This Lebanese Car Restorer Is Bringing Beirut’s Most Stunning Vintage Automobiles Back to Life

We always talk about Beirut’s hidden gems, but whose to say that those gems can’t be people? Yahya Khaled is a Lebanese classic car restoration expert, bringing private collections of vintage automobiles to life in the heart of the city.

And this isn’t just any collection of vintage cars. Yahya’s lineup includes some seriously rare and historically important automobiles that will make any car lover stop and stare. Among them is a 1972 Porsche 911T Ölklappe, known for its distinctive external oil filler flap. The short-lived feature makes these early 911s particularly sought after by collectors.

There’s also a 1961 Jaguar E-Type, one of the most iconic sports cars ever made. The E-Type made its debut in 1961 and quickly became a symbol of British automotive design.

His collection also includes a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, an elegant roadster with only 1,509 examples produced that year. Rounding things out is a 1982 Maserati Merak, a sleek mid-engine Italian classic with fewer than 2,000 examples produced overall.

Beyond their rarity, each car reflects a different era of automotive design and craftsmanship. Yahya’s work gives these classics a new life while preserving the details that made them special in the first place. But restoration is about much more than making an old car look new again. It preserves pieces of automotive history, from their original designs and craftsmanship to the mechanical details that made them special.

For Lebanon’s collectors, it’s also a way of keeping these rare automobiles alive for another generation. Yahya’s collection is a beautiful example of that passion. Each car has its own history, and restoring it means making sure that history doesn’t end in a garage or a scrapyard.

Want to take a look at Yahya Khaled’s work? Make sure to check it out on Instagram.

Check out the #Faces of Beirut section for more content like this.

MORE LIKE THIS

Lebanese Man Proposes on FC Barcelona Pitch Ahead of Match

This Lebanese man proposed on the FC Barcelona pitch during a high-stakes Joan Gamper Trophy match.