Welcome home 'Dalda 13'

karlosdeville · 11th May 2009, 10:23

Picking up where we left off here.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...fiat-nano.html

Many of you may have heard of the legendary Mrs. Homai Vyarawalla, India's first woman photojournalist. A simple google search and this terrific documentary will tell you more about her fascinating professional life.

Films: Homai Vyarawalla by Anik Gosh

She published her work under the psuedonym 'Dalda 13'. She has an affinity for the number 13 - she was born in 1913, married at age 13, and her first car was a 1955 Fiat 1100 - DLD 13, hence the name.

The car was bought in November '55. Back then the cars would come fully built from Italy via steamer, delievered to Bombay, and then driven to their respective showrooms. DLD 13 was booked at Premnath motors, Delhi, where Mrs. Vyarawalla was staying at the time. Understandably, the car wouldn't look brand new after such a drive, so her car was specially sent to Delhi by train at extra cost.

DLD 13 has been with her through thick and thin - travelling all over the country with her and her family. Her late husband's ashes were carried in this very car when he passed away over 40 years back. Understandably, this car holds much significance to her. There are many such incidences to be narrated later.

The family came to Baroda in the 80s, when the car was re-registered as GJ 6 A 1249. The car was faithfully maintained by a mechanic called Tiwari, who unfortunately passed away. Ever since, maintainance was becoming an issue, and Mrs. Vyarawalla finally decided to part with the one consistency in her life for the last 55 years - DLD 13. Not one to sit back and fade away, the 96 year young lady has booked a Nano

The car was bequeathed to her nephew in Bombay a couple of months back, who decided it wasn't for him. I was fortunate enough to purchase the car from him yesterday, and drove her straight to Pune. (She had come by road from Baroda to Bombay in January).

The car itself is in very rough shape, but mechanically fairly fit. It is too historically significant a car to ignore, and she will be fully restored in the future, time and finances permitting.

Cheers and best wishes to a living legend!

safari_lover · 11th May 2009, 10:34

Wonderful!! Congratulations for the purchase, mate.

srijit · 11th May 2009, 10:45

Karlos, that is a fantastic purchase. Congratulations!!!

DHABHAR.BEHRAM · 11th May 2009, 10:50

Dear Karl - congratulations to one more addition to your collection. The car looks good. I'll definitely see it when I came to Pune next time. I don't know when I will get a dukkar.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

S@~+#0$# · 11th May 2009, 10:53

Congratulations on 'Dalda 13' Karl!!

Nice to own a car that has such a nice history, especially one of being a special car and being pampered by the previous owner. When the previous owner is a celebrity, that too "First Woman Photographer", then that is the icing on the cake. Mrs. Homai Vyarawalla will be glad that her baby is now in good hands.

anekho · 11th May 2009, 11:00

wow! you have purchased a piece of history - congrats!
can't wait for more pics

cheers

condor · 11th May 2009, 11:01

Quote:

karlosdeville

: I was fortunate enough to purchase the car from him yesterday, and drove her straight to Pune.

The car itself is in very rough shape, but mechanically fairly fit. It is too historically significant a car to ignore, and she will be fully restored in the future, time and finances permitting.

Cheers and best wishes to a living legend!

@Karl, Congratulations !

Knowing you, Mrs. Homai Vyarawalla, her nephew, and every car lover can look forward to you taking care of this beautiful piece of history.

I only wish the car still sported it's original plates.

egangsta · 11th May 2009, 11:32

Congrats Karl. Thats quiet a History behind this car.. Lets say it has fallen in the right hands. All the Best.

.

suren181 · 11th May 2009, 12:03

Phew, you are filled with perseverance ain't you Karl? Good acquisition mate. Would love to see DLD 13 the next time I am in Pune, alongwith the rest of your vast (growing) collection.

Congrats mate, may the tribe grow.

President · 11th May 2009, 12:04

Congrats Karl!

Wish you all the BESHT!!!
May you have a historical FIATFUL future.........

PAVAN KADAM · 11th May 2009, 12:07

Congratulations Karl,

A historic car you've got and that too a Fiat. Wish you a long and troublefree ownership of this car.

Some more pics welcome

hillram · 11th May 2009, 12:21

Karl Congratulations on acquirig the rare Fiat.Im sure it will be a proud cut out member in your stable.

Technocrat · 11th May 2009, 13:02

Congrats Karl, really happy to see that you got such a nice & genuine car.

All the best on the restoration Buddy

muneemmk · 11th May 2009, 13:55

Karl congratulations on the great buy. Looking forward to see more about this car and it's restoration works.

V-16 · 11th May 2009, 14:00

Congrats Karl. Excellent home for the Fiat. Let the restoration begin!!

