Cars on display in Puducherry
| Photo Credit: Sangita Rajan
The Austin 8 Tourer hesitated for a second before its engine caught a low, steady rumble, that felt more alive than mechanical. As a convoy of 40 vintage and classic cars pulled onto the East Coast Road, their silhouettes cut through the early morning haze. This rally, organised by the Historical Cars Association of India (HCAI) was part of Heritage Rollers 2025, a vintage and classic car show held over two days with cars from different parts of the country.
Chrome glinted in the soft morning light, spoked wheels hummed over the tarmac, and the wind carried the scent of salt and petrol. This wasn’t just a drive. It was a rolling tribute to a different era — one where every gear shift had weight, every rattle had a story, and every mile demanded attention. Behind the wheel, the owners spoke of all the stubborn quirks of their machines with the affection reserved for old friends. And as the coastline unfolded beside us, it was impossible not to be swept up in the romance of it all.
The Austin 8 Tourer
| Photo Credit:
Sangita Rajan
My undone hair had to be tied up as the Austin 8, made in 1939, flew along the costal road. Its well polished dashboard and hood gave no indication of its age. “This car belonged to a family in Kolkata who knew my grandfather. They were looking for someone to sell this car to and I managed to bring this to Bengaluru with me. I’ve always wanted an old car and used to have a Fiat but gave it away when I got this,” said 63-year-old Shahed Musa Sait, as two motorbikes drove past waving, cheering and complimenting the car with thumbs up and wide grins. “You feel like a celebrity when you drive in this car, but the real celebrity is the car. You’re just the driver,” he said, waving back to the admirers.
The 138 km journey to Puducherry from Chennai began at 8am, but the real journey started weeks in advance. “We do test drives in the mornings on Sundays invariably. It is a part of our routine because that’s the only day our vehicles get to run. But for a ride like this, we prepare two or three weeks in advance —revving up the engines, checking oil, greasing the parts, and checking meters,” said Ramya Rajesh, a Palakkad-based vintage car restorer. Being a woman in the male dominated field of vintage cars, Ramya first fell in love with this world after she was married to Rajesh Ambal. “Two months after we got married, he said we will buy a new car, and I went with him. It was a scrap lying in a yard. He said we will restore it together, and that was our first child,” she added smiling. The couple currently own a vintage car restoration factory in Palakkad where they work on cars together.
Cars being flagged off for the rally
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
After journeying for 80-odd kilometres, the convoy stopped to give the cars a break, and I bid goodbye to the Austin 8 and hopped on a 50s MG YT from Gujarat, nicknamed Lal Pari. Daman Thakore, a second generation owner spoke of his family’s love for the car and how keeping it running felt like preserving a piece of family history. “One memory that everyone who has been in touch with this car has, is that they had to push it at some point when we had taken it out for a drive,” said Daman. The Lal Pari is a famous car known for the journey it made from Gujarat to England. “We had restored the car like how it was when it was first made, so we thought why not drive it to the factory. Once that seed was sown, it was difficult to get it out. We wanted it to mean a lot more than just a drive so we did this as a family.” Daman, his 75-year-old father, and 21-year-old daughter embarked on this journey. “This car breaks barriers. It allows you to connect with people even if it is just for one fleeting moment. In Iran, just in one hour, we counted more than 500 cars which honked and waved at us. People would stop us and offer food, and berries and help if we needed,” he added fondly waving to some hooting admirers.
To be able to pull off a long ride with cars much older than I am, HCAI founder-secretary VS Kylas Swaminathan had to meticulously plan and predict the unpredictable. “This is very taxing for us because we don’t know what to expect. We have two to four restorers who have come along the cars for backup support, and have to be prepared for breakdowns and issues,” he said.
The Lal Pari
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
As predicted, the ride went on smoothly apart from a few hiccups and ended on Promenade Beach in Puducherry, where all the cars were lined up right in front of the beach, ready for the last show of Heritage Rollers before they all went back home for a much deserved rest.
This was more than just a road trip; it was a passage through time, each car a carefully maintained artifact of automotive history. And for a few hours, I got to live in that past, where driving was an experience, not just a means to get somewhere.
Published – February 05, 2025 12:26 pm IST
