[Akash_1806]

Originally Posted by rayjaycleoful

Hi Akash,
What is the year of manufacturing printed on your RC?
I believe the rule is against year of manufacturing (10D/15P) and not validity of registration.

The year of manufacturing printed on the RC is 2005. And yes, you are right the rule is based on year of manufacturing and not date of registration. The vehicle is used only on private tracks and farms for OTRs and adventure purposes or within my society premises.

[rayjaycleoful]

Originally Posted by Akash_1806

The year of manufacturing printed on the RC is 2005. And yes, you are right the rule is based on year of manufacturing and not date of registration. The vehicle is used only on private tracks and farms for OTRs and adventure purposes or within my society premises.

Ahh okay. Thanks for confirming.
Would you know if it's possible to get a Gypsy with a more recent "manufacturing date"? HP registration

Ready to explore the Gypsy path but only if I can drive it legally - too much checking in Gurgaon/ Delhi for the age of car nowadays.

Thanks & Regards

[Akash_1806]

Originally Posted by rayjaycleoful

Ahh okay. Thanks for confirming.
Would you know if it's possible to get a Gypsy with a more recent "manufacturing date"? HP registration

Ready to explore the Gypsy path but only if I can drive it legally - too much checking in Gurgaon/ Delhi for the age of car nowadays.

Thanks & Regards

You are welcome . Yes it is possible to get a gypsy with newer manufacturing date, you can find a 2012-13 model for around 2.5 lakhs in raw condition. Can be driven in Delhi-NCR for 5-6 years without any issues. You can contact dealers in Himachal, Jammu or you can visit Mayapuri in Delhi.

Cars from Mayapuri are sort of less reliable, because of the 'jugaad' work which is done there. You can also check with Auto Attitudes, Noida if they can provide you with the same. Their work is excellent, experienced it myself.

99% of the dealers will provide you HP registration so no worries there.

[shankar.balan]

Here is the 5th Gypsy in my life over these last 25 years…this is a civilian Harvest Green 2014 Model Soft Top King. It is in 100% bone stock condition right down to its tyres, which are OEM Standard MRF Estate F78-15 size. These are brand new. This Gypsy has done 19450kms from new. Genuine mileage.
I was lucky to buy it at 17360 kms on Christmas Day 2021 and since then I have added these 2000kms to it myself. Its a beautiful specimen.

A few inputs for aspiring Gypsy owners as a Gypsy owner and enthusiast myself.

Nowadays almost all gypsys that are available are ex forces or police.

Its almost Impossible to find an honest low mileage stock civilian gypsy. I feel blessed and lucky to have got this one.

In my opinion in the present scenario the best way to get a Gypsy is to commission and get a ground up restoration job done.

The best chap for this is Aman of Auto Attitudes Noida.

If restored to bone stock, the vehicle should probably cost 5.5-6 lacs landed in BLR with NOC.

Tax and KA Regn will have to be done by the buyer. So lets say 7.5 all told max.

Time taken - anywhere between 3-4 months from commissioning and payment.

Second option is Indore (MP)based Vroom Vroom Restoration. Cost will be roughly the same as above. The timelines in this case may get stretched to 4-5 months. I hear that this chap tends to delay a bit here and there. But looking at his Youtube videos the work looks good.

Third Option is Aeman Ahmed Qadri in Chikmagalur. This chap has been steadily raising his prices since 2020 onwards. Restored to bone stock this may cost 7 to 7.5 lacs all told. (It used to cost about 5.5 lacs earlier.) But this will be a straight KA18 Reg vehicle with an ‘accommodation address’ in Chikmagalur. Timing is minimum 4-5 months. Aeman says he isnt able to serve the demand (but it may also be a way to increase the prices).

While the latter two chaps show their work beautifully on youtube, I would personally still vote for Aman of Auto Attitudes Noida in terms of quality of workmanship and attention to detail and expertise in Gypsy.

[shankar.balan]

Have you received the Gypsy from Vroom Vroom yet?
Or are you still awaiting it?
Please do post pictures and about your first hand experience.
Thanks!

