(6 Aug 2014) Car lovers in Iran are displaying their classic models at an antique auto show in Tehran.
They may not be as large as the cars seen at Detroit's Auto Show, but they're rare enough in Iran to draw crowds of impressed visitors.
For a slice of full-throttle fun, visitors are heading to this antique car exhibition in Tehran.
There's around 56 classic vehicles here, some being displayed for the first time, others being one-of-a-kind models in Iran.
The country's Touring and Automobile Club has organised the show and has held similar car events since 2006.
Various brands are on show, including American, German, Italian and French automakers.
Some models go back over 80 years.
All were imported to the country before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and were previously used by members of the royal family or the authorities.
However, since the revolution they've been auctioned off to private collectors who rarely show them in public.
Kamran Heidari, has been collecting antique cars for 10 years.
He's bought his convertible 1969 Chevrolet Camaro to the show - it's thought to be the only convertible version of this model in Iran.
Despite being his private property, Heidari considers his cars to be a part of national heritage, belonging to others as well.
"I have three cars lined up here," he says.
"I enjoy collecting and keeping these cars and believe that they do not just belong to me. These old classic cars are like historical objects that belong to the whole country and people. I am just a keeper."
Private collectors often locate and reconstruct old abandoned vehicles, paying for all the costs personally.
Visitor, Sama Kasmaie, is here with her daughter to learn more about the history of automobiles.
She appreciates the work collectors do, allowing future generations the chance to gaze at these classic motors.
"It is great that they are preserving these antique cars and even this old garden," she says.
"It is a good idea to keep them from erosion. Other generations have the right to enjoy them and learn about their country's past."
This eye-catching antique Mercedes Benz is drawing lots of attention.
It's a 160S model and was made in 1936.
It's also thought to be the first Mercedes ever imported to Iran.
Owner, Hossein Foroughi, says the car was brought to Iran in 1953 and was once used by a foreign embassy in Tehran.
"The car behind me is a (Mercedes) Benz known as 160 S, made in 1936 in Germany," he says.
"It was imported to Iran in 1953. I bought it 12 years ago from one of my closest friends who was its first owner. This is the first Mercedes Benz car imported to Iran."
Event organiser, Dariush Ebrahimi, is a collector of classic cars as well.
He says classic car collectors currently face many challenges in Iran.
There are heavy insurance costs and it's difficult to procure spare parts in order to keep the vehicles in top condition.
He also says collectors here don't receive any support from the government and must pursue their interest as a purely personal project.
"The economic sanctions against us limit us from accessing the free world market, make it really difficult for us to buy the car parts and maintaining them in the good condition you see here," he says.
"We have no support from nobody and nowhere and pay all the costs personally. We do not even have an insurance discount. We were promised to have a ten-percent discount for insuring the vehicles, but it never happened."
According to Dariush, there are many classic cars in Iran but their owners are unaware of their true value.
Shows like this are intended to display them as the rare items they are.
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