On a recent trip to India, Citroënvie member Prakash Raja noticed an article in the Hindustian Times about classic and vintage car collectors. It mentioned B.S. Manco, Founder and Secretary General of the Vintage and Classic Car Club, Chandigarh. The 75 year old gentleman owns a 1938 Traction Avant. It was once owned by the Maharaja of Indore. Manco, the fourth owner, got it from Solan in 1984. Manco says; “It’s a one of its kind car in entire North India.”
Manco also owns a mini fleet of classic cars, which include a Chevrolet Biscyane (1960 model), a Chevrolet Fleetmaster (1948 model), Aston A 140 (a two-door saloon of 1948 make), a Volkswagen Beetle (1971 model) and a Mercedes Benz, 190 C (1962 make). The Benz has been regularly winning laurels at the Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally for the past four years.
Manco says the biggest hurdle in maintaining these cars is finding trained and learned manpower. “Most of the mechanics who know how to handle and repair such cars aren’t alive anymore.”