![Patience pays off with Pakistan Amilcar.]()
We recently received some pictures from a gentleman in Pakistan who was understandably enthusiastic to share his story. Shahzeb Malik is 32,
married with two daughters and has a passion for old cars. He gave his wife a 1961 VW Beetle and were the first couple to participate in Vintage and Classic Car Club of Pakistan (
VCCCP) cross country rally in 2011 and have been regular participants since then. He has other post war classics.
But the pictures were of a much rarer older car – a
1922 Amilcar C4 with original
Duval body. Shahzeb first heard about the car three years ago from his good friend Mohsin Ikram – president of the
VCCCP. It had been sold to a Mr Sageer after Mrs Sageer had sold her gold jewelry so her husband could own this vintage car. ( We like her already!)
After the death of Mr Sageer, it was thought the car had disappeared or been exported to Canada where Mrs Sageer lived, but two years ago, when chasing a lead in Karachi for a BMW Isetta Bubble Car, Shahzeb learned that an Amilcar was with a motor mechanic somewhere – but didn’t know where. Eighteen months of patient, relentless enquiries finally bore fruit and he found the location.
Shahzeb writes…”After a lot of effort, patience, perseverance and risk taking.. Finally in a position to announce my
new acquisition in the quest to improve my car collection that will always be limited as per limitation of time allowed (away from family), resources and space.”
Then, when he sees the car, he describes the end of the story…”As soon as I saw her, it was like love at first sight and I paid the guy in custody of the car in cash and full. He was reluctant in taking the money as he said he is just the middle man and Mrs. Sageer who is in Canada and very old now will decide along with her son Mr. Moin who is apparently a scientist in NASA living in the USA. So I waited and waited patiently while being offered return of money many times as there was no timeframe.. and one fine day around midnight early this month I received a call from the middle man saying she agreed to let it go and I got her
picked the very next day.. “
He has already breathed life into the engine (
see video) and is asking for help locating various items. The
later dashboard was roughly made of wood, but Shahzeb has already rescued the original
aluminium dash and is seeking original instruments. He also needs a windscreen frame,
RB magneto, radiator cap, Amilcar emblem for radiator grill and collars to secure wheels to the splined hubs.
Shahzeb is a popular guy and has been given lots of help, and speaks of a typical fellow enthusiast, “ He has been very kind to help me understand this new type of fish and how I need to behave around its restoration.. God bless kind souls and fellow enthusiasts!”
Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy Shahzeb Malik.
