The exhibition offered visitors a glimpse into some vintage cars in Puducherry on Monday.
| Photo Credit: S.S. KUMAR
From the Willys jeep from the 1940s, an enduring icon of World War II to the Chevrolet Master Deluxe sedan that once took former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru around Tamil Nadu, the pagaent of classic and vintage cars on the Promenade Beach offered a retrospective of not just automobile evolution, but a glancing look at 20th century history.
It was like a show of strength of the “OGs”— the Merc, Chevy, Buick, Volkswagen, Morris Garages and the Austin to a fleet of Fiat and Standard cars—as Historical Cars Association of India (HCAI) brought another edition of the The Heritage Car Rally ‘25” to the city.
Lt Governor K. Kailashnathan, who was accompanied by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, inaugurated the show and inspected the parade showcasing cars from the 1940s to 1980s period.
L-G Kailashnathan and CM Rangasamy during the event on Monday.
| Photo Credit:
S.S. KUMAR
Mr. Rangasamy, an ardent follower of the welfarism of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, had a closer look at Chevrolet Master Deluxe that was used by the latter, and even sat on the plush seat in sheer reverence for his hero.
“We bought the 1939 edition car from its reluctant owner in Pollachi when the vintage model was on the verge of falling apart”, says Ramya Rajesh, a car collector from Kerala.
Along with her husband Rajesh Ambal, the duo has set up an exclusive plant for restoration of vintage cars in Palakkad, Kerala.
The car was the first to be available on hire in south India and Mr. Kamaraj would take visiting Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru around places such as dam sites in Tamil Nadu in this car, she said. However, the Chevy is not by any means the oldest car in the stable, an honour held by a 1928 Fiat Spider in the family collection.
A little further down the line, that also featured a Dodge Kingsway (1959), the VW microbus (1974) and a vintage Studebaker, there was a buzz around a MG YT 1950 Tourer belonging to Daman Thakore, businessman based in Ahmedabad.
Visitors looking at the Heritage Cars at the Exhibition organised by Tourism Department on Beach Road in Puducherry on Monday.
| Photo Credit:
S.S. KUMAR
The Thakores, whose passion for vintage vehicles is an intergenerational family trait, had undertaken a mind-boggling trip with the MG YT to London a couple of years ago.
“It was a dream to take the car to its place of origin…Abingdon in London which originally housed the manufacturing facility”, the family said.
Their journey with the “Lal Pari” (Red Angel which is how they named the machine) started on August 15, 2023, crossed 14 countries while traversing 13,500 kilometres over 73 days. It was a trip mostly on roads, such as the entire stretch from Iran to France, and briefly ferry transport.
Awaiting them at Abingdon, Oxfordshire in England on October 31 was a grand homecoming celebration hosted by members of The MG Car Club of Abingdon.
L-G Kailashnathan and CM Rangasamy looking at the fleet of heritage cars.
| Photo Credit:
S.S. KUMAR
“Maintenance of vintage cars has to adhere to a clockwork schedule”, said Natchi Lazarus, an IT consultant, the sole entrant from the city showcasing his 1951 Willys in his first exhibiting event. The jeep, a birthday gift from his father, was bought from a zamindar in Pollachi. “Caring for the vintage vehicle is much like rearing a child”, he said.
As Ranjit Pratap, HCAI president, said the purpose of the show went beyond mere spectacle value but sought to raise awareness about a treasured automobile heritage, and to spark an interest among youth to turn car hobbyists.
Published – February 03, 2025 10:39 pm IST