Hindustan Motors, the once iconic manufacturer of Ambassador and Contessa, would be proud of four youths from Malappuram district in Kerala. They are on a mission to create an awareness among the people in the country about the power and utility of Contessa, the first Indian “muscle car” which ruled Indian roads during 1984 to 1992. Barring a few hundred cars under the possession of avid car collectors, all Contessas have become a faded memories as the new generation is ignorant about the value of this sturdy machine which was a status symbol when it was launched.
Jabir P, a 30 year old tax professional, set out with hi friends Niyas, Yoonus and Ameen from Malappuram on December 8 in their 1988 model Contessa Classic and the tour will see them cover the entire length of India as well as Neplal and Bhutan. “By Tuesday evening, we covered more than 4,000 km travelling through the States of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab. Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. Right now we are in Uttar Pradesh and on the way to Nepal.” Jabir told The Pioneer over phone.
For the team members it was an experience of myriad weather, landscapes and contrasting topography. “From the deccan plateau, we drove through the vast stretches in Maharashtra and the deserts in Rajasthan. It was an awesome experience to see and feel rural India. Wherever we went, people crowded around the Contessa and were taking selfies with the car. Most of them, including cops and the soldiers of the Indian Army were seeing this vehicle for the first time and were highly appreciative of it,” said Jabir.
He said it was unfortunate that HM stopped production of Ambassadors and Contessa which were ideal cars for Indian conditions. “The Vehicle Scrapping Policy have made it compulsory that all private vehicles should be scrapped after 20 years and this would deny the future generation to know about India’s classic and vintage cars. Ambassadors, Contessas, Padminis and Heralds should be preserved at any cost,” said Jabir.
Dr Anjan Chatterjee, a car historian based in Nagpur pointed out that Contessa was a tough performer. “It has circumnavigated the globe on two occasions. Salauddin and Neena Choudhary set out from New Delhi on 9.9.1989 and returned back there in 69 days, 19 hours, 5 minutes driving across 25 countries in all continents, except Antarctica to set a Guinness World Record in 1989. Jabir and his friends are spreading a very desirable and societal message across the full spectrum of our population. They are driving under hostile weather and road conditions,” said Dr Chatterjee. He reminiscent that Contessa was a car of the Governors, Ministers, Judges and tycoons of an era.
Jabir and his teammates are taken care of by vintage car buffs with whom they maintain contact through WhatsApp groups, said Vijayanand who charted out the mission. “By the time our friends complete the trip, we are sure the Contessa would be found a permanent place in their hearts,” said Vijayanand. Jabir signed off with the catchwords of Contessa when asked how he felt driving the 34 year old beauty: “Looks like a dream and rides like a dream”.