Originally Posted by miles_hungry

Thanks for the reply to my queries. I have booked a restored stock gypsy from Vroom vroom restoration, will post the experience once it is delivered.

[shankar.balan]

Pics of my 5 Gypsys owned and cherished at various times over the last 25 years.

I am just placing these here so that once in a way I can come back and look at them all in one place.

I have had a lifelong love affair with these things. Right from the time when in 1985-1986, my school teacher in Ooty ( a gentleman of private means), had bought and owned one of the first soft top MG410’s in India in green. And subsequently my head never stopped turning whenever I saw a Gypsy anywhere. It still turns every time I see a Gypsy.

Lusted for one since then and Could never afford one until my 26th year in 1997….so the love affair is still on today in 2022 at age 51….

The first one - 1988 ex Police model MG410 Narrow Track 970 cc carbureted white soft top TSJ 821 which I had in 1997-2000 in Madras. I have no pics of it from my time but I saw it in Bangalore in 2005 at a dealer in HSR and it had been modified but I recognised it by its number.

The second one - 1995 civilian model Wide Track MG410W 970 cc carbureted white hard top TN 07 M 8662 which I had between 2003 and 2005 - I moved house lock stock and barrel from Pondicherry to Bangalore with my two pet dogs and cook in it and had it with me till I bought a Bolero.

The third one - 2005 civilian model white hard top MG413W Mpfi 1.3 litre King converted to soft top reconverted to hard top etc UP 32 AQ 4435 which I bought in 2016, and trucked in to Bangalore, all the way from Noida, when the Gypsy bug hit me hard again. I used to call this Gypsy my Spitfire.

The fourth one - 2005 ex Forest Service Harvest Green Hard top MG413W Mpfi 1.3 litre King model civilian registered in 2017 - KA 14 Z 4017, which I exchanged/ purchased in 2018, because I wanted a KA registration Gypsy. This is the one which was terribly cancerous with rust and so many imperfections that I painstakingly restored it from scratch literally and which my friend Bibendum sat on my head and finally bought from me in Jan 2021 and now has with him. He being an enthusiast cherishes this Gypsy and I m happy it is in a good home. I used to call this Gypsy my Green Spitfire. Now Bibendum calls it Green Beret.

The fifth one - 2014 model Soft top. Harvest Green. MG413 W 1.3 litre King. KA 01 ML 1821. Absolute Bone stock. 100% Civilian Gypsy which had done original 17000 odd kms. The engine was tight just like a new Gypsy and absolutely zero modifications - clearly the addiction was too great and I could not keep away, so this one I bought in Dec 2021 and own right now. (Was really very blessed and lucky to find a civilian low mileage never abused gypsy). This one is back to pride of place in my garage as my Green Spitfire.

Hope you all enjoy the pictures as much as I do. I keep looking at them. Can’t help it.

How can one not love the iconic Maruti Gypsy? It has so much ‘heart’ and so much ‘soul’ as well!

[Bibendum90949]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

The fourth one - 2005 ex Forest Service Harvest Green Hard top MG413W Mpfi 1.3 litre King model civilian registered in 2017 - KA 14 Z 4017, which I exchanged/ purchased in 2018, because I wanted a KA registration Gypsy. This is the one which was terribly cancerous with rust and so many imperfections that I painstakingly restored it from scratch literally and which my friend Bibendum sat on my head and finally bought from me in Jan 2021 and now has with him. He being an enthusiast cherishes this Gypsy and I m happy it is in a good home. I used to call this Gypsy my Green Spitfire. Now Bibendum calls it Green Beret.

I'm extremely lucky to be the new owner of your Green Spitfire, now rechristened as Green Beret. I always knew, on the day I bought this from you, that it was just a matter of time you bought another Gypsy. It turned out for the better with you laying hands on a rare and genuine civilian Gypsy which has been well looked after. Your penchant for a bone stock Gypsy with a soft top and that too in your favourite Harvest Green was indeed a case of rub of the green(pun intended) going your way.You just can't breathe without the gypsy bug


Here's our Green Beret sitting pretty after moving from my Bangalore home to Kochi and now entrusted with the task of facing up the bashing Kerala monsoons which so far has been a cakewalk for him.



