DHAHRAN: The Fourth Annual Customized Cars and Bikes exhibition at Dhahran International Exhibition Center attracted thousands of people recently. There were visitors from across the Kingdom and the Gulf countries to see the 250 customized machines. Custom cars are passenger vehicles that have been modified to improve their performance or restyled to make them look unique. Saleh Muhammed Al-Shamrani, youth development director and the president of the Cars and Bikes Club, told Saudi Gazette that there were a huge number of entries this year. “Due to the space restrictions and adverse weather conditions we were able to include only 250 cars from the huge number of entries. Most of the cars here have unique designs. We have also included more cars of Saudi designers. Thirteen to 14 different categories of cars are included in this year's expo ranging from classics, sports, jeeps, buses and various types of modified bikes,” he said. He said the best customized car will win the top cash prize. “We are giving away around SR250,000 in prize money to car owners in different categories. This will be an encouragement for the car-loving youth of Saudi Arabia,” he added. A 1930 Ford owned by Muhammed Bin Saleh Ibrahim was the oldest car and a FIAT owned by Mohammed Saleh was the smallest. Classic models included a 1937 model Bentley owned by Aiyed Bin Rija Al-Harbi, a 1952 Ford owned by Mohammed Bin Abdullah Aal Khalaf, which he imported from the United States three years ago for SR65,000, a 1974 model Buick, and a 1978 model Dubab Honda which is a unique three-wheeler owned by Ali Bin Mohammed Al-Qarni. Among the most attractive customized vehicles on display was a 2010 model Hyundai Genesis redesigned by renowned international Saudi designer, Mohammed Al-Shabibi. Al-Shabibi said that he even changed the engine to 520 horse power from 360 horse power. The red Genesis has gull-wing doors and fancy seating. Al-Shabibi said that he reconstructed the entire vehicle in the Kingdom. Among the rare cars on display included a 2008 Ford GT, one of only six in the world owned by Dawood Al-Ghosaibi and a Mercedes Benz SLR worth SR1.6 million with 800 horse power by the same owner. The four-day exhibition was organized by Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Program for Youth Development and inaugurated by Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd, Emir of the Eastern Province.
