Gaurav Dhar is the business development manager at Marshal Equipment and Trading, a company specialising in card-based payment technology headquartered in Dubai. Here he talks about his passion for car collecting and how he's getting others involved in his pastime.
Where does your passion for classic cars stem from?
I always loved cars. I was born here in the UAE, so you always saw the latest cars on the road and it was always fascinating. Travelling to London and India to study, you constantly had kids growing up talking about cars. You could tell them about these cars in Dubai that no one saw on the streets of India or London. Then it got a bit boring.
How so?
It became too flashy. There was no value attached to it. That boyhood passion of seeing jagged lines of Jaguars and Lamborghinis faded into insignificance as you realised what people had them out here for: they were flashy gimmicks.
So what reignited your interest in cars?
I started reading up on the history of classic cars. I was fresh out of university and had no money to spend, but then I started studying the markets. I got in touch with auction houses worldwide and collectors and museums.
Then you created an online database known as the Rolling Art Emporium, which you're currently overhauling. Who exactly is the site going to target?
It's for existing collectors who want to enjoy and keep their passion going. It's enthusiasts who want to become owners. I decided to start [the site] to be the one-stop shop where everyone can learn about classic cars... whether it's helping people buy cars or giving people advice.
How much time have you invested in creating your site?
Sometimes I'm up until one in the morning on the phone to the US market, calling friends in museums out there.
You've said you've earned a commission by helping to sell certain models in the past. But you also collect as many cars as you can. What do you own?
I have a 1960 [Triumph] TR3A with modified steering. The Triumph was the first car with disc brakes for standard protection. Then I have a 1927 Ford Hot Rod with a 1967 Corvette engine in it. I just bought another car: a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. It's not only the first [US] front-wheel-drive car after the [now defunct car maker] Cord [in 1929], but the first car that took seven years to make and went through 1.5 million km of testing before they introduced it into the market.
How much have you invested in your cars?
I have no savings, and my parents are going to kill me … It's just fascinating, and should be respected. It can be an investment. Some people collect art. I like to collect cars.
* Neil Parmar
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Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The National selections
Al Ain
5pm: Bolereau
5.30pm: Rich And Famous
6pm: Duc De Faust
6.30pm: Al Thoura
7pm: AF Arrab
7.30pm: Al Jazi
8pm: Futoon
Jebel Ali
1.45pm: AF Kal Noor
2.15pm: Galaxy Road
2.45pm: Dark Thunder
3.15pm: Inverleigh
3.45pm: Bawaasil
4.15pm: Initial
4.45pm: Tafaakhor
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Victims%20of%20the%202018%20Parkland%20school%20shooting
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
More on Coronavirus in France
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
The%20Woman%20King%20
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5