It’s vintage flavour on the road
Bindu Gopal Rao
Vintage vehicles have a charm like no other. A sense of nostalgia attached to them make them prized possessions. From auctions, shows to rallies, many events are fuelling interest in vintage vehicles, especially cars. New collectors and auto-enthusiasts are entering the fray to own these old beauties. Among the pioneers of vinatge collectors is Brig J.S. Phoolka (retd), founder president of the Vintage and Classic Car Club in Chandigarh. He says, “In the late 1990s, we decided to start the club with a handful of members and cars. Now it is a full-fledged registered sports club and we have enrolled 18 to 20 members who have collected more than 25 vintage cars. These cars have been overhauled and salvaged.” The club organises four to five events each year starting from September 27, in collaboration with the Chandigarh Administration and concludes with the Baisakhi drive that happens around the Sunday post or prior to Baisakhi.
“A decade back, most of these vehicles were being sold as scrap. However, things are changing now. There is also a lot of media attention that has ensured that vintage vehicles remain a trend today,” avers Baljeet S Manco, founder secretary of the Vintage and Classic Car Club, Chandigarh.
Erach Kotwal, a Mumbai-based collector, is part of the Classic Drive Group that meets every Sunday to take their old cars on a drive on the Chembur Expressway. Proud owner of 1969 Triumph Herald 13/60 convertible, he says, “We sent three of our cars to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the USA. The Rolls Royce came first while the Bentley came third.”
Conservation cues
Many royal families in our country have a number of vintage vehicles as well. “For us, the Vintage and Classic Car Collection is yet another facet of the ‘living heritage of Mewar’. All vehicles on show belong to the Maharanas of Mewar, and even though some vehicles are more than 70 years old, each one has been painstakingly restored to ensure these are in working order,” says Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur, chairman and managing director of HRH Group of Hotels.
“The Federation of Historic Vehicles of India( FHVI) locates old vehicles and then tries to preserve these, if these are in a good condition. In case, the vehicle is in a dilapidated condition, then we strip it entirely and rebuild it as per original specifications,” says Dr Ravi Prakash, president of the FHVI.
Aditya Vij, an independent collector, who owns 16 vintage classic cars and 11 vintage two-wheelers, adds, “Despite their phenomenal built, the ability of vintage vehicles to last for decades has passed. These vehicles need to be nurtured and taken care of piece-by-piece part-by-part.” Restoring old vehicles is fraught with challenges. However, it is becoming easier thanks to information available on internet, besides increasing number of clubs across the globe. Spare parts are available and collectors are more than willing to help.
“The most important aspect for any collector is to have the best network of such owners and car garages. A few online platforms make it easier to outsource any vintage car parts,” says Mahesh Shetkar of Doers, a car servicing company.
With an increase in avenues to buy vintage vehicles, there is heightened interest in the same. Yashwardhan Ruia, Mumbai-based collector with more than 50 cars, says, “Many youngsters are entering this field and several shows and rallies are taking place across the country. There are dealers and vintage car auctions. Two such auctions were held recently in Delhi and Mumbai. Then there are clubs like the Vintage & Classic Car Club of India that can help a person buy a car based on their budget and requirements.”
This February, Osian’s — Connoisseurs of Art held its inaugural Live Auction & Catalogue for Vintage & Classic Automobiles in Delhi. The auction has been giving a fillip to the automotive heritage movement in India. The event had 38 top quality vintage and classic cars from the great marques of Cadillac, Rolls-Royce, Daimler, Bentley, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, DeSoto and Volvo.
10 buys from the yore
- 1957 Studebaker Commander
- 1969 Beetle Volkswagen
- 1961 Fiat 1100 103 D
- 1961 Wolseley 15/60
- 1968 Morris Oxford ‘Farina’
- 1948 Rover 12 P2
- 1937 Austin Ten
- 1936 Austin 10 Sherborne
- 1937 Austin 7
- 1947 Jaguar 1½ litre Mark IV
Classic car trails
- The Cartier Concours d’Elegance
- Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally
- VCCFI Vintage and Classic Car Rally
- 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally and Concours Show
- Delhi Vintage Car Rally
