The National Green Tribunal’s decision to ban vintage cars from plying on the Capital’s roads has come as a rude shock for car connoisseurs, who having been looking after these archaic automobiles, long given up by mechanics, as their little ones. It would not be an exaggeration to state that these vintage cars are our national heritage and are in fine fettle today only because their passionate owners have spared no effort in ensuring their smooth run on the Delhi-NCR roads.
Disillusioned with the NGT’s announcement, Himanshu Jangid, a car restorer from Jaipur, says, “Owners of vintage cars, who put their blood, sweat and tears into maintaining these old machines, need encouragement and not disheartening measures. These beauties are treasures of our nation and need to be driven on the roads more often. Or else they would become unworkable and rot in a garage. This should never be allowed to happen.”
Noting that owners are a disappointed lot, Himanshu argues that if these automobiles have no driving value they would not be of any use. “It is important to understand that these are old machines and if they don’t run for a week or two, then rust accumulates and has a bearing on their longevity.”
He adds, “We say if you misuse a car, it is okay, but it should not be ‘disused’.”
Himanshu feels it is high time that the Union and State Governments play a more pro-active role in preserving vintage cars for the future generations.
Citing an example, Himanshu says Western nations boast umpteen clubs of heritage cars. “Even their governments play a dominant role in hosting events where these relics of the past are showcased to the public and driven on arterial roads. In the West, the government agencies pat such individuals, who spent a fortune in ensuring that these cars are in good running condition.”
The process of restoration of vintage cars is tedious and time consuming.
Apart from manually restoring vintage cars at his restoration house in Jaipur over the past decade, Himanshu has started his own private initiative of creating awareness about these antique automobiles among the youth.
This 33-year-old commerce graduate has made his hobby into a full time profession. He first got attracted to automobiles while his father was working in a car manufacturing company in Saudi Arabia. Later, he learnt the job of doing detailed “art work”, fine tuning antique automobiles. Now passionate about them, he has made a name for himself in repairing old cars that mechanics have long given up.
He runs United Restorations, located on Ajmer Road in Jaipur, where the effort is to restore vintage cars to their “original glory”.
His first restored car was a Ford 1928 classic, which he says he had to repair literally from scratch.
“Vintage cars are not just cars; it is about sentiment and respecting the past. Restoring them is like unravelling a puzzle. After evaluating signs of wear and tear, missing parts, we disassemble the car as per the owners’ requirements. Then starts the task of restoring the car, which requires coordination between craftsmen, upholsterer and mechanic. Our expertise is research work. We have contacts in all leading automobile companies. So we get all updates about the vehicles being restored by us. Since we cannot procure all the spare parts of vintage cars, we have started manufacturing them locally.”
Himanshu believes that today’s young people need to be fully updated about our national heritage.
“Vintage cars are part of our heritage. These are like our beautiful monuments which have been designated as world heritage sites. Keeping in mind this fact, we conduct art workshops which enable students pursuing fine arts in colleges to express their creativity through pictures, paintings, sculptures. They make use of junk art. The reason behind starting this initiative is that the youth these days does not have the patience of their forefathers, who would wait for five years to get their car restored. The new generation has no patience. But when they understand that national pride is associated with these old automobiles, they would be more patient and ensure that they are preserved for posterity.”
Shedding light on his latest initiative, Cartist, Himanshu says it will be a three-day camp in Jaipur in April, which will see the participation of students from the Delhi College of Art, the J.J. School of Art and other art institutions from across the country. “We will give them a firsthand experience of the garage where I have worked and repaired a range of vintage cars.”
On display will be an array of vintage cars repaired by him, such as a Mercedes 1929, a Mercedes 1936, a Chevrolet 1931, a Jaguar SS 1938 and a Rolls Royce. He will explain how he restored them.
“We want them to be in a relaxed state of mind and there would be no compulsion to draw. Artists would be free to choose any subject. They would be free to express their creativity in any form. A jury comprising a panel of eminent artists would select the winners whose work would then be exhibited at ITC Rajputana.”
