Vintage wonders

Whether as an investment or just for the fun of a joy-ride, classic cars never go out of fashion, finds Geetanjali Jhala

1908 Henry Ford’s Model T put ‘America on wheels’ — commoners thought it was the biggest blessing ever

2008 The Model T is revered even today, and the 1908 car is sold for the same price as the latest model of the Mercedes S-class

Produced in the assembly line 100 years back, the Model T is extremely rare today — one among the 1,700 vintage and classic cars all over India. Most of these beauties have served as ‘carriages’ for erstwhile Maharajas for decades.

You will probably find them in garages of noble homes in erstwhile states — most of which are smaller towns in India today. But there’s a good chance that you’ll see a 1919 Buick or a 1938 Austin cruise along beside you on Marine Drive.

Not only is it immensely satisfying to have people look your way when you drive along in a 1936 Vauxhall, its also gratifying to know that there are people who share your passion.

Some might think you’re ‘obsessed’ to be so involved with your car, but that half-an-hour conversation with fellow collectors and enthusiasts makes you feel like royalty yourself.

Collecting vintage cars, as many proud owners will tell you, is more than a hobby. It is an investment. In the last few years the price of vintage (cars manufactured between 1908 and 1930) and classic cars (manufactured after 1930) has risen tremendously.

A car that was bought for a steal at Rs8 lakh in 1998 is sold for almost Rs20 lakh today, experts say. At the recent Auto Expo in Delhi, ‘the old beauties’ drew almost as much attention as Tata’s Nano, but from a very different fan-following.

The few cars that were sold at the expo went for as high as Rs25 lakh, says an expert. If you’re looking to invest in a vintage car, your first point of contact would be the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI).

Most people buy from among the 1,700 cars in India, if an owner is willing to let go of his car. But some cars are also imported from other countries. The VCCCI helps buyers with the necessary registration and documentation, along with whatever other repairs your new ‘old’ car might need.

If you’re a car enthusiast and don’t have a vintage machine, you don’t necessarily have to spend that kind of money to buy a car just to get that joy-ride from your home to the airport.

You don’t have to go to Jaipur either, where these cars now serve as taxis for tourists. In a few months you will be able to drive down to the airport in a vintage car.

“Mumbai won’t have a taxi service like Jaipur, but you will have the option of going to the airport in a vintage very soon,” says Nitin Dossa, secretary of the VCCCI, who owns over 40 vintage and classic cars himself.

While owners have been letting out vintage beauties (albeit for high sums) for shooting of films like Black, Rang De Basanti and Parineeta, the trend of letting out the cars for personal use started only a few years back.

“In the last three or four years, the VCCCI has received requests for members to let out their cars for marriages and the like,” adds Dossa. “We’ve had requests to let out cars for joy-rides too.”

However, owners are wary of letting out these cars, and do thorough background checks before agreeing to do so. “We first check the background of the person who wants to rent the car,” says an expert.

For those owners who do let out their cars, it’s almost painful. “We make sure our personal chauffeurs accompany the car,” says Dossa. “In fact, most of our chauffeurs are so protective of the cars that they don’t allow the owners to drive it themselves,” he laughs.

Not all owners, however, agree to let out their cars. “Though it’s a headache to maintain, I will not have my car treated like a taxi,” says Hormusji Cama, who drives his 10 cars around the city every day.

“For those who do let out their cars, it’s obviously a very good investment because hiring vintage cars is expensive. But these are the people who think of their cars as an investment and aren’t really lovers of cars.”

And because there are few such cars in India, most owners demand a high price when selling or renting them out. “People will pay any price to buy the car, hoping that when they sell it, it will give them returns,” Cama adds.

Whether you consider it an investment or just your passion, owning a vintage or a classic car is a matter of pride and joy. Whether it’s a joyride or sending your daughter off with style in a 1920 Cadillac, ‘old’ will never go out of vogue.

j_geetanjali@dnaindia.net