The vintage beauties line up, one to take guard and relive those glory moments; others to tell themselves that they are still around. By Ankita Jain
Three vintage cars sprawl in the courtyard of Maharaja Manujendra Shah from the Tehri Garhwal family. They have just had a wash and scrub; all four doors of each are ajar, inviting a reluctant sun to dry them out. However, the Maharaja is quick to tell you that none of them belongs to him. Instead he owns two others — a 1947 Duwaike and a 1951 Cath — one of them parked in his backyard. In case you are wondering why these rare models have been assembled, this is the preview of the 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally. “For the first time, we will be hosting the car show at India Gate. Newly restored vintage cars like the 1922 Moon (only car left in the world), 1927 lanchester (previously owned by the Maharaja of Jamnagar) and the 1933 Cadillac v12 seven-passenger limousine (only car available in India) would be the key attractions,” says Madan Mohan, chairman of the 21 Gun Salute Heritage and Cultural Trust.
“I am entering a 1951 Cath for the rally. There was a time when I used to own 10-12 cars and used to participate with a different car every time,” says the Maharaja. He has left no stone unturned, whether it means going to the mechanic every now and then or bearing the expense of procuring spare parts from abroad. It can be gauged from the fact that these heritage cars are still driven on the Indian roads, despite being over five decades old. “My car was checked for pollution and is certified. I have given this example to highlight the fact that vintage cars are well-maintained and emit less pollution than the latest versions on the road,” elaborates the Maharaja, who bought the car 30 years ago from a car collector.
1938 Buick convertible
The Nawab of Tonk owned this car when it was considered royal to travel by a personal tonga, or horse carriage, as many prefer to call it. “I bought this car from him in the 2000s and since then I have been maintaining it by importing spare parts from abroad. The other car I brought was a 1955 Daimler which was used by the late matinee idol Ashok Kumar for about 35 years,” shares Madan.
1949 Buick Roadmaster
Of all the great American cars built right after World War II, one of the most popular, most appealing and best styled is Buick’s 1949 Roadmaster. From any angle, the car has presence. So it’s no wonder that today, more than six decades after it was first introduced, Buick aficionados still covet it. Among those aficionados are Madan Mohan and Manujendra Shah . “The car was previously owned by the Maharaja of Bhavnagar. I bought it from him long back and this car made it to my collection of 305 cars, 43 jeeps and 106 bikes. I was just strolling along, enjoying the sights and sounds when we chanced upon this 1949 Buick Roadmaster,” smiles Madan Mohan. When he bought the car, the seller said that although it had been repainted, the original interior had been retained. Not long after the car was originally purchased, a set of plastic seat covers had been installed, effectively sparing the original cloth material from certain wear and tear for at least three decades. “There really isn’t a single flaw on the seats, anywhere, and as far as we’re aware, not a single section has been restuffed or resprung,” adds Madan.
1936 Alvis Speed 20
From the highly respected makers of sporty, reliable and most expensive cars, this one belongs to the pre-war era. “The front wheel drive cars ceased production after just 140 had been built. And it is one of the six cars left in the world,” says Madan. On occasions, curious onlookers are trouble. “Two-wheeler riders on the road stop their bikes right across the car, take out their phones and click pictures. I miss a heartbeat when that happens. The car has mechanical brakes and it does not come on swiftly as modern cars. I have to struggle to brake on time,” he adds.
If old cars on the road were pooh-poohed before, owners say now they are hard to source. “People often call asking if we are selling or whether we can procure a model for them. But the real test is maintenance. If you don’t use it, the battery goes down and the carbonator gets clogged,” points out Madan.
This year about 100 rare cars — 85 from India and 10 from foreign countries — and 25 vintage bikes will be showcased during the Grand Concours Show on February 17 and 18. About 125 cars will be participating in the vintage car racing at Buddha International Circuit in Greater Noida on February 19.
Photos: Alwin Singh