Family-friendly car guys in Iran’s third largest city are latest to join the global Café Racers Community.
A couple of weeks ago 46 cars, including vintage and modern BMWs, Chevrolets and Mercedes, started a 20-mile road trip from Isfahan to Margh to celebrate the launch of Iran’s second Café Racers satellite lunch group. Founded by Ali Samandarien, a well known collector of American (1950s-1960 Chevrolets) & European (Opel, Mercedes) cars and head of the local chapter of Iran’s Classic Car Committee, the Isfahan Café Racers lunch group welcomes families to their events.
Ali Samandarien owns a men’s clothing store and on weekends is a hands-on restorer whose cars have been featured in local motoring magazines. His American car collection includes Chevrolet coupes and sedans from 1952, 1954, 1955, above, 1957, 1959, 1964 Bel Air and Impala and a 1966 pickup truck. Ford is also represented.
Local enthusiast automotive publications covered the Café Racer launch event and played up the fact that spouses and children participated and would be involved in future lunches, road rallies and shows. Interestingly, after the event several wives called Ali wanting to know when the next lunch would be. One pressured her husband after attending the lunch to buy her a vintage Camaro!
NOTE: Isfahan, the Capital of Isfahan Province, is located approximately 200-225 miles from Tehran and is famous for production of fine carpets, textiles and steel. Margh is the home of the destination restaurant, above, – Bid Sabz (green willow) – and is best known for its large private gardens.
For more about Café Racers’ activities in Iran, check out coverage in The New York Times,
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/automobiles/collectibles/14IRAN.html?_r=1&hpw