Shark Attack!

We welcome Trans Am fanaticElieKallabback to My Wheels but this timeweve asked him to show us his German, rather than American, classic in the shapeof this stunning 1989 BMWE24! He tells us all about his shark-nose 635CSi...

- Imran Malik

Welcome back to wheels, Elie! The last time we saw you (issue 659) you showed us your gorgeous, original Y88 Trans Am! Please give us a little update about your fabulous Firebird…

Thank you, it is great to be featured again in wheels magazine. My Y88 is excellent, it hasn’t required any major service or parts, other than the routine maintenance and oil change. I am waiting for the good weather to start so I can whip the t-tops offand enjoy driving it!

We know you have several other Pontiacs too; tell us about each of these classic muscle cars…

Initially I had 12 Trans Ams in the UAE and four in Lebanon, but I have since downsized my collection and now have two back home (both are Special Editions) and five here.

Along with my Y88, I have a beautiful 1980 Turbo Indy Pace car which has been fully restored, a gorgeous 1978 and a 1973 Trans Am. Last but not least I am in the process of restoring a 1979 Y84 black Special Edition.

And, we haven’t forgotten that in total you have owned 50 of these cars! From all of these which is your favourite and why?

My favourite is my Y88 in Lebanon, the story behind it could probably take up five issues of wheels but to cut it short, it is one of just 880 Y88 cars (I love gloating over the fact that I have two of these!) with very low mileage (15K miles) and I am just the second owner. The original owner bought it back in 1978 with full options — in fact he was invited to the factory to watch it being assembled. He brought it from California to Lebanon back in 1992 and when I saw it for the fi rst time, my eyes lit up. It is a wonderful example of an original untouched beauty.