ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Interest in antique cars has increased in recent years in the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil, car enthusiasts say.

Antique cars have been a passion of Vahel Mohammed’s since his childhood. Now a 31-year-old car trader, he imported a 1954 Mercury Monarch Canada for himself nine months ago.

He bought the classic vehicle for $ 20,000, in addition to paying for the $10,000 tariff and car registration. He drives the streets of Erbil in it once a week.

“I found this car eight to nine months ahead of last year’s quarantine. It stayed in Canada for one month and a half until I imported it. It’s been about eight to nine months since I got it,” said Mohammed, who is very happy with his purchase.

Vehicles older than from the 1970s are mostly imported from the US, Canada and European countries.

Classic Mercedes-Benz cars are the highest in demand for European brands. As for the US makes, car enthusiasts want Lincolns, Cadillacs, Chevrolets and Fords.

The price of the vehicles vary depending on their age and condition — ranging from 15,000 to 50,000 US dollars.

“Our company is allowed to import classic cars but we need to pay a tariff. The tariff [for classic cars] is doubled that of new ones,” Hussein Hassan, owner of London Auto company.

Some of the classic cars are bought from southern Iraqi provinces.

Translation and video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed

Rudaw