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joseph's avatar
07:21 AM
10 August 2009
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Day 4 - on to jodhpur

Posted By joseph
joseph's avatar
04:06 AM
10 August 2009
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Metallic memories - the Vintage Car Collection of Mr. Pranlal Bhogilal

Posted By joseph

Speed. It is addictive, exhilirating, can be fatal and utterly intoxicating. The Baroda-Ahmedabad Expressway lets you experience all that in its short 80kms stretch. But speed does necessarily need to be experienced in a moving car, a parked one can tell you many a tale about the places it has been, the sights it has seen and the scenery it has blurred past. Of course, as with everything else in life, time adds perspective to these stories…and the oldest cars make for some of the richest stories.


Entering the musuem, that’s Madan and Shanker on the bottm-right - helpful chaps. smile


Ajmat over on the Team-BHP forums has done a wonderful review of the place with tons of detail on each car - you can find it here. The Vintage Village Autoworld houses the prolific collection of vintage beauties owned by Mr Pranlal Bhogilal. These are rare gems, including India’s first Maybach (1937 from Kota)! These are parked in Mumbai where he resides and in Ahmedabad at the Vintage Village. The cars are all complete and decent to look at, but not really in the best of condition. The vintage musuem in Udaipur has better maintained cars, especially in terms of the paintjob; but to even compare this with any other musuem would be ridiculous, this place houses a huuuge fleet of cars. The open air setting could be another reason for the dull look of many of them.


The palatial home!


The other issue with the place is the lack of a guide or proper information about each of these cars. All we got was a board with 4 lines mentioning the year, the name (mostly correct), bodystyle and the country where it originated from. A lot of these cars were donated by their owners to Mr. Bhogilal, and in totality they present a magnificient look into an era gone by. The museum is situated on his 1000+ acre farm outside Naroda in Kathwada about 45 min from the airport.


Since there was no guide or even info, and since we do not even have enough time to post all the details of the cars, let me start off with a detailed snippet of the MG Magna F-type. For more details like this, please use the internet. smile The 1931 MG F-Type Magna Sports. Based on a Wolseley Hornet, this fiery red roadster is a super lightweight built-for-speed machine. Believe it or not, the 1930s Wolsely Hornet is the predecessor of the Mini! The two-door beauty produces 47bhp (10bhp more than the the 1929 version)! The car is a rear-wheel drive and can actually propel you to speeds of more than 100kmph - for those times, it’s a lot!


Now, let us begin the photo-tour! The tour starts off with some classic American machines.


1931 Ford A-roadster


1947 Buick Super-Eight


A blue 1954 Plymouth, green 1929 Chevy, a grey 1926 Ford A, and a propah red 1927 Ford A are next in line.


Black-n-white movies from the 1940s did no justice to dazzling beauties like this 1948 pink Chrysler Convertible!


1938 Packard Limousine was an opulent and hyper-expensive car in the times of the Great Depression.


Of course, there were some Bentleys. The blue one is from Jamnagar


And now we pause for a quick image of our journalists on the spot!


There is a whole line of Rolls Royce Phantoms here. Including the Indian tri-colored “Azad” Phantom!


The end of the line of the RRs takes us to this piece written by Mr. Pranlal Bhogilal when he was all of 10 years old, on the day of the Indian Independence!


Next stop is at the European car section; they even had a Lancia Dilambda! Apart from the usual Citroen and Mercedes (to the right)


A 1964 Wolseley 6/110 MkII; reminds me of the Aussie Yellow in the Cedia Sports! :D


A 1935 Austin Ruby (Tourer), England and a Sunbeam Talbot. I still can’t imagine the kind of photographs the bright Ruby would have made for on a road-trip!


In the Grand Classics section, a 1927 Hispand Suiza limousine from France took centrestage with another Lancia


Tourers (open body style to feel the wind on your face!) from the early 1900s just hung out looking all stylish. A 1906 Mors Tourer from France, a 1906 Minerva Tourer from Belgium, and a 1910 Ford T Tourer from the US.


