Vintage Car

The first ride in car that I had in my life was in our Ford A model. The car was part of our family for many years before I was born. It has not been just part of the family but also of the society (Dhantoli, Nagpur) that had just five cars in 1930’s. Our family was privileged to have this car.

I was told that the purchase of our car was a surprise that my father gave to the family. One day a car entered the dusty streets of Dhantoli. Children playing on the street got attracted to this beauty and ran behind her, unmindful of the dust that flew around. The car stopped at our residence. Everyone from the house came to the courtyard to see who the visitor is. No one might have imagined that time that the visitor was to be part of the family and will remain so for over eight decades. Nobody in at home knew about this addition to our family till the car actually arrived at our residence. It was a moment of joy and thrill for all family members. The car was priced by Ford Motor Company in the US at $625 and the exchange rate of USD to INR in 1930 was INR 2.77 (of course Rs. Two and Twelve Anna and few Paisa and Pai but I converted into decimal system for better understanding). If I make a quick calculation of converting this amount in gold that one could have purchased in those days (USD 20.65 per Oz.) and multiply that quantity by today’s gold price then the cost of this car works out Rs. 27.65 lacs (INR 2.765 m.). I am sure it must have been huge money.

Author as a child on luggage carrier

The car went around all over central India, Maharashtra and Gujarat wherever my father was posted. My father would go tours in this car and the luggage would be secured with rope on the luggage carrier. I have a picture of mine sitting on the luggage carrier. The car must have travelled hundreds of thousands of kms. As it grew older the milometer failed. We could never get the worm that fits into engine and rotates the cable, in order to rectify the fault. Same thing happened with the wiper. Someone stole it and its gone forever. Similar is the story for copper tubing for fuel, wiper etc. that was more attractive for the thieves, but the modern day plastic came to our help as a replacement. 

Foot board that can carry six standees on each side

I admire Ford for having designed such a beautiful machine, so sturdy yet so simple. The petrol tank is where the modern cars have dashboard. This eliminates the need for complicated fuel pump. The crankshaft handle has been replaced with starters in modern cars (remember the mechanism how scooters and bikes were kick started few years back. The kick of bike is similar to handle of the car). The wiper worked on the suction and exhaust of the engine air and not of electricity. Cars were fitted with blow horns (some autos and Idliwalas use it even today). All these made the electrical system less complicated. The dynamo was in place of a modern day alternator. All this worked to perfection and is still working. The wooden flooring obviates the need for repair of rusted tin. The car is spacious, it takes six persons comfortably, but in case of emergency, it carries much higher number. I have carried 22 persons in this car, some standing on foot boards, some sitting on folded hood and few on the front near the lights mounted over the front wheels and believe me no one complained.

The car was designed for the roads of 1930 and there is no difficulty for the car to run on roads of this millennium. It still can easily clock 100 kmph, but we don’t want to strain her. Sixty to seventy is what we limit. The Vintage and Classic cars rally advocates an average speed of 25 kmph in the rally. The fuel consumption is similar to cars of 1970’s in India like Ambassador and Premier Padmini. Eight to ten kms per liter is what we get even today.

Wedding procession 

Our Ford was in regular use till 1960. There are hundreds of persons who took driving lessons on this car.  On the romantic front the car made hundreds of newly wedded couples dream of their Suhag Raat when went out in her for marriage procession (Varat in Marathi). It was fun to watch nicely dressed newly wedded couple in well decorated car with open hood, with number of children squeezing on the back seat. A musical band (the famous Chalisgaon Band in Nagpur) would lead the procession. Folk of ladies will be following the car followed by males. The car would travel at snail’s speed and would halt at places for the firework ahead of the band to finish. It was fun and if our car could speak, I am sure she would term this as most memorable experience for herself and would smile to herself remembering the sweet talk the married couple would have had during the ride.

The car was almost out of use in 70’s. We all had purchased modern car and the poor old lady was unfortunately neglected. In late 70’s we brought the car to Mumbai, got registered with the Vintage cars club and decided to take part in the rallies. Things changed then after. We realized that we have a rare possession. During my visit to Ford museum in Dearborn, Michigan, I found that only 7381 cars of this model were manufactured by Ford in 1930 and 1931 and perhaps ours is the only surviving one. Even the Ford museum does not have this model in their possession. We started with regular maintenance, participation in rallies and restoration. The old electrical system was changed, mechanical brakes were replaced with hydraulic, modern day starter was fitted, side indicators and brake lights were added and a new coat of paint made her glitter.

Our own Gandhi

Friends and family members in Khadi

From 1980 till 2010 we won first prize every time the rally was conducted and we competed. After the rally of 2010 we announced that we will no longer compete, though, we will participate in the rally. We have kept our word for last three years. The participation in the rallies gave a great exposure to the car. Many columns were written in newspapers and magazines around the world. With internet catching up many sites had reports of the rally and our car. There has been a wide coverage on electronic media with our interviews telecasted soon after the rally. The car has been of special interst to film personalities. Our car was keenly observed for the film Gandhi. Our car was not selected for Gandhi, so we decided to have our own Gandhi in the next rally. We created our own Gandhi look alike and other freedom fighters. We had over 150 persons dressed in Khadi during the rally at Brabourne stadium, Mumbai, cheering us. That was one of the big events we had. Once Devanand was on look out for similar car and met us. I had introduced him to my parents, who were not aware of his credentials. Jackie Shroff also had keen interest in our car and spent some time in knowing the details of the car.

Author and his brother with Devanand

With Bhatkar, a Marathi actor

Jackie Shroff a keen listener

The vintage car rally is also a family and social get to gather for us. Our car is part of our family and we all have emotional bonding with her. Family members and friends who are present during the rally, get nostalgic. We share our sweet memories and usually dine to gather before parting with a promise to meet next year. The car is getting older but is still very strong and dependable even at the age of 83. Mechanics and parts both are not available and it’s a big challenge to maintain the car. We try our best to keep it fit and will continue to do so till our generation exists. At this stage we are very keen to see that car runs for another 17 years and completes a century. In the recent past we drove to Pune and Nashik on two different occasions to participate in the rally. It was a great site to watch 1930 Ford and latest BMWs, Audis and Mercedes going side by side on expressway and in Kasara ghat. Generally there is a great admiration and cheer when people see the old beauty on the streets.

Our edition of Laurel and Hardy

Author being interviewed by ETV

Today we have in our family the modern cars like BMW, Honda, Ford, Nissan, Mercedes and even Tata but our heart still lingers with our age old beauty Ford A model of 1930.