Meet the Egyptian man with a collection of more than 100 vintage cars

Sayed Sima's cars have appeared in a number of Egyptian films and television shows

Egyptian collector of vintage cars, Sayed Sima, 70, stands next to a 1948 British Standard Flying Eight Tourer automobile in his store where he also has his own exhibition of old cars, in the Giza suburb of Abu Rawash, Egypt. Reuters

Sima's son, Sayed, 38, checks the battery of a British Standard Flying Eight Tourer - 1948 automobile. Reuters

A black 1975 Chevrolet Impala, a presidential car of late Egyptian president Anwar El Sadat, is seen in the store of Sayed Sima. Reuters

Sayed Sima sits on an Italian 1928 Fiat 501 automobile at his father's store. Reuters

Ayman Sima stands next to an Italian 1928 Fiat 501 automobile at his father's store. Reuters

Aymandrives a British Standard Flying Eight Tourer - 1948 automobile at his father's store. Reuters

An American 1934 Nash Ambassador automobile is seen in the store of Sayed Sima. Reuters

A view of the store and exhibition of old cars owned by Sayed Sima. Reuters

Sayed Sima speaks during an interview with Reuters seated on a 120-year-old American 1900 Auburn car in his store. Reuters

Sayed Sima stands next to a 120-year-old American 900 Auburn automobile in his store. Reuters

Sayed Sima sits in a 120-year-old American 1900 Auburn automobile in his store. Reuters

Sayed Sima checks a 120-year-old American 1900 Auburn automobile in his store. Reuters

Sayed Sima was about 25 years old when he began collecting vintage cars, attracted by their beauty and rarity, as well as their relatively cheap price tag.

More than half a century later, Sima – a nickname derived from the Egyptian slang for cinema – now has a collection of hundreds of vintage cars, many of which he keeps in Egypt's Media Production City where directors rent them as props for historical shows and films.

The oldest car in Sima’s collection is an Auburn which he acquired in the 1980s.

"This is of course a very rare car, a car that is entirely a piece of antique," he says, sitting in the Auburn to showcase its wooden frame and steel coating.

"Its original tank is still inside. It's a beautiful car. Its structure is all wood."

Sima remains fascinated by the way older cars operate.

His son, Ayman, 38, shares this peculiar passion after growing up seeing his father's cars feature in movies.

"I also liked how I saw these cars on movie screens. I would see a movie and think, oh it is our car," he says.

Among the famous figures who once rode in one of Sima's cars was former Egyptian president Anwar El Sadat, whose presidential car was a black 1975 Chevrolet Impala, says Sima.