been refurbished inside and out over the last two years. Almost all of the work was done by the owner himself, except for the paint job. All of the time and money he's invested into his $450 purchase have turned it into something priceless. A much older model on display at the show was a bright orange 1935 Plymouth Business coupe. It's owner also restored the car by hand, minus the paint job.

A military widow whose husband was killed in World War II lived alone for years in Chicago, but never failed to take great care of her cherished 1957 Chevrolet 210 classic car through the years. She had purchased the 210 brand new in 1957, and opted only for the Powderglide transmission and deluxe heater for a grand total of $2,667.

She was diligent in keeping every receipt, repair bill, invoice, owners manual and even the warranty card, all of which she passed on to a dear friend in 1996. The car was kept tucked away safely in her garage, out of the elements. All of the mechanics and bodywork on the rarely driven black beauty were sound, but there were several minor dents which were easily repaired by the new owner and the four-decade old paint was stripped and a glossy new coat of factory Onyx Black was applied.

The owners of classic cars might be jeopardizing their safety by not making sure that they are covered in the event of a breakdown. Out of 5,400 owners of classic cars surveyed, only 7% felt that the insurance cover involving breakdown assistance was the most important aspect for them.

The Managing director of an insurance company, Paul Matthews, said: "It becomes very important for the owners of classic cars to have the breakdown cover just in case if something goes wrong. The owners of classic cars might find it adventuring to repair the minor problems on their own but breakdowns need expert assistance to get them safely back on the road. The insurer Footman James said "It's best for the drivers of classic cars to check the policies provided by their insurance agent."

In spite of the fact that the stalled economy has seen classic car sales take a dip, dealers and restoration shops say there is still strong demand from wealthy collectors and some baby boomers who are obsessed with driving the dream car of their youth. This demand is also helping related businesses that service classic cars, like the garages that rebuild vintage autos and specialty auto parts sellers.

For example, Jack's Restorations in Knoxville, Tennessee has all the business it can handle. The shop restores classic cars and said that they never advertise. They get their business via word of mouth, and through their work that is on display at the classic car shows. The shop restores cars that are made from the 1920s to the early 1960s, and may have several cars under restoration at the same time. Recent projects include a '56 Crown Victoria, a '23 Ford Model T and a 1960s Chevrolet Camaro.

An old classic car like a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder roadster can go for up to $5 million at an auction, depending on how rare the components are and the condition of the vehicle. Many owners of these vehicles view them as investments and lock them away in museums or climate-controlled garages.

However, one owner of a $5 million classic Ferrari decided to tempt fate by taking his Spyder on the Copperstate 1000, an annual four-day, 1,000 mile tour across the Arizona desert for pre-1974 sports cars and other classic vehicles. His rationale is that he doesn't want a car unless he can drive it, and since he lives in New York City he is not able to drive his Ferrari as much as it deserves to be driven. That Ferrari's first owner was a race-car driver who took delivery of the car at Le Mans , France in 1959. He took the car to a first-in-class finish in the notoriously brutal 24 hour race.

Wine and classic cars may not be a typical pairing, but the Waves of Wine Festival in Orange Beach, Alabama will be bringing them together, along with live music and boat rides. They are hoping to appeal to a broader audience then ever before in this community that was hit hard by the BP Gulf Oil spill.

There was a wine festival held before the spill, but it has been reorganized and renamed this year. The festival will be held at the Caribe Resort and Marina, and with its location right on the marina, the boat rides were a natural addition. The classic and luxury car display and contest is a key piece of the event. From vintage Corvettes to luxury imports, various classic car types will be featured. 60 to 70 cars in all will be on display and festival-goers will get to vote on the winner, who will receive a cash prize and trophy.

In the vintage classic cars crazy Michigan, fans can frolic on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at The Detroit Tigers Classic Car Show. The classic cars show last from 12:00 to 4:00 pm.

Interested antique classic cars owners can participate via nomination through the online process at tigers.com/carshow.
The nominated classic cars should be manufactured prior to 1990, there are 6 categories for the old classic cars and a panel of celebrity judges shall be appointed for the same.

Nominations last till June 10 and a century of classic cars shall be selected! Selected car owners shall have to pay a fee of $115, and get added benefits.

So make sure you mark the dates on the calendar!

© aechempati