Few pictures below which I took recently, when me and my friends drove it from Bangalore to Kochi via Dindigul, Theni and Cumbum valley and then onto Kochi via Idukki. One of my close buddies Praveen who isn't quite a car enthusiast nor a passionate driver was not leaving the driver's seat of Green Beret. For records, he drives a Passat. Well, that talks a lot about the fun in driving an old school vehicle like a Gypsy. We had a memorable trip driving down and great time together.

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Along with Keroo’s 1985 Red Zuki MG410 Narrow Track Soft Top. Thats a beauty and has been in the Same family since it came out of the showroom.

Taking the liberty to post one of my favourite pictures of Keroo1099 's Red Gypsy.

[shankar.balan]

Here is another old picture: taken of the Green Spitfire before it became Green Beret.
Along with Keroo’s 1985 Red Zuki MG410 Narrow Track Soft Top. Thats a beauty and has been in the Same family since it came out of the showroom.

Really a treat for any Gypsy enthusiasts.

In 2021 Dec my present Green Spitfire came up for sale on Carwale and OLX.
I simply leaped at the chance.
So Bibendum and I went to see the Gypsy in person.
And we went in my old Green Spitfire now Green Beret.
And there Lo and Behold we met my new Green Spitfire and we also met a beautifully done up White Gypsy owned by a photographer living nearby.
So we seized the chance for a photo and here it is….

Truly this love affair with Gypsys will never leave my soul…

[condor]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Pics of my 5 Gypsys owned and cherished at various times over the last 25 years.

Lovely pics, @SB.

Was reading your other comment in the Hilux thread - and it struck me that if the small looking Gypsy can accommodate you in comfort, then it is not really small. I am looking out for either a MM jeep or a Gypsy. Not decided yet, but just started the search. A key point is the space behind the driver seat to carry stuff. No of pax will be 1-2, so I dont need a front facing rear seat.

[shankar.balan]

Hi
The Gypsy becomes a perfect go anywhere load carrier/ pickup/ van. I use it as a golf cart and general load carrier for the most part. They are capacious vans with the rear seats removed and with a rubber mat to cover the floorboard.

Originally Posted by condor

Lovely pics, @SB.
d the search. A key point is the space behind the driver seat to carry stuff. No of pax will be 1-2, so I dont need a front facing rear seat.

[miles_hungry]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Have you received the Gypsy from Vroom Vroom yet?
Or are you still awaiting it?
Please do post pictures and about your first hand experience.
Thanks!

I booked the car on Feb 26th and yet to get its delivery. I have been promised delivery by July end. Would surely post the pictures and its initial impressions once I receive it

[shankar.balan]

Don’t they give you a periodic progress, status update on the build?
And what are the payment terms they demanded?

FYI a while ago when I talked to them I told them I would only pay 30% advance, then some milestone based payments and then about 25% on delivery.
They seemed ok with that, but I didn’t pursue this with them in the end because I found a bone stock civilian gypsy and bought that straight off.

Originally Posted by miles_hungry

I booked the car on Feb 26th and yet to get its delivery. I have been promised delivery by July end. Would surely post the pictures and its initial impressions once I receive it

[miles_hungry]

I was given a time frame of 2-3 months initially. Then Ramzan and Eid came in between, 1 month delay was because of that. Now his excuse is over load of work/orders. 4 months have passed, its the 5th month running. As per the latest update, the vehicle is in painting stage and he has promised delivery in Guwahati by July end.

Payment terms were, 50% of the amount at booking, followed by another 50k in between for RC work. Rest at the time of delivery.

[stallmaster]

Originally Posted by miles_hungry

Rest at the time of delivery.

What's the total cost that you are going to pay?

[miles_hungry]

Originally Posted by stallmaster

What's the total cost that you are going to pay?

I will post a detailed review of the buying experience along with the costs involved once the vehicle is delivered.