Lifestyle

Mazin Al Kahatib, Founder & CEO of Nostalgia Classic Cars, discusses how he turned a passion for collecting and restoring vintage cars into a thriving business.

What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine?

I begin my day by reading the newspaper headlines to have an understanding of what’s happening around the particular world. Next, I read through the sales report plus workshop reports of the previous day to make a list of what needs to be done for the same day. We then have a quick meeting with the admin, sales and workshop supervisor for 10 minutes.

What inspired you to launch Nostalgia Classic Cars?

It has been the dream associated with mine since I was a banker. I actually knew that after completing what I wanted to achieve in my banking career, We could convert my passion into a business.

Every vehicle should tell a story. Does this impact your decision when buying a car?

When this was a hobby of mine, that was the case. Now, when I look at it from a business perspective, I actually buy according to the particular demand plus market needs. Of course , whenever it comes to collecting classic cars, the story plays the big role in the purchase.

The concept is located in one of Dubai’s key artistic hubs. Was this the plan from the start?

I consider my collection as pieces of art and when I was thinking and deciding on a place, of course Alserkal Avenue came to mind, as it’s one associated with the first “art hubs” of Dubai. Hence, the particular decision has been made in order to be located in Alserkal Avenue.

What was the 1st car you restored?

The particular first car I restored was the 1948 Packard.

You’re the very first of its kind in the particular UAE. How did a person see a gap in the market?

I learned my lesson the hard way as they say. When I was the hobbyist, I would struggle to find the best denter or the particular best mechanic or the best painter and my vehicle would move from one place to another. This made me always think associated with having an one -stop shop that will covers everything when it comes to restoration. Nostalgia Traditional Cars Workshop does exactly that. Any project we do, the car never leaves the particular premises until the job is done. If all of us require additional support, we all subcontract this to other shops. Everything from A to Z is done under one roof, this is what differentiates Nostalgia Classic Cars through all the other players on the market.

Exactly what advice would you recommend to those who wish to invest in gathering vintage vehicles?

When it comes to investing plus collecting classic cars, it is important to choose the right brand and the correct model. Try to have a detailed history of the car as much as possible. It’s imperative to prove the originality of the car and its parts, including the interiors, mechanical plus the body.

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