There were some different kinds of transport too - a 1941 Indian and a 1928 AJS!


So that’s the finish line then. In the end, I wish I could collate all the info about these beauties and tell you all about ‘em. Each of these beauties has a story behind it - tales that transport you in time across different roads, driving lifestyles, the little incidents, and personal memories. Spending only 1 hour in such a place and trying to show every photo does not do justice to anyone of them. Our suggestion? Go to Ahmedabad early, and spend a whole day there. The only thing this post can help you with (apart from drooling at these beauties), is to find info about every single beauty parked in this musuem. smile


Next stop - the Rann of Kutch!
Joe


PS: High-resolution photos available at this link.

joseph's avatar
06:15 PM
09 August 2009
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How was your Sunday?

Posted By joseph

Wake up folks, its Monday! As we head off to Rajasthan, here are some shots of where we were yesterday!


The Rann near the village of Junjuwada


Lots more to follow folks! Just wanted to get you guys upto speed with us. smile

Cheers!
Joe & Namrata

joseph's avatar
05:08 PM
09 August 2009
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Hello Ahmedabad, goodbye Ahmedabad

Posted By joseph

Our drive yesterday was planned from Surat to Vadodara to Ahmedabad, hoping to catch lunch at Baroda and moving on to A’bad via the Expressway. Well, none of that really materialized but most of it did. Or something like that. We got stuck in a 3-hour long traffic jam on Makarpura Road, 69kms from Vadodara. Yep, 3 hours! A short story about that will follow from Namrata - we got to do a lot of idiotic things sitting around!


Thankfully, the expressway (NE-1) made us forget all that. From 9kms in 3hrs to 88kms in 37 minutes! Of course, a special about the Cedia on the NE-1 with a video n other goodies will follow shortly!


Exiting the NE-1, we got on the road to Vintage Village. A true collector’s paradise. A lot to narrate to y’all on this place, for now all we have is teaser photo of the 1931 MG Magna - a true sports tourer!


The true SURPRISE for Ahmedabad came when Mr. Roopak - the regional manager for Mitsubishi for Gujarat and MP - called us asking us to meet him at the Mitsu dealership. We found the showroom after a lot of hunting around, but boy was it worth it! We were welcomed in a manner fit for celebrities! 5 videographers, 2 photographers, media people, the entire service team standing lined up! Wow! Blackhawk was given a thorough check and cleanup while we had some snacks with the Mitsu team. Thanks guys!

Dinner was at Little Italy with a friend, batchmate and follower!

And of course, being in Ahmedabad gave us the chance to catch some truly quirky sights. And some great gujju dressing. All that is a story for later. smile

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Beautiful drive from Nashik to Bombay, one of THE best roads we have driven on!

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Bright, blue sky.. Cotton candy clouds.. We head to Nasik

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In pot-hole territory. Thank god we are on empty stomachs!

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10km from Gwalior, pulled over by the police to be asked Kya yeh sports gaadi hai? ;D

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Had breakfast AND lunch today! Niiiice! :D

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Tan! Tandan!! .. Aaja aaja dilli chhodein! .. Delhi dropped from plans. We head straight to Agra!

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At Akad Cars, the Mitsu showroom. Mr. Abhinav, the MD, is tellim us the best way around Jaipur.

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Good morning world! We are in Jaipur! Today s objective: getting Joe a pink shirt/kurta ;)

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On NH8, long day comin to an end.

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Dust storm outside, but IIM Outdoors is snugly cocooned in the Blackhawk :)

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Leaving Jodhpur ... On our way to Ajmer.. Hoping to visit the dargah today .. Jodhpur was beautiful! *sigh*

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Just had a long conversation with Mr.Brijraj Singh - great-grandson of HRH Ratan Singh .. Visit to Mehrangarh Fort delayed

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In Jodhpur old markets - SHOPPING!

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At the Vintage Villa of classic cars, droolin over the sports tourers. Got here after blastin the 88km NE1 Expressway in 42mins! Cedia, take a bow!

