Motor car at the beginning
Before getting started on the main theme, it needs to brief about the vintage car in Indian context at par with international standards. In common parlance, vintage car means old automobiles and its collectors. It’s a known fact that automobile got invented and introduced first of all in the Western world and from there only it began its commercial journey. Vintage era of automobiles roughly started off as rarity in a transition period in the year of 1919 and in that period of time, car was a ” rarity”, though by the year of 1930, it began to reach in the hands of public in general; but in the true sense, up to the year of 1950, we can count the era of transition since in between that, World witnessed and suffered from the aftermath of two World Wars that badly effected the growth of the automobile industry and the market of the European as well as American continent.
During this period of time it remained in an unsteady condition. Although, indubitably during this transition period, various innovative technology got introduced. Multiple revolutionary changes and so many amenities became accessorial to the motor- car industry. These were added in shape of radio car, car cooling system, air conditioning system. Furthermore , at the initial stage , cars had had no shockers. It got replaced with spring shockers then to liquid propelled shockers etc. Along with, in fuel category different segments as petrol run car, diesel run car and gasoline car got introduced. Apart from, the construction of metalled roads in place of roughly hewn dirt tracks made car riding more comfortable and cozy and luxurious.
Expansion of the car industry
At the initial stage, car being the new kind of invention could be afforded by the elite class only, but its attraction and popularity induced car manufacturing companies to introduce the cars of small size segment so that middle and lower middle class get benefited by this and this was made possible by launching of small cars like Austin and Plymouth etc. The same pattern was adopted by the Indian car industry. In India, after independence only two models as brand names in the car market had their monopoly by the name of Ambassador and Fiat car and for long they succeeded to occupy the status symbol. No doubt some imported cars of the brand names Impala, Vox wagon, Chevrolet and even plymouth and Austin were owned by some personnels from elite class and in fact owning an imported car was the standard parameter of affluent Indian society.
But in the year of 1980, advent of Maruti-Suzuki car (a collaboration of Japanese- Indian companies) changed the entire scenario with its banging entry. This made, Indian car market witness and experience the revolutionary changes. The small segment Maruti car for continuous two decades, succeeded to attain the place of ‘status symbol’ in the Indian car market. With this success story, Maruti car company further ventured to launch cars in segment B and A . As on today the Indian roads are thronged with precious cars with different brand names of multiple car companies. The old Indian’s cars’ brand, in the name of Ambassador and Fiat lost all their grandeur . The Ambassador car and Fiat, once the pride of elite class, bureaucrats and politician went into the oblivion.
Vintage cars in Indian perspective
This detail is given to describe the “status of vintage cars” in Indian context at par with Western world. In Western world, the era of vintage cars begins from the day of manufacturing of its first car in the year of 1919, but in India the history or rather the fashion of vintage cars have its roots back in the year of 1963-64. Another fact, what kind of car occupies a place in vintage segment in India? Meant the prescribed oldness of the car model. An often accepted concept is, any car old enough more than twenty five years is counted as vintage car but in India standard year is fixed as, the car manufactured in the year of 1973 or prior to that! This puts any car older than forty years of age can be categorized as vintage car. In Indian context, the concept of “vintage car rally” got introduced in the year of 1963 in Bombay and from there it gradually expanded to the rest of India. The motto behind the initiating of vintage car rally basically seemed “the psychology of old cars owners of elite class” with the sheer purpose to display the elite heritage to common folks with a motive, “look guys! we belong to a filthy rich class from our past generations!” Though there were some genuine collectors no doubt.
Interestingly, this psyche induced so many newly born rich people to buy “old model cars of bygone era.” It was merely for the purpose to participate in the seasonal vintage car rally with the same swag. An another ironical version of this trend came, in the shape that some knackers who had bought such outdated cars, with the purpose to dismantle them and vend as iron scraps. They, too after repairing such old cars began to participate in such car rally. In this drive, some defunct elite class persons who had dropped their old model cars for repairs in petty garages; but on being unable to pay heavy repair charges, too, had left their cars as “sold one” there only. Such old scraps of cars left in garages too instilled such mechanics to repair such cars and participate as vintage car owners in the rally.
The real event
Although, vintage car rally have had its own glamorous, spectacular historical traditional value. But here I am going to narrate about the vintage car rally of my city. That was organized in the year of 1983. That was the time when in our small city, owning a scooter or motorcycle was in itself a status symbol. Cars were majorly of two known brands, namely Ambassador and Fiat, symbolic of upper class of society. In vintage car rally, cars of bygone era happened to participate which their owners. Old cars with proper maintenance, used to appear on the road, even the traffic on roads were scarce.
