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Originally Posted by sgchaudhuri This is a collection that is very well know to the people of Calcutta! I chanced uponit when I went with my father to his friends garage, 'Mukherjee Udyog' to get my car serviced! Uncle was as usual very generous and allowed me to sit in the 1912 standard coventry in one of it's test runs! That was exciting! Here are the pictures of some of the other cars that were there! Have a look and comment!
Souvik! |
A relative had given his Maruti for servicing at Mukherjee Udyog. Went along with him to take delivery and had a chance to ogle at the beauties. Mukherjee "Uncle" certainly wasn't so generous with me. Didnt allow me to take any photos. I guess some comments I made about the restorations also pissed him off!
Anyway, here's a short account of what I saw:
1.
The Alvis stood out as the most interesting exhibit for me. A few months back C&SC magazine had carried a test on the famous Type 4.3 tourer, praising its roadholding and smooth transmission, and called it the best open top British tourer of 1930s.
I initially thought I was looking at the famed 4.3 in flesh, but the body looked different in many places. A good look at the internals, followed by subsequent R&D on Alvis confirms its a
1937 type 12/70. The 1937 Type 12/70 was made in 2 distinct avatars. The first was a Drop Head coupe, characterized by a higher doorline and single carb.
The other type was the tourer, with a SS100 like doorline and dual carb. The car at Mukherjee Udyog is this car.
(Pics courtesy Alvis Owners Club of UK)
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Originally Posted by karlosdeville UPL 418 must be a Dodge/DeSoto/Plymouth Tourer - what say? |
2.
The Nash - UPL 418 is in fact, a 1928-30 Nash tourer, something like the car shown in the pic below.
While the general quality of restoration was very good, I was shocked to find the car wearing Ceat 7.50X16 LT (Light Truck) tyres. I asked Mr. Mukherjee why he couldn't go the full hog and fit proper period tyres. He gave a gruff reply as to why tyres are impossible to find etc etc. Certainly didnt increase my popularity rating!
3.
The SS100 - There was a white SS100 standing, belonging to the same owner. It was fully done up and going for testing. Unlike the other SS100 n Kolkata, which wears a full on windscreen, this one had the split racing screens (like the car below). The instrumentation and trim was fully correct. Truly a quality restoration.
While I was there, Mukherjee and his people took out the car for testing. The sheer visual drama that an automobile like this generates reminded me why I loved classics once again!
4.
The Crossley - See the big black car, which is the last pic in Souvik's post? Its a 1918 Crossley. I knew little about this marque till I saw the car in flesh, and heard it start up. The car's interiors have been done up since Souvik's pic. Now its fully covered. That day the mechanics were working on the engine.
I must admit that antique cars like this scare me. Was scared when I saw PS Bose's Model T, was scared when I saw the Coventry, and was scared now. Unlike post 30's cars, they have little in common with modern automobiles, and trying to learn their mechanical secrets is like having to unlearn whatever one knows about cars.
This Crossley had an engine like a locomotive engine, heeeeuge and covered with brass. The radiator was made of copper. The flywheel was atleast 15" in diameter! When they started it up, the engine note was mechanical. No growl, no purr, no roar. Just very loud whirs and clicks, like a loco engine.
5.
The Standard Coventry - Much has been said about this car, so I'll just briefly cover it. The body is not original, although the restoration has been extremely well done up. If there was one car in the whole lot which seemed like a labour of love, this was it.
6. Other cars - Other cars I saw included a 46 Rover Saloon and a 1961 Austin Cambridge (A60). The former was still being done up. The latter was fully restored, having white-green dual tone exterior paint and beautiful white interiors. But again wrong choice of tyres! It belongs to a local Doctor who uses the car as a weekly driver.
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Originally Posted by karlosdeville We would love to know more about the Standard, since you know the owner could you get some history on the car for us? Also ideally the chassis number, the Standard Motor Club UK has been curious about this car. |
Ownership of the Standard (as well as all other cars except the A60) seems to be a hush hush affair. Perhaps the Kanoria connection will give you a clue.
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Originally Posted by karlosdeville BRT 792 appears to be a Wolseley |
Though BRT 792 had left the day I went, I did verify. It is indeed a Wolseley.