11th May 2009, 10:23	#1
karlosdeville Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 12,153 Thanked: 18,979 Times View My Garage	Welcome home 'Dalda 13' Picking up where we left off here. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...fiat-nano.html Many of you may have heard of the legendary Mrs. Homai Vyarawalla, India's first woman photojournalist. A simple google search and this terrific documentary will tell you more about her fascinating professional life. Films: Homai Vyarawalla by Anik Gosh She published her work under the psuedonym 'Dalda 13'. She has an affinity for the number 13 - she was born in 1913, married at age 13, and her first car was a 1955 Fiat 1100 - DLD 13, hence the name. The car was bought in November '55. Back then the cars would come fully built from Italy via steamer, delievered to Bombay, and then driven to their respective showrooms. DLD 13 was booked at Premnath motors, Delhi, where Mrs. Vyarawalla was staying at the time. Understandably, the car wouldn't look brand new after such a drive, so her car was specially sent to Delhi by train at extra cost. DLD 13 has been with her through thick and thin - travelling all over the country with her and her family. Her late husband's ashes were carried in this very car when he passed away over 40 years back. Understandably, this car holds much significance to her. There are many such incidences to be narrated later. The family came to Baroda in the 80s, when the car was re-registered as GJ 6 A 1249. The car was faithfully maintained by a mechanic called Tiwari, who unfortunately passed away. Ever since, maintainance was becoming an issue, and Mrs. Vyarawalla finally decided to part with the one consistency in her life for the last 55 years - DLD 13. Not one to sit back and fade away, the 96 year young lady has booked a Nano The car was bequeathed to her nephew in Bombay a couple of months back, who decided it wasn't for him. I was fortunate enough to purchase the car from him yesterday, and drove her straight to Pune. (She had come by road from Baroda to Bombay in January). The car itself is in very rough shape, but mechanically fairly fit. It is too historically significant a car to ignore, and she will be fully restored in the future, time and finances permitting. Cheers and best wishes to a living legend! Attached Thumbnails
	(12) Thanks

11th May 2009, 10:34	#2
safari_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bengaluru / Bagdal Posts: 1,155 Thanked: 785 Times	Wonderful!! Congratulations for the purchase, mate.
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 10:45	#3
srijit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 598 Thanked: 8 Times	Karlos, that is a fantastic purchase. Congratulations!!!
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 10:50	#4
DHABHAR.BEHRAM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 3,060 Thanked: 5,407 Times	Dear Karl - congratulations to one more addition to your collection. The car looks good. I'll definitely see it when I came to Pune next time. I don't know when I will get a dukkar. Best regards, Behram Dhabhar
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 10:53	#5
S@~+#0$# BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 700 Thanked: 43 Times View My Garage	Congratulations on 'Dalda 13' Karl!! Nice to own a car that has such a nice history, especially one of being a special car and being pampered by the previous owner. When the previous owner is a celebrity, that too "First Woman Photographer", then that is the icing on the cake. Mrs. Homai Vyarawalla will be glad that her baby is now in good hands.
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 11:00	#6
anekho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: . Posts: 1,997 Thanked: 685 Times	wow! you have purchased a piece of history - congrats! can't wait for more pics cheers
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 11:32	#8
egangsta BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: thane Posts: 365 Thanked: 28 Times View My Garage	Congrats Karl. Thats quiet a History behind this car.. Lets say it has fallen in the right hands. All the Best. .
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 12:03	#9
suren181 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 848 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	Phew, you are filled with perseverance ain't you Karl? Good acquisition mate. Would love to see DLD 13 the next time I am in Pune, alongwith the rest of your vast (growing) collection. Congrats mate, may the tribe grow.
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 12:04	#10
President BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FIATFUL Mumbai Posts: 908 Thanked: 190 Times View My Garage	Congrats Karl! Wish you all the BESHT!!! May you have a historical FIATFUL future.........
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 12:07	#11
PAVAN KADAM BANNED Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NAMMA BENGALURU Posts: 5,601 Thanked: 2,557 Times	Congratulations Karl, A historic car you've got and that too a Fiat. Wish you a long and troublefree ownership of this car. Some more pics welcome
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 12:21	#12
hillram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,941 Thanked: 1,329 Times View My Garage	Karl Congratulations on acquirig the rare Fiat.Im sure it will be a proud cut out member in your stable.
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 13:02	#13
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,770 Thanked: 2,705 Times	Congrats Karl, really happy to see that you got such a nice & genuine car. All the best on the restoration Buddy
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 13:55	#14
muneemmk BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cochin Posts: 832 Thanked: 99 Times View My Garage	Karl congratulations on the great buy. Looking forward to see more about this car and it's restoration works.
	() Thanks

11th May 2009, 14:00	#15
V-16 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 4,594 Thanked: 960 Times View My Garage	Congrats Karl. Excellent home for the Fiat. Let the restoration begin!!
	() Thanks