JOIN USA vintage stuff for car lovers
A dedicated staff of 20 people take care of the regular maintenance of
105 vehicles.
Call it a passion or love for the wheels. The passion has resulted in one of the biggest collections of vintage cars in the world. Auto World, conceived by Pranlal Bhogilal Patel, has a collection of at least 105 cars and they are a visual treat for visitors, especially for car lovers. It is said that seeing is believing.
For those fond of old Hollywood flicks, his collection at the Auto World is a god-sent opportunity to see the four-wheelers they had seen several times on the screen. It is not that Pranlal Bhogilal Patel, who passed away some two years ago at the age of 73, started acquiring the cars for a passion.
It seemed to be running in the family as the vintage beauty collection was started by his grandfather, some four generations ago.
Auto World, which is now being managed by Pranlal’s daughter, is set up on the 2,200-acre Dastaan farm in Kathwada Estate and it is about half- an-hour drive from Ahmedabad city.
The car collection includes various brands from Britain and America. It also includes a variety of sports cars and bikes and for those loving machines, it is a must-visit place. “The collection has been maintained by the family since the last four generations, but the late Pranlal would take keen interest and was always on the lookout for those disposing of their vintage cars,” said 72-year-old Bhailal Patel, who has been managing the farm and keeping the vehicles in good condition for the last four decades.
Patel claimed that Auto World gets visitors from different parts of the world. Those who are crazy about vintage vehicles make it a point to visit the place whenever they get an opportunity. “All cars are regularly maintained and they are in a perfect condition. Many families approach us to take vintage cars for marriage processions,” Patel added.
He reasoned out that for many it is indeed a dream to drive in a vintage car and for some it is a status symbol. Enquiries for hiring the vehicles are more during marriage seasons. “We do give three or four of these cars from our collection on hire,” Patel added.
The car collection ranges from Minerva of 1906 to a Ford model of 1954. “The last model purchased was of 1954 car and thereafter we have not been able to add any new vehicles,” Patel said.
Initially, it started off as a display. “Pranlal's grandfather and his father were very fond of old cars. Probably, it runs in our genes. Whenever they heard that old cars with vintage value were for sale, Pranlal Patel would ensure that he bought and kept them at his Auto World.”
Recalling a few such incidents, Patel said: “The royal family of Chotaudepur in Central Gujarat wanted to dispose of their royal car and the late Pranlal heard about it. He went there, paid the price quoted by the family and brought it here. It stands as one of the royal possessions in the collection.’’
He emphasised that none of the 105 cars was a junk and all of them rev up when the key is turned on. Pranlal was very particular that all cars are in running condition and he would take personal interest to ensure that they were properly groomed. He said once in a while Pranlal would drive the vehicles to ensure that they were in a running condition.
Pranlal’s another advantage was he was technically qualified to deal with problems in the cars. If he noticed any problem, he would brief mechanics on how to deal with it.
Patel admits that it is not an easy task to maintain the vintage collection.
“There is a dedicated staff of 20 people who take care of the regular maintenance of these cars.’’ These cars have to be cleaned on a regular basis and there has to be a technical checkup frequently on whether their wheels, machines and steering are functioning properly or not. His collection has also found a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records for his prized personal collection. Though Pranlalbhai was known as a vintage car collector, his contribution to industry was also significant.
He served as the President of ASSOCHAM (the Apex Organisation of Trade & Industry), Indian Merchant’s Chamber, All India Starch Manufacturers’ Association, All India Laminate Manufacturers’ Association, Indian Textiles Association & Machinery Manufacturers’ Association, Western India Automobile Association.
Pranlal’s fleet of 105 vehicles includes motorcycles and horse carriages. In 2006, Ulrich Schmid-Maybach of the illustrious Maybach family flew down to Ahmedabad from Germany to convince Pranlal to part with a 1937 six-cylinder Maybach SW38. It had been designed by his grandfather.
Patel recollects in 2006, he loaned two cars close to his heart to the city museum to showcase a piece of history to the new generation. “It was difficult for him to donate the cars but for a greater cause he did it and ensured that for visitors it was indeed of some help,’’ Patel said.
It is said vintage cars are great assets. Many people around the world invest in vintage cars in the hope that prices would appreciate. They may not be disappointed as it is believed that the prices move upwards as high as 20 to 50 per cent, if compounded annually.
A vintage car is a vehicle built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930 known as the “Vintage era”. Classic car is a term used to describe an older car. The Classic Car Club of America, maintains that a car must be between 20 and 45 years old to be a classic, while cars over 45 years fall in the vintage class. Some consider the classic period as overlapping the vintage period, especially since the vintage designation covers all vehicles produced in the period while the official classic definition does not.