Pics: India gets its first Ferrari California in Mumbai

NetfreakBombay · 14th May 2009, 10:28

And car could have been brought through Tata Motors. In that case they are entitled to bring in LHD cars. They are even allowed to manufacture LHD cars and run them on Public roads for R&D purpose. RTO would issue them Temp/Trade license plates.

Yeldo · 14th May 2009, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayavi

I guess the same way numerous LHD vehicles are brought down to India for testing even though they don't intend to sell them. Ratan Tata being the chairman of a company that intends to sell Ferrari's can bring it down for testing

Great! First these people lobby with the Government to ban LHD vehicles for the general public, and then bring in LHD's for themselves for "testing". Testing?? A Ferrari California? In India??

One doesn't expect such behavior from Tata Motors.

canonball · 14th May 2009, 13:22

Testing can only be done in indoor/private roads. I think he has already broken a few laws by driving her on public roads. Even if the car is legit import for testing/display/storage/show etc the law does not permit registration not even temp. I think there are cases where pre production foriegn market prototypes wer spotted on Indian roads with some tags/plates. So him driving on Marine Drive without any plates in the 1st place is completely ILLEGAL. Wait till some of the authorities see these pics?

krazyking · 14th May 2009, 14:14

I guess it's true, that with power and money, anything is possible..

Nice pics.

neeld · 14th May 2009, 14:16

I don't think one can bring a LHD into India. The only way to get it is for testing or display, that also for a limited period.

007 · 14th May 2009, 14:24

Folks...!

may sound idiotic ...but Will he get right fuel for this beauty ?

because high performance cars require special fuels.

canonball · 14th May 2009, 14:29

I know he has several LHD cars imported before the ban i.e a 2001 Class C320 CDI (one of a kind) which had some 200 km's on it but is registered as was legal then, he only keeps them in private storage/display and not road use, seeing him drive one not allowed to be registered and without any tags makes it illegal wonder what drove him to take such a risk "out of character" for a guy like him!

I have heard he has several such only LHD cars which are just for keeps (close to 0 km on most), been told that he likes them in the LHD format as they are the most orignal pieces so to speak!! Old School if you ask me. But in typical generational legacy and guess he reckons some kind of value will remain with them in the long long future and this will have his stamp as a legacy in the form of a museum or something similar.

wasif · 14th May 2009, 15:03

If I am not mistaken its only available as a LHD so far.

In the old days most imports in India used to be LHD, never had a problem driving LHD.

n_aditya · 14th May 2009, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by neoranjit

And yeah, how come LHD ? Someone could indeed bend the rules

Neo, in India, money talks and bull$#^! walks. Anything is possible if you have the moolah.

Buttttt, why the Ferrari Cali? There are much better looking cars in the market and the Cali is not the prettiest around. I think it has to do with being Mr. Exclusive.

swift8847 · 14th May 2009, 16:10

Assuming Mr Tata is going to drive the car does it really matter if its a LHD or a RHD? Is he going to drive the car the way it is supposed to be on the Indian roads?

About the LHD being registered, we shouldn't be surprised. We live in a country where "paisa bolta hai".

BTW I feel the car looks good and may be one reason as to why Tata bought this car was that its the first one in India. I may be wrong.

zibby · 15th May 2009, 06:35

Nice pics, not a fan of the looks rear still look good.
Is the car on carnet or on testing or is this car registered in India?

revvhed · 16th May 2009, 06:46

Er guys .. while i'm all for asking questions .. don't you'll think it's a little unfair to crucify someone based on your own assumptions ?? Please .. let's not judge when we don't know the facts. There could be a multitude of explanations that are not apparent to us.

greatpower · 16th May 2009, 07:25

Mr. Tata is a legend. And legends have a right to their toys.

Lovely pics - love the smile on his face - seems like he is truly enjoying himself. A true petrol head. Somebody send him an invite to this forum please

vivekanand005 · 16th May 2009, 12:09

that's an awesome piece of machinery.

Sameer_C · 17th May 2009, 15:20

Yup that is Ratan Tatas ferrari, love his taste in cars!

