The house of cars

He was just a boy when his family went on a picnic to Tirupati in their Morris E series aka ‘Morris Bulldog’. It took an entire day to reach the place and they experienced a flat tyre every one hour!

Now the proprietor of Anugraha Engineering Works, PA Suresh’s passion for vintage cars goes back in time when they all lived in a joint family. A huge family, they had just one car, which was the light of everyone’s life. Suresh’s father, the head of the family then, always bought a second-hand car and restored it with the help of his brothers. Still a young boy, Suresh grew up with these family mechanics and was amazed by their talent and the cars. At first, his love for these cars was just platonic as he was never let to drive them. “I was not allowed to touch the car until I was 18. Before that, I was encouraged to only wash the car and polish it. After getting my licence, I was taught by my father for almost two years and only then, was I allowed to drive them by myself,” says Suresh.

After his father’s demise, the Ambassador his father owned was lying untouched and one day he got rid of it. But childhood memories die hard and he regretted his decision. He went on looking for the same model of the Ambassador and his search brought him to the ‘bulldog’ — the 1942 Morris E Series. The adventurous trip to Tirupati in this car with his father came rushing back to his mind and he bought it that very instant. This car  created in him a passion for age-old cars. He now owns a fleet of 34 vintage and classic cars along with some sturdy classic bikes!

The 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster, 1946 Desoto, 1984 Volkswagen Van, 1956 Millecento Fiat, 1932 Austin 6, 1982 Beetle, 1962 Morris Woody, 1952 Mercedes Benz 220, 1982 Land Rover, 1952 Landmaster, 1964 Ambassador, 1962 Volkswagen Bug...his garage is a home for timeless beauties. Parked along these beastly and chic beauties are also the age-old bikes including the 1984 Chetak, 1984 Yezdi Roadking, 1956 Java and the list goes on! All maintained in top-notch condition, it is the vintage bug that is passed on over generations, which is alive even in his son Arjun. Says Arjun, “I do share his passion and it is a love for cars. I have also spent my childhood, like my father, with these cars and childhood interests grow. They are all part of our family now.”

Suresh, an expert with vintage cars, has been following his passion religiously and has made sure to use all original parts in all these cars. He says, “Investing in antique cars is better than investing on gold. I will never let go off any cars as they are all assets to me.” While he says he wants to ‘put a full stop’ to his collection, he also goes on, “This passion is like entering a tube. There is no end to it. I look forward to owning a Dodge Kingsway next!”

He has a collection of unmatched cars that have special features in each of them including the ‘trafficators’ (indicators that pop out of the car) in the Austin and Morris E Series, the caravan feel in his Volkswagen Van, the Merc that has the unconventional, beastly shape that is different from today’s classic Mercs, the Morris with wooden body style and the Desoto with pop-up headlights. He comments on the luxury and technology of these cars saying, “They were designed meticulously and manufactured to have a longer life. Drive an old car and you will fall in love with it.” He terms this as an expensive affair and jokes, “Never ask the price of a vintage car, the age of a woman and the income of a man.” With a notion that all old cars have to be brought back to life, he says, “Buy an old car and give them life. If anyone has an old car and are unable to find a right mechanic, please contact me and I shall help you.” A fan of the Ambassadors, he ends, “I want to soon start a club called ‘The King of Indian Roads’ to preserve all the Ambassadors in the country.”

(Suresh can be contacted on 9845107777)