NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 13: The AIIMS Crossing: Here Bluelines, cars and bikes make their presence felt with black smoke and blaring horns. The large electronic sign atop AIIMS reminds passersby about the growing population. The race is on, as each motorist tries to beat the other as the lights change. In this backdrop, Vir Srivastava's white 1919 Citroen A Type car with brass fittings is the subject of the multitude's collective stare. One of its kind in India, it was the first model to be launched by Citroen that was fully equipped with electrical lighting, hood, spare wheel and tyres.Jack Daniel's Vintage and Classic Car Rally had all this and more for an average Delhiite used to seeing a sea of Maruti every day on the roads. Flagged off by Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Omar Abdullah, the rally boasted of a 1926 Austin, 1930 Studebaker Commander, 1932 Chevrolet and even a 1938 Mercedes Benz 170V. Seventy-one vintage and classic cars made their way through the crammed, sooty roads of Delhi onSunday. Destination: DLF Golf and Country Club.The cars gleamed in the sunlight with fresh paint and a smooth engine. Behind this glossy exterior is a story of hard work and dedication. For the competitors, these aren't relics of the past but their passion and love. Not that each of the cars were in a smooth condition. While 53 made it, the others, plagued with problems, gave up. But nothing could stop those whose cars were in a perfect condition; be it diversions, traffic jams or merely curious looks from motorists.It has, however, been a long journey for the owners. Says Vir Srivastava, owner of the 1919 Citroen: ``I have been involved in its restoration for many years. And it has been difficult. Especially when it came to obtaining some of its parts. We often had to fabricate them as there is no point in putting in new spares. But money is definitely not the criterion. It's the time and devotion that goes into that makes all the difference.'' Onlookers were given a detailed history of the carincluding the fact that it was one of the three cars which had crossed the Suez Canal.The gleaming black 1932 3180cc Chevrolet was actually a gift from Pramod Bhasin for his father. Says Pramod: ``This car was lying under a tree in Jhansi. It was just another piece of junk. But then, someone saw it and asked me if I was interested in buying it. I paid only Rs 20,000 and now its worth nearly Rs 5 lakh. Interestingly, in 1932, this model was sold for Rs 18,000.'' But again, for Bhasin, it's not the money that goes into restoring a car that matters. ``You need to have a deep interest in cars like these. You treat it like your wife or family. And it's also the thrill that goes into restoring a car like this.''
