I am inside a 1940s’ Ford Anglia. Vernon Saldanha, the owner, is driving the sleek, black, vintage car along a stretch of the East Coast Road. The car is on its way to Puducherry, as part of the Chennai Puducherry Heritage Car Drive organised by the Madras Heritage Motoring Club, where it will be showcased for the people at the beach. “The crowd will go crazy,” he says, “At least 20,000 people are going to turn up.”
As we drive, children riding pillion on motorbikes take pictures of the Ford Anglia, while young men slow down their cars to take a better look. As if to amuse them, Saldanha presses a key which makes the old-fashioned indicators project out. “It was all manual back then,” he smiles.
sdff
The rally, which was flagged off last weekend from Mayajaal multiplex, featured at least 40 vintage cars from 15 manufacturers, dating back to the1920s, including ambassadors and an old-style ambulance van. “Puducherry is the best place to showcase our cars as it encourages tourism. There is a crowd that appreciates everything vintage. That is always encouraging,” says Balraj Vasudevan, the President of MHMC.
Women, dressed in denims with sunglasses and head scarves, and men in shorts sporting cowboy caps pose next to their cars for pictures. The scene can easily pass off for a 60s’ Hollywood movie. The Austin 7s transport you at once to Victorian England. Then, there are also the regal-looking Mercedes and compact and stylish Volkswagens.
Amit Goel is a proud owner of the oldest Austin 7 of the lot. Made in 1927, this car has driven to Puducherry eight times in a row. “I found her in Bengaluru in pristine condition. Unlike the modern cars, the mechanics of the older ones are simple. If anything happens to the car, it does not take much time to figure out what is wrong.”
With a four-speed gear box, this car is great for short rides, so we take it on picnics, says Goel. “The car was in a dilapidated condition when I got hold of it the first time. It was lying like junk in my garage. I started working on it in March last year. Unless you have that kind of passion, it is difficult to sustain a love for these cars.”
sdf
Despite the slew of vintage beauties from exotic brands, a grand black Ambassador still attracts attention. A 1959 creation, Naresh Bangara’s car chronicles the history of his family — the many rides to cinema halls, short Indian picnics and journeys with the cousins. Bangara says his father was quite possessive about this car, which is why he never sold it, and it remains in the family even today. “This is the only car you will find here that is retained by the family. Everything inside is vintage. The indicator is positioned on the steering wheel. A single key operates the parking light and headlights,” he says.
“This year, we saw a footfall of 35,000 at the promenade in Puducherry,” says Kylas Swaminathan, the founder-secretary of MHMC. “We also parked at the Fortune Hotel, on our way back. The hotel owner came with his entire family, with children, to check out the cars.”
The planning for the rally begins two months in advance, he says. “It is a stupendous effort to drive these cars. We made sure that 65 mechanics, drivers and painters, and a plethora of back up support trailed behind us. In fact, they outnumbered the number of car owners. We have to drive at least 320 km back and forth. Thankfully, except for one car that was faced with a water pump problem, all the others had a smooth ride. We did not have to make use of our flatbed trailers.”
sad
Swaminathan, who participated in his Morris 8, says the pleasure of the rally is in the journey and the sights on the way, more than the destination. “While driving, the bikers come closer, to quiz you on the year the car was manufactured and the purpose of the rally. They make sure they do not leave without taking a selfie! The children had a great time. Even some of the mechanics brought their kids with them.”
The event encourages people to invest in heritage cars and bust the myth that it they are tough to drive. “When we formed the club in 2002, we started off with 20 to 25 cars. Now, we have scaled up our collection by twice the number,” says Swaminathan”. “We can see an overall resurgence in the interest for vintage cars in Chennai.”