14th May 2009, 10:28	#31
NetfreakBombay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 1,021 Times	And car could have been brought through Tata Motors. In that case they are entitled to bring in LHD cars. They are even allowed to manufacture LHD cars and run them on Public roads for R&D purpose. RTO would issue them Temp/Trade license plates.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 13:22	#33
canonball Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 205 Times View My Garage	Testing can only be done in indoor/private roads. I think he has already broken a few laws by driving her on public roads. Even if the car is legit import for testing/display/storage/show etc the law does not permit registration not even temp. I think there are cases where pre production foriegn market prototypes wer spotted on Indian roads with some tags/plates. So him driving on Marine Drive without any plates in the 1st place is completely ILLEGAL. Wait till some of the authorities see these pics? Last edited by canonball : 14th May 2009 at 13:24.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 14:14	#34
krazyking BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mumbai/Hong Kong Posts: 329 Thanked: 5 Times View My Garage	I guess it's true, that with power and money, anything is possible.. Nice pics.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 14:16	#35
neeld BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 197 Thanked: 102 Times	I don't think one can bring a LHD into India. The only way to get it is for testing or display, that also for a limited period.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 14:24	#36
007 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Nasik Posts: 98 Thanked: 37 Times	Will he get right fuel for this beauty ? Folks...! may sound idiotic ...but Will he get right fuel for this beauty ? because high performance cars require special fuels.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 14:29	#37
canonball Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 205 Times View My Garage	I know he has several LHD cars imported before the ban i.e a 2001 Class C320 CDI (one of a kind) which had some 200 km's on it but is registered as was legal then, he only keeps them in private storage/display and not road use, seeing him drive one not allowed to be registered and without any tags makes it illegal wonder what drove him to take such a risk "out of character" for a guy like him! I have heard he has several such only LHD cars which are just for keeps (close to 0 km on most), been told that he likes them in the LHD format as they are the most orignal pieces so to speak!! Old School if you ask me. But in typical generational legacy and guess he reckons some kind of value will remain with them in the long long future and this will have his stamp as a legacy in the form of a museum or something similar. Last edited by canonball : 14th May 2009 at 14:37.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 15:03	#38
wasif Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Abu Dhabi (for now) Posts: 2,957 Thanked: 414 Times	If I am not mistaken its only available as a LHD so far. In the old days most imports in India used to be LHD, never had a problem driving LHD.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 16:10	#40
swift8847 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bangalore/Houston Posts: 324 Thanked: 2 Times	Assuming Mr Tata is going to drive the car does it really matter if its a LHD or a RHD? Is he going to drive the car the way it is supposed to be on the Indian roads? About the LHD being registered, we shouldn't be surprised. We live in a country where "paisa bolta hai". BTW I feel the car looks good and may be one reason as to why Tata bought this car was that its the first one in India. I may be wrong.
	() Thanks

15th May 2009, 06:35	#41
zibby BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Goa / Leicester Posts: 762 Thanked: 419 Times	Nice pics, not a fan of the looks rear still look good. Is the car on carnet or on testing or is this car registered in India?
	() Thanks

16th May 2009, 06:46	#42
revvhed BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 184 Thanked: 30 Times	Er guys .. while i'm all for asking questions .. don't you'll think it's a little unfair to crucify someone based on your own assumptions ?? Please .. let's not judge when we don't know the facts. There could be a multitude of explanations that are not apparent to us. Last edited by revvhed : 16th May 2009 at 06:50.
	() Thanks

16th May 2009, 07:25	#43
greatpower BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 118 Thanked: 4 Times	Mr. Tata is a legend. And legends have a right to their toys. Lovely pics - love the smile on his face - seems like he is truly enjoying himself. A true petrol head. Somebody send him an invite to this forum please
	() Thanks

16th May 2009, 12:09	#44
vivekanand005 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 85 Thanked: Once	that's an awesome piece of machinery.
	() Thanks

17th May 2009, 15:20	#45
Sameer_C BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 41 Thanked: 85 Times View My Garage	Yup that is Ratan Tatas ferrari, love his taste in cars!
	() Thanks