THIS COUPLE KEEPS VINTAGE BEAUTIES IN RUNNING CONDITION

Falah Faisal | NT

When I was asked to interview T.R. Raghunandan about vintage car restoration, having no knowledge about cars and not wanting to make a fool of myself, I invited along with a friend who is a car and bike enthusiast, Anand Vijaysimha along for the ride. After battling an hour of traffic to get to Whitefield, we are transported into another world when we turn in Raghunandan’s lane.

With quaint bungalows with workshops in every garage. It seems like everyone is working on some pet project here. When we finally reach his house, we are led to a sprawling backyard where a couple of chairs are laid out, and talk with the man himself.

What makes a car vintage?

Actually, that’s a grey area. If you look at UK standards, they have very strict definitions - they consider cars made before 1904 as a veteran, from 1904 to World War I as Edwardian, and anything made between then to 1930 is considered vintage, everything after that is a postvintage thoroughbred. But that classification no longer applies. In India, you have a legal definition. Any car that is 50 years or older. So any car made before 1972 and still in running condition is vintage.

How many cars do you own?

I have an Austin, a BMW from the 1930s, a 1940s MGT, a Morris Minor from the 1950s, my father’s Ambassador from the 1960s, and the Fiat Spider from the 1970s. So about six cars but for me owning a car isn’t a matter of personal possession. I’m just an aggregator. I’m just holding it in trust for the next generation.

What was the first car you restored?

It was a 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster, which used to belong to Svetoslav Roerich and Devika Rani, for the government of Karnataka back in 2003. That car, my wife and I restored in record time - in three months.

If someone wanted to get a vintage car now, what should they start with?

If someone wants to start now I think they should buy an Indian Classic, a Fiat or an Ambassador or Early Maruti’s from the 80s. The parts are still available and easy to maintain.

Things you need to take care of to keep a vintage car in shape?

I might be among the top 25-50 people who drive vintage cars and document them. It’s like a horse, it needs to be exercised. Some people start it every day and just switch it off. That’s the worst thing you can do for a car. You must drive it for at least 20 km to keep it in good shape. I live for the romance of the road. All the ghosts of all the people who owned it previously, who have memories in it, are watching over me like guardian angels.

What was the hardest car to restore?

It is still unfinished work that I’ve been working on for 20 years. But in the process of restoring that car, I’ve met so many people and have so many fascinating stories. Had Covid not intervened I’d have finished it. It’s an important car in Indian history but I wouldn’t like to reveal what it is until it’s completed. People from all over the world are helping me restore it.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently restoring a Fiat Spider. It’s a very underrated sports car of which there are only 11 in India and 3 of them are in Whitefield. Most of my car restoration has been cosmetic jobs. But this is the first time I am also restoring the engine and a friend is guiding me through the process.

Any modern cars you admire?

That would have to be Skoda Yeti. I bought it about 10 years ago on the insistence of my son and it is the only car I’ve driven out of the showroom. I’ve done almost 140,000 km in it. Otherwise, most modern cars look like grey porridge to me.

What are Dream cars you’d like to own given infinite resources?

I have a love for two-seater