"IRAN'S ARROW: The Rise and Fall of Paykan" is an award-winning documentary about a British car (Rootes Arrow series) that was introduced to Iran in 1967. Paykan can still be seen in the streets of Iran today. The film shows the impact this car had on the Iranian society and the impact the Iranian society had on this car. 

FULL HD, 78 minutes Produced in Tehran, Iran 2014 - 2016 

Written, Directed, and Produced by: 

Shahin Armin Sohrab Daryabandari 

IRAN'S ARROW: The Rise and Fall of Paykan - (Teaser-2)

"IRAN'S ARROW: The Rise and Fall of Paykan" is an award-winning documentary about a British car (Rootes Arrow series) that was introduced to Iran in 1967. It was produced under the model name “Paykan” for 38 years.

FULL HD, 78 minutes Produced in Tehran, Iran 2014 - 2016 

Written, Directed, and Produced by: 

Shahin Armin Sohrab Daryabandari 

IRAN'S ARROW: The Rise and Fall of Paykan - (Teaser-1)

Paykan's 50th Birthday!

Today, May 13th 2017, Paykan turns exactly 50 years old. I am almost certain nobody at that official ceremony fifty years ago at the IranNational factory, which was attended by the Shah himself, could have imagined that Paykan would play such an important role in the lives of so many Iranians for this long. I started this blog back in 2009 and I couldn't imagine back then that today I will be announcing that the Paykan documentary film which I have made during the past 3 years, along with my co-director Sohrab Daryabandari, will be released in theaters across Iran today on this 50th-anniversary occasion.

Swiss Sceptre

The exported version of the Humber Sceptre located in Switzerland. 1970 model with only 36,000 kilometer on the dial. Simply Incredible! :)  Photos from Jürg Schopper 

Fender Bender

The car on the left was brand new just came out of factory with temp plates.
Photo courtesy of Samir.

Correction: Photo courteasy of Amir Rokni.

O Canada!

Recently I received these precious photos from Stuart in Canada. Here what he has to say about these Arrows:

"I finally located the photos of the two 69 Sunbeam Arrows that I owned many years ago while I lived in London, Ontario. The dark blue one was purchased used in Feb. 1978 (scrapped about 1986), it was the base model with no chrome trim and rubber mats. The rusty white one was purchased in the early 1980s (scrapped in 1988), a mid-trim model with outside chrome trim, carpets. Both had the cheap plastic dashboard. Unfortunately, I never did own the deluxe model that had the wood dashboard. The white car had backup lights mounted to the back bumper. The 1970 models had the rear backup lights mounted above the bumper, but below the tail lights, as well as side lamps front and rear."

Reorient

Apologies about another long pause here, but I have an exciting news. I'm pleased to announce that an interview was published on Reorientmag.com with myself and my co-director Sohrab Daryabandari about our upcoming Paykan documentary film "Iran's Arrow: The Rise and Fall of Paykan". 

Robin Hoods Bay

Photo by: David Christie
"The hired Hillman Hunter used for our family holiday in Scarborough -there being 4 of us not quite fitting comfortably in my Imp! It is seen here near Robin Hoods Bay on 26/7/72. Despite being a new car it broke down which meant we had to return to Essex by train."

BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik

Looks kind of neat with those BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik

Victory Wheelers

G reg. Hillman Hunter at the 11th Victory Wheelers Road & Custome show. Photo by: Clive Barker

Pasha's Uncle

My good friend Pasha sent me this photo recently, his late Uncle and his cousin are sitting there. He can't remember the exact model year of the Paykan, but it must be either a 1972 or 1973. Thanks Pasha!

GT's Youngest Fan

Photos are from Leuft and this is what the GT's youngest fan has to say about their Arrows:

"Hillman GT (BRT 705H): 
I loved this car back then. Overdrive manual gearbox, Rev. counter (!), Twin carbs, High-backed front seats and Alloy wheels. All quite remarkable in a 1970 family saloon! I'm gutted my dad got rid of it way back in the late '70s / early '80s or whenever.  We lived near Great Yarmouth and would go up to Hull at least once a year in it to see me grandparents. I loved travelling in it. I want another one.

Hillman Hunter Estate (NVG 219P):   
I was disappointed with this compared to the Hunter GT we had had previously.   A nice colour for a 1977 car though. Note that the GT wheels had been carried over from our previous car. I think that it was my idea to swap them over and for some reason my dad listened and asked the garage that part-exed it to do so.  I remember seeing the GT for sale on the forecourt of the garage after we had part-exed it and I was so gutted that we didn't have it anymore."

Thanks for sharing the photos with us Leuft. I hope you find a nice GT soon, but they sadly are as rare as hen's teeth! :/

Paykan Overload#64

Photo from babakoto.eu taken at the Howraman Valley, Iran.

Great White Hunter

Australian advert.

Petrolicious

I am so stoked to be featured on the prestigious Petroloious website. I want thank my dear friend Samir Shirazi for making this happen and also the rest of the staff over at Petrolicous. Thank You!...

Here is the link to the article: BROKEN ARROW: FORMER DESIGNER WORKS TO REMEMBER IRAN’S FIRST NATIONAL CAR