vintage car rally

Vintage car used in Gandhi film steals limelight

MRITYUNJAY BOSE

MUMBAI, Jan 20/2003:

A vintage car used by Sir Richard Attenborough for making his famous movie ‘Gandhi’ stole the limelight at a rally organised by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India and the Sahara Group here yesterday.

The car — a 1919 ‘Fiat’ was the oldest car to participate in the 125-km rally from the Flora Fountain to Amby Valley Sahara lake city near Lonavla — and it completed the entire distance. "She is my second wife," said Peter Cajetan Travasso, the proud owner of the vehicle.

Travasso said it was his father, who bought the car merely for Rs 300 some six decades ago and it was the same car which was used in the film ‘Gandhi’ to shoot period locations. "It was used to provide a backdrop of pre-independence era near the Bhayender Creek, where the ‘Salt Satyagraha’ was filmed," he told UNI.

"I love this car very much," said Travasso, now in his seventies. His car was the oldest car to traverse 125 kms via Mumbai-Pune expressway which included a ‘Ghat’ section.

The car has also participated in many other rallies in the past and has secured priority ranking. The second oldest car to participate in the rally was a ‘Steyr’ (1922) owned by Vivek M Pittie. The rally, flagged off by Bollywood’s latest sensation Vivek Oberoi and Miss India Neha Dupiya, had Jackie Shroff as one of its surprise visitors.

Seventy-six cars and jeeps participated in the event, which was divided into three sections — Vintage upto 1940, post-war classics 1941-1960 and recent classics after 1960.

Commenting on the occasion, Nitin G Dossa, secretary Vintage and Classic Car Club of India, (VCCCI) said "this was a wonderful opportunity for vintage and classic car lovers and the people from all walks of life, to get together and celebrate the timelessness of these rare beauties and at the same time enjoy the thrill of the race."

VCCCI the vice-president of the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) Deepak Kapadia said "it is a unique event," adding such rallies are unique opportunity to display vintage cars and the heritage attached to it.

Parvez Damania, a director in Sahara India Parivar said "we chose to start the rally from Flora Fountain in the fort area of South Mumbai as it was the perfect backdrop for a heritage site surrounded by old British time buildings."

His car - a ‘buick roadmaster’ also entered the race and successfully completed the distance. A 1929 ‘Rolls Royce’ owned by Fali E Dhondy also participated in the race. (UNI)

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