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Reached our first destination Daman, it even has its own airport! :)

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Just drove 21 km in our cedia, for the very first time! This vehicle is just so smooth!! :) 50 km from Daman. Joe s taken over coz we have to reach by 12

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Good morning! :) on our way frm thane to vapi. Jus done upma n rawa dosa at Kamat Vithals. Catch the pic on our flickr n twitter!



About us

Namrata and Joseph, Bombay-ite and Hyderabadi, implore all you interesting, smart, cute and sexy people reading this to please, pleeez follow us !

Fresh out of college, we were thrown into the dust bowls of U.P and the jungles of M.P. Sneaky trainees that we were, we took full advantage of the available resources to explore. Whether the pine trees of Almora or the ruins of Khajuraho, a Bhojpuri film shoot or some gun-laden, mustachioed dudes in the Chambal areas of Bhind - our travels always had added flavor!

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The journey begins!

Monday, August 17, 2009


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Monday, August 17, 2009


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Monday, August 17, 2009


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Monday, August 17, 2009


Bumper stickers - the Indian way!

Sunday, August 16, 2009


Joe broke the car!

Sunday, August 16, 2009


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Sunday, August 16, 2009


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Sunday, August 16, 2009


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Saturday, August 15, 2009


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Saturday, August 15, 2009


Jai Hind!

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Friday, August 14, 2009


1136PM aloo onion parathas!

Friday, August 14, 2009


We’re here! Where we belong!

Friday, August 14, 2009


Rain, rain go away!

Friday, August 14, 2009


Roasting in the sun at the Sun-fort!

Friday, August 14, 2009


Royal Rajputana Rajasthani at Ratanada

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Gwalior!

Thursday, August 13, 2009


Drinks are served!

Thursday, August 13, 2009


Lunch in d Cedia, I’m lovin it

Thursday, August 13, 2009


Mugal Sheraton

Thursday, August 13, 2009


We’re famous!

Thursday, August 13, 2009


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Thursday, August 13, 2009


I love you

Thursday, August 13, 2009


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Wednesday, August 12, 2009


Enroute to Agra

Wednesday, August 12, 2009


Driving past the Jal Mahal

Wednesday, August 12, 2009


Hawa Mahal

Wednesday, August 12, 2009


At the Mitsu showroom, Jaipur!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009


Parking Spots

Wednesday, August 12, 2009


I am the Rann

Wednesday, August 12, 2009


Ajmer in a tonga!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009


Rajasthan rocks

Tuesday, August 11, 2009


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Tuesday, August 11, 2009


Thodi si toh Lift kara de!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009


Meherangarh Fort, Jodhpur!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009


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Monday, August 10, 2009


Day 4 - on to jodhpur

Monday, August 10, 2009


How was your Sunday?

Sunday, August 09, 2009


Hello Ahmedabad, goodbye Ahmedabad

Sunday, August 09, 2009


On Sanand highway

Sunday, August 09, 2009


We are back in operation

Sunday, August 09, 2009


Who da’man!

Sunday, August 09, 2009


Day 2 begins

Saturday, August 08, 2009


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Friday, August 07, 2009


The journey begins…

Friday, August 07, 2009


Breakfast at Kamat Vithals!

Friday, August 07, 2009


Kabhi alvida…

Thursday, August 06, 2009


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Tuesday, August 04, 2009


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Tuesday, August 04, 2009


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Monday, August 03, 2009


We’re here!

Sunday, August 02, 2009


Before I run away - Part II!

Sunday, August 02, 2009


No expectations…

Sunday, August 02, 2009


How you bin’sar?

Saturday, August 01, 2009


Ho ye rickshaw!

Friday, July 31, 2009


Watch it!

Friday, July 31, 2009


Before I run away…

Friday, July 31, 2009


‘Cuz we all need a purpose in life!

Thursday, July 30, 2009


Paradise lost

Wednesday, July 29, 2009


Lunchtime! At the end of the universe.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009


Pirates of the Indian Ocean!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009


Varanasi - a city of two tales

Tuesday, July 28, 2009


Traffic - the great equalizer

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Monday, July 27, 2009


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Thursday, July 23, 2009