In fact, that era could be cited as “golden era of bicycles of small cities.” Motor – car occupied the place in the upper most rung of ladder. In such an ambiance of a slumbering city, when colorful vintage cars used to appear on the road, it all gave the the entire event a hustle full spectacle. And common people, watched them with a curious sight with their jaws hung on chest . The owners of such vintage cars, who drove them along with friends or family members as companion, too felt themselves no less than a lord , set there with a complacent look as a narcissist.
That era was of white and black TV owned by government and that too relayed the programs for limited time at the evening. In such an ambiance, the joy of watching the live show of vintage cars, was of its own unique kind. Specifically, when red hued vintage car with spokes wheels, appeared on the road. People in common parlance called that “featon”. Though “featon” is a horse ridden four wheeled chariot type “baghee.” But to people, in this car, engine served the purpose of the horses.
Myself as a volunteer
My one of the acquaintances, who was quite senior to me, was fond of offering his services as a volunteer in such kind of social events. Once he took me along with, to track the route of such vintage car rally. So as a pillion rider on his old knackered scooter, I set on to my this adventure. We were following the route of the rally, on the outer of the urban area. There we found an old modeled Fiat car stood, gasping with her engine choked fully.
We halted there, my senior in the capacity of volunteer offered a courtesy help. But, the owner who by himself in “defunct appearance” stood with the driver, ignored the offered indifferently. “No..no… nothing serious, my this Sweetie (name of the car) is so strong, has already participated in the Himalayan car rally.” He said this patting the hood of the Sweetie. The reference of the Himalayan car rally was enough to impress us. Since, that rally had the international renown, and at the same he waved the hand to stop another vintage car participating in the rally. He got loaded on that and off he gone leaving behind his Sweetie into the aegis of his poor driver.
Since, owner of Sweetie had boasted about its participation in the Himalayan car rally. That made us querimonious to ask about that, from the poor driver of the car. With a mysterious smile, driver answered, ” of what Himalayan car rally sir? Though , master wished to participate in that rally on this car and for the purpose, we both made a trial drive on the hill side track of the district. It rode on up to the five km, but after that engine of the car got jammed. The carburetor got burst and caught the fire Sir! What kind of car rally Sir! My master belongs to the aristocratic class. Big man, he was in the mood to boast about the car, so he made the statement. He was ascertained, you were not going to check the authenticity of his statement. He often makes such kind of swaggering statements.” The answer was hilarious and both we shared a full throated laugh with the driver, on his eliciting the truth.
Scenario of the finishing ground
After that , we both reached on to the finishing point ground. An old, almost defunct, tired, motor car, was parked at a distance from other cars. That attracted my attention because of its looks and passengers, so I approached the car. The owner of the car, who was an old gentle man with his wife, was a unique pair. Old man’s fragile personality, looked like a handkerchief before his better half’s huge “bed sheet” type personality. The fragile old man’s neck was in the habit of moving like a pendulum, as if, it was rested on a soft spring. Not only this, he put on heavy plastic eye glasses on his nose .That eye glasses, too seemed to accelerate the pendulous movement of his neck (I felt so.)
It astonished me, how he managed to bear on his glasses and drive the car with his pendulous neck. On purpose, I made some propitiatory and flattering remarks about their vintage car, that helped kindled the faces of the couple with joy. Meanwhile a spectacular Impala car halted with a roar on the nearby spot, and, an old man with magnificent looks alighted from the driving seat. From the passenger side, a hot sexy, young woman too hopped out. “Splendid!” was the only word that I exclaimed looking at them. “What thing you found splendid? Car or babe?” asked the better half of the spring neck.
“Both” I could speak only with stammering voice, “father and daughter both too are handsome!’ The old woman gave a horse laugh and said, “You are altogether wrong gentleman. She is his new wife. This scoundrel whole through his life tended to change the model of the car and wife.” This made me shrunk to my side, for the stupidity. I was from a common class, but when the old lady was saying all this, about the Impala owner old man. Some kind of lewd expression floated on her face. That expression on her face elicited a version, “you old man, you made me recall those bygone days of…. I can’t forget that all.” After that, she gripped the hand of her fragile old man and pulled him offendedly alongwith to another side of the ground. Penned by — Vinay Pharasi…..
