[KPS]

I had the pleasure of going to the 50th edition of the Kolkata Statesman Rally. Bhpian Prithvi Tagore aka mbz180 was kind enough allow me to attend this rally in his 1963 Fiat Super Select named Bella. I was given the privilege to be his navigator!

The car was restored by the well known Kolkata based restorer, Bimpu Sircar. Prithvi used all this connections in friends, acquaintances, references, parts shops abroad, as he displayed his obsessive enthusiasm to restore this car to complete originality. The outcome has been fantastic.

When acquired, this was one family owned car, very original, though required significant work to bring back to its prime. Prithvi wanted exhibit this car in the 50th Statesman and so the restoration was done over 8-9 months and the car was just in time for the rally.

This being my first Statesman Rally, I enjoyed observing the commitment of the car owners to get a favourable judges score. The judges scrutiny was quite detailed and chief judge is very knowledgeable. In Bangalore, we do not do any form of judging the cars and this was a new experience for me.

Prithvi had prepared a detailed booklet on the cars restoration. He had to document his commitment to the restoration and make them appreciate the effort taken to bring back to spec. Additionally, fine details were highlighted.









On the Judging day, we reached by 3 pm for the car to be scrutinized.


Lined up as per the instruction of the Judges


The engine bay looked great


Weber carbs!


The seats in the original pattern


Folding seats was demonstrated at the time of judging


Prithvi demonstrating to the judges that all the switches are functional


Demonstrating a working jack and also enables to Judges to ensure that the body lines are good even in a jacked position


We wrap up late evening after discussing how the judging went and Prithvi was very confident that things were going as per plan


We sign off for the evening


On Sunday, Prithvi rightly stands very proud in front of his car. Great feedback from the fellow participants made his smile wider and wider as the day went by!


Prithvi, picks up the ITC Sonar Trophy for the Best Maintained Vintage and Classic Car between 1955 & 1975. As we waited in the sun to receive the trophy, the car refused to start!. So Prithvi walked up to receive the prize and in the mean time, we got her started and I drove the car to pick up Prithvi with his prizes!


With the restorer Bimpu Sircar


With the navigator, KPS!


We end the day with the customary snap at Townhall, the starting point for the CDG drives


It was wonderful experience and thanks to mbz180 for being such a wonderful host and allowing me to be part of his journey

Cheers

KPS

[anjan_c2007]

Some more of the pictures from the judgement day 02/02/2019:-

[doublebubble]

Originally Posted by KPS

The famous Satyanarayan Temple Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, Chassis 6UE made a surprised entry at the Statesman. First owner was Rudyard Kipling who part exchanged it for a P1.

Originally a 1920 Hooper limousine, royal green and black. Brought to India ca. 1929 as per the experts on TBHP.

More details here

The originally body, before it was re-furbished/re-bodied and shipped to India
Attachment 1847775


The car is now used for religiously ceremonies. The body is chopped and a platform has been installed so that the idol can be placed during the processions.

The Spirit of Ecstacy stands tall among the ruins!
Attachment 1847771


Attachment 1847769

The rear shows how massive the platform is!
Attachment 1847770


Reversing requires a helper to guide
Attachment 1847772

Crude dash exists
Attachment 1847774

This is a tragedy for vintage car lovers. Cannot imaging a Silver Ghost so badly abused. But the current owners apparently do not have materialistic desires like us enthusiast!

Cheers

KPS

That is really painful to watch. And not painful in the same way when you see a car is disrepair or not taken care of. I have so many abuses on the tip of my tongue for whoever decided it was okay to do this. It looks horribly put together as well.
The owner should sell the car if they do not have materialistic desires.

[harit]

Originally Posted by doublebubble

That is really painful to watch. And not painful in the same way when you see a car is disrepair or not taken care of. I have so many abuses on the tip of my tongue for whoever decided it was okay to do this. It looks horribly put together as well.
The owner should sell the car if they do not have materialistic desires.

Well, put it this way. The car is a survivor for sure. This is not the first Rolls to be modified, some were just re-bodied tastefully, others were really grotesque like the Nanpara Rolls, and some like this one were re-bodied for utility. This is a temple car, which could also be a reason that it is still around and not exported like so many Rolls were from Calcutta. It has somehow been kept running, I wonder how much of the original car is left. Temple car is a part of this car's history. So, before you abuse anyone, you must understand the reason why this has happened and the purpose behind it. Rajneesh was not the first religious association with the Rolls Royce brand. And the owner is not a purist or a car collector. The fact that he brought it out for the show, it was nice of him to do so. Now he has the opportunity to decide the future of the car.
He may sell, or he may just continue its existence as it is as a vehicle for the Deity. Just my take.

Cheers harit

[doublebubble]

Thats a much better take on it than mine Harit! Im not opposed to the idea of the temple-car. Rolls Royces have been made into trucks, ambulances, tanks, the whole lot. You would only imagine that being a Rolls, anything you decide to do on it / to it, would be to the standard of a Rolls. I think had he done it tastefully, this car would have a rather unique history 20 years down the line.

And yes, the one thing I totally agree with is at least it hasnt been exported like many Calcutta Rolls'. That was quite a travesty.

[desertfox]

Ooh Calcutta! It's always so much fun there. All those old Fiat 1100s bring back the memories of the era gone by. Lovely moments, cherished moments of a time when life was so simple. I used to drive out my father's Premier Padmini in 1987 and used to get 26.3 litres of Petrol filled in it for Rs. 200.

A car from Patna too - BRA 205. We owned BRA 209 a Fiat 1100 and I remember that till 1970 it was there.

The Ford Mercury is superb. Brilliantly restored. How come Uday Bhan Singh did not enter one of his 20 odd Jeeps?

There was a Statesman rally here in Delhi too on February 10, 2019. Wonder if anyone has pictures of it.