India’s Automotive Heritage, Told Through Stories of Love, Memory & Machines

Once upon a time, I wrote extensively about classic and vintage cars. Most of the features I wrote made the car the hero, as I exclusively focused on it rather than its provenance or its ownership, which was inevitably a passing mention. The idea was to celebrate the automobile and place it in its historic context, and importantly, drive it to understand what made it different and special. Some of the cars I featured include the Beetle, Mini, Citroen 2CV, Fiat 500 and 600, Jaguar SS100 and E-Type, a host of incredible Mercedes-Benz automobiles including the Type K, Nurburg, the 300 SL Gullwing and Roadster, the Pontoon, the Pagoda SL, W123, W124, W140, Porsche 356, ultra-rare ones like the Bristol 400, Invicta Black Prince and an S-Type Low-Chassis, and Detroit Iron like the Corvette, Mustang, Cadillacs… And of course, numerous, mind-numbing Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars.

Phew. Should have written a little encyclopedia when I had the energy. Anyway, a major chunk of the cars I featured were part of large collections of big-shot owners, which was good, because I could focus only on the car and didn’t have the owner hovering around nervously with me in the driver’s seat. Many cars, many articles – memorable ones too… But you know what, not many stories!

While I dwelt on design, drivetrain, historical importance and how it felt to drive, etc, I left out some crucial bits – the bundle of emotions each of these cars came with. And each of those emotions was the outcome of a thread of stories. And there were so many of them, especially when I met the individual owners, who spoke vividly about their experiences with their precious automobiles. But how to put them all down on paper? So they never made it to the reader. What else didn’t make it were the stories behind the effort owners took to ensure their cars were treated like loving family members in their households.

India is unique that way. Across the world, classic and vintage cars change hands regularly, but in India, they are treasured across generations. Each story is layered over the paintwork, each thread of emotion is woven into the upholstery, each memorable journey is clocked on the meter (whether it is working or not), each sound of joy expresses itself with every honk, and each curse you utter in frustration is recorded in some kind of cloud. Every crank of the ignition, every little dent, every dry piece of rubber beading, every crack on the bakelite, every scratch on the windscreen, the cocktail of smells, every refusal to start or every refusal to brake… Each classic or vintage is unlike any other, just like human beings. And sometimes the ghosts of previous owners, too, hop along for the drive.

Also, these old-timers have an army of talented people to keep them going. There are, of course, body specialists and mechanics. Still, even among them, there are super-specialists – for battery and ignition systems, for engines and gearboxes, for electrical and wiring, for upholstery, all sorts of drivetrain components and even for those three-dimensional digits that go on to period-looking number plates. They are part of the extended vintage and classic car community: the grease-covered, calloused-hand, patient and gifted heroes who have no concept of hunger. Who’s going to tell their stories?

Well, I didn’t, but someone has to, right? Else, all these stories, the machines and the people will all fade away like all good things in this world. Karl Bhote and Kaizad Engineer of the newly set up Studio Joyride are doing just that. Karl is an automotive historian with a spellbinding mental archive of all things vintage and classic, while Kaizad runs a restoration garage in an old, characterful part of Mumbai. Together, they have decided to make short videos to bring alive the stories and the emotions that many simply don’t know about, but they should – ordinary people, extraordinary stories. These are tales about owners and their cars, and their unique relationship with one another. Sensitively made, these short films capture the unique bond between humans and machines. Check out https://www.youtube.com/@StudioJoyride and keep some tissues within easy reach. There are six episodes, of which two are already out. Watch them NOW!

To me, what Karl and Kaizad are doing is essential because they are highlighting India’s phenomenal automotive heritage in a way that everyone can relate to. There are unbelievable stories coming up, and you will relate to the passion. It’s about old cars, yes, but it’s not only about old cars; it is what makes us human. But I won’t say more. Subscribe to Studio Joyride on YouTube, and watch the videos… with your loved ones. Your encouragement will keep them going.