Cool Classics
The how, what and when of collecting vintage cars
As every wheel fanatic will attest that vintage and classic cars are as much a piece of art as classic and vintage art is. At a time when aerodynamics and other technological nuances in automobiles was still at a formative stage, car designers showcased their creative freedom by creating what they imagined a vehicle could be. So there were specific vehicles made for the Maharajas for ceremonial use known as coronation cars, then there were sperate cars made for shikars and outdoor use. The most imaginative one was the swan-shaped Rolls Royce ordered by the Maharaja of Nabha that was finally smuggled out of India in the mid eighties and sold at one of the auctions in the UK for a couple of million pounds sterling.
Hoary tales
Like collecting artwork and vintage jewellery, some vintage and classic automobile have also become collectors’ items and command a hefty price tag, but these were rare cars and the numbers manufactured were are limited. These are actually the true-blue-work of art—1939 and the post war days there were a number of car manufacturing companies like the Cord, Deusenberg, Pierce Arrow, Auburn, Lagonda, Packard and many more car manufacturers who designed and developed some very exotic vehicles, all customized to personal requirements. By the 1930s onwards there were cars manufactures by the millions like the Ford, Austins, Chevrolets and the like, these are cars that were in abundance during the general vintage and classic car rallies. Most of these cars have tremendously increased in value over time. In the last two decades, a lot of people have actually started investing in them, as their value appreciation had been more that the of gold in some cases, for instance, cars valued at just three to four thousand rupees in the thirties could fetch anything from `3050 lakh depending on their condition; rare models could even sell for multiple crore.
On Offer
The modern millionaires club has some of the world’s most exquisite machines, with fine detailing and intricate workmanship, where each component was hand crafted and manually installed unlike in modern cars that are virtually put together by robots. There are some collectors, I know, who have actually made multiple picture frame-like garages and installed a vintage master piece in each of the frames to keep admiring all day. Another, takes his classic Bentley vintage roadster at least once a week out for dinner to one of the city’s luxury hotels and enjoys the drive back via a much longer way home.
Collectors’ rulebook
Owning a vintage car is as simple as going to a second hand car dealer and picking one. Firstly, one should have an idea of what one is looking for, secondly have a budget for the same; if personal knowledge is limited, get help from an expert who has experience and knowledge of the subject and then start exploring by going to vintage and classic car rallies to source information about what’s up for grabs. After a thorough investigation of ownership—some could carry the stigma of family inheritance and legal issues—start negotiations. sometimes, there could be a lag between wanting a particular model and finding one in mint. But there could be other cases where one may have to invest both, time and money to spruce it up to mint condition. For that you will need three things, a substantial disposable income to support its build up, a lot of time—that could run into years sometimes—to restore and a dedicated skilled worker or shop that could restore your pride and joy to pristine condition, without which the entire exercise would be futile.