Curated Cars: The Dhaka Car Show that finally got it right

Let's face it, most Dhaka car shows are just chaos with a registration booth. Bikers revving like they're chasing ghosts, and yet another Corolla with a fart can exhaust pretending it's in 'Fast & Furious: Kuril Flyover Drift'.

But May 1 and 2 gave us something rare. A proper show. Curated Cars wasn't just another excuse to hang out and say, "Bro, my car faster." This was for the real enthusiasts—the ones who actually know what a Jaguar S-Type is and don't think a McLaren is just a footballer. So what did they do differently? 

I pulled up to the show, slightly sceptical. The 200 taka entry fee was already acting like a mosquito coil, keeping away the bored crowd who usually just show up because, well, there's nothing else to do in this city.

What did I see instead? A clean layout. Cars arranged like an art exhibit. A 1969 Mustang stood proud in one corner, while the original pocket rocket in the form of a pocket-sized Mini took up space under the stairwell. The Toyota Century and Nissan President pair whispered presidential things to each other nearby. A duo of pristine late-60s Jaguar S-Types promised to sing the smooth, raspy opera that only old-school Brits can. If I am correct, one is a restomodded V8. There was even a McLaren for the TikTok generation. And for anime fans, sort of, a panda-colored AE86, one of just three in Bangladesh, and the non-pop-up light variant Levin at that. It sat there like an anime legend in steel form, unbothered by the flashier company. Something for every era.

And then I saw something that's never part of Dhaka car meets: order. People could walk around. No one blocking views. Parking was sorted. You didn't need to elbow through a sea of vape clouds to get a good photo.

So, I cornered the two madmen behind this miracle, Mustavi Irtiza Basher and Waiz Rahim, for a chat. We go way back, so I dusted off my hibernating automotive platform 'Shift' and pretended to be legit media again. Fake it till you make it, back into car journalism.

Shift: First of all, bravo. The show had range and class. What was the original spark?

Mustavi: We wanted to bring back genuine car culture. Something organised. Something that didn't feel like a rush job in a shopping mall basement. We'd been planning it for 10 months, but, true story, we confirmed the venue and actual event stuff barely two weeks before D-day.

Shift: Wait, that organised feel… happened in two weeks?

Waiz: I know, sounds nuts. But yeah, the planning, fundraising, and sponsor chasing, all done in about 10–14 days. We had our measuring tapes out, literally. Making sure every car could fit, move, and turn. Even then, a few headline cars backed out at the last minute. Thankfully, we had backups in mind.

Shift: The field parking! People could breathe. Walk around. Even the cars outside were grouped neatly. No "random Vitz next to a Porsche" nonsense.

Mustavi: That was the idea. We even pre-sorted the outdoor cars into themes before the event started. Placement mattered. We didn't want chaos to ruin the vibe. A lot of credit goes to Elev8 for the event management, and Elite Force, who helped with security. And then there's the Rahimoto crew, Maffaz and Aasman, they were everywhere, doing everything.

Shift: Speaking of Rahimoto, that's your new thing, right, Waiz?

Waiz: Yep. I've opened up an auto service workshop and tyre shop in Tejgaon called Rahimoto. We're authorised importers for Dunlop and DoubleStar tyres. Full engine work, suspension, AC, the works. It's not just a business, it's a continuation of our car obsession.

Shift: Let's talk about the cars. How hard was it to convince owners to lend you their babies?

Waiz: Some were excited. Others? Nervous as hell. Two full days, their prized machines parked under someone else's supervision, it's a big ask. But they trusted us. No one fussed over placement either. We had full control over the layout, which helped a ton.

Shift: A lot of car shows get hijacked by brands, dealers slapping logos everywhere. You had BYD, BMW, and Ford, but they didn't take over.

Waiz: That was intentional. We want to keep this community-first. Dealers and brands who can fit in with our community-first approach will always be welcomed. Without the support of BYD, BMW & Ford, we would not have been able to pull this off. BYD brought in cars that made sense. BMW and Ford helped, but didn't dominate. That's the balance we want.

While walking around, I got to catch up with others in the community. Something that is the focal point of car shows, similar to SuperTuners Meet and the old hangouts by Shift. Aside from that, car shows in Dhaka have always been a bit of a gamble. Either you're stuck in a sweaty hall navigating a forest of tripods and TikTokers, or you're trying to appreciate a sports car parked between a cotton candy stand and a finance company's booth. The 'CEMS Dhaka Motorshow', which happened around the same time as this one, was no exception—chaotic, loud, and built for headcount, not heart.

So here's the deal: Curated Cars wasn't just a car meet. It was a rare moment where form met function, where the scene took a deep breath, stood a little straighter, and remembered what car culture should be about.

Real machines. Real stories. No revving for TikTok clout. Well, okay, there was some revving, especially the crowd-pleasing '69 Mustang with its gunship rata-tat-tat-pop-bang-vroom every now and then. If you weren't there, you missed out. Till next time.