Brothers park impressive fleet of 100 luxury vehicles outside homes they rent to neighbours
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Two car-obsessed brothers inspired by the Queen have transformed a street into a showcase of their decades-old fleet of luxury Rolls Royces, Bentleys and Porsches.
Shoukat Ali, 49, and his brother Bugsy, 47, have parked about 100 cars outside the dozens of properties they own in Ward End, Birmingham.
The number of vehicles has grown to such an extent that they now have to ask renters to sign a written contract that allows them to park a Bentley or Rolls Royce Phantom in driveways or at the back of their home.
The brothers have become known within the local community and recently treated an elderly neighbor to a ride in a Rolls Royce Limousine to celebrate his 80th birthday.
Bugsy, a father of two, said, “We have 100 cars, we restore and sell classic cars in garages. Some we keep outside in driveways.
“We have a dozen or so houses on Washwood Heath Road and we have a contract with some tenants to park a car in the driveway.
Shoukat Ali, 49, and his brother Bugsy, 47, have parked a fleet of 100 cars outside the dozens of properties they own
The brothers have collected dozens of luxury Rolls Royces and Bentleys along the residential street in Birmingham
The brothers have built up the collection of classic cars over the years and have become popular members within the local community
The brothers recently treated an elderly neighbor to a ride in a Rolls Royce Limousine to celebrate his 80th birthday.
We restore and sell classic cars at garages
Bugsy said his interest in cars dates back to childhood to the 60s and 70s, when his uncles took him for a ride.
“We leave one room and they are happy. They are neighbors from heaven. I have a neighbor named Fred and he is an army veteran. On his 80th birthday, we took him and his lady to the local pub in a Rolls Royce Limousine.
“He said it was the best birthday he’d ever had. If they ask to move the car, we will. We like being able to see my cars everywhere. We like to look at them.
“Even the local police are good to us and let us know when the car tax is up. Everyone knows us.’
Bugsy said his interest in cars dates back to his childhood in the 1960s and 1970s, when his uncles often took him for a ride.
He added: “We have always loved cars. When I was a kid, my uncle took me out in his Mini 1275 GT and our neighbor on Washwood Heath Road was an undertaker who had a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.
“He always took me out when I was ten years old. My uncles were car dealers and we went to auctions when we were kids.
‘After the 90s, my uncle gave me a few cars here and there. Everyone copies someone. I don’t copy Tik-Tokers, I copy the Queen.
“I loved her style, the glamor and she drove a Rolls Royce Phantom. I have up to 20 Rolls Royces from the 60s.
Shoukat and Bugsy pictured in one of the luxury cars within their 100-person fleet in Birmingham
The brothers must ask tenants to sign a written contract that allows them to park the vehicles in driveways along the street
Despite the extensive collection, the brothers say they have no idea how much the fleet is worth
‘My favorite is the Rolls Royce Corniche which I bought for £40,000 about two years ago. It’s elegant and beautiful. It has lambswool carpet everywhere and you don’t get bumpers like that.
“The Rolls Royce limousines are linked to a duke who was the queen’s cousin, but I’m not sure. I bought it from a car collector.’
Despite the extensive collection, the brothers say they have no idea how much the fleet is worth, but are simply ‘enchanted’ by it.
Bugsy continued, “Some will stay with me for life, others I will sell and then buy. I have to earn a living.’
His brother Shoukat said, “New cars are just plastic. Old cars are the best. If these were in a garage, you’d never see them.’
And Fred Cartwright, the 80-year-old treated to a ride in the limousine as a thank you for allowing the brother to park their Rolls Royce Phantom in his driveway, added: ‘They’re good neighbours. I’ll ask him when I’m going out and he’ll move it. He took me and the wife for a ride in it before I was 80.’
Another resident, Kheizer Javad, a 35-year-old who stops regularly to observe the cars, said: ‘I am fascinated by the cars. They are very friendly and hospitable people.’