[john a milne]

Well it's that time of the year again in Kolkata when most of the Vintage & Classic Cars & Motorcycles are being spit & polished, some brought out of their cocoons, mechanicals checked, while a number are in a 24/7 frantic rush to finish their restoration to be ready to enter the Concours Competition to be judged on Saturday, January 12th from 9.00am till the day is done.

Saturday is not a public event, but anyone who wants to get up "Close and Personal" and meet the owners, can just walk in and enjoy some quality time.

The Rally flags off at about 9.00am Sunday morning with the oldest cars first as the drivers are given the Secrete Rally Route of about 25 kms through the busy streets of Kolkata.

Both Events are hosted by the Eastern Command Sports Stadium, one of the finest venues be to found anywhere in India.

I'm planning on visiting some of the larger Collector Restorers Works to take some photos of what's happening this week to post before the Saturday and Sunday activities. I understand that there is a record number of entries this year and look forward to sharing as many details as possible for those of you who are unable to attend.

I'm looking forward to meeting some of the Team BHP members. My mobile no. is 98-3602-1441

[Bulldogji]

I believe cars have been prepared in Calcutta for the Cartier 2013 show and will be given an airing at this show. John, it would be nice if along with pictures you could highlight the cars coming to Bombay next month. maybe some cars will stay back for the VCCCI show a week after Cartier? You have a pleasing Fiat. Is she coming for the Cartier show ?

[john a milne]

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

I believe cars have been prepared in Calcutta for the Cartier 2013 show and will be given an airing at this show. John, it would be nice if along with pictures you could highlight the cars coming to Bombay next month. maybe some cars will stay back for the VCCCI show a week after Cartier? You have a pleasing Fiat. Is she coming for the Cartier show ?

Will identify any cars going to the Cartier Show, I have heard of two so far.

My Fiat will not be attending, hadn't even thought about it. Would require a bit of work to put in that class but it does have a bit of providence having been first owned by the Bengali Movie actress, Pranati Das who had imported the Deluxe trim for it and somehow managing to get the WBF-1 Plate.
Food for thought, thanks I think.

[john a milne]

I had hoped to post photos of SHRIVARDHAN KANORIA's WORKS showing all the activity but unfortunately I had my camera set at too high a resolution to post! ####. Some great cars as usual with his dad's 24 Rolls exceptionally well restored that should get top trophy at the Statesman and then it's off to the Cartier. Most of his cars had left the Works and are marshalled at a friends place closer to the Stadium grounds. I think Shri will enter around 8 cars and his uncle has 4 or 5.

With my camera properly set, I visited PRATAP CHOWDHURY's WORKS outside of the city in a beautiful tranquil area. He has a lot of "ladies in waiting" which should keep him occupied for the next few years.
He will be entering 6 cars. His Austin 6, just about finished, will have it's debut this Saturday and should find favour in the Judges eyes. Pratap probably has restored more jeeps than any one in West Bengal and has done some remarkable work building one up from just the frame and incomplete engine which is shown below.

He's a great individual from who I was able to purchase "the apple of my eye", my 62 Fiat - WBF-1. He's quite detached from the Trophy Race and is just pleased to show and share.

[Bulldogji]

Providence or provenance John? Your Fiat, pleasing to the eye and with interesting provenance would be a pleasure to see at Cartier. The two Kanoria cars are known entrants and I am sure will give stiff completion to other contenders in their respective classes. Any idea of the other cars coming from Calcutta? Maybe Sanjay Ghosh is sending some? I believe the stunning red Bentley is not invited.

[john a milne]

I did some serious cropping and have been able to post a few of the photos
taken at Kanoria's main Works where he is storing some of his future projects and a few other cars for some family and friends.

[john a milne]

Today I had a quick visit to PARTHO BOSE'S home where he has all his "Ladies" securely garaged. He will be showing 7 cars and 2 motorcycles. Lots of detailing and some minor repairs to be done. No new cars this year and Partho has promised me that he will bring his 1918 Model T and 1928 Fiat next year.

The 'T" is timeless and one should be in The Cartier Show!
Henry Ford revolutionized the manufacture of cars when he introduced the assembly line and standardized all the component parts. In 1916 the Model T Ford accounted for over 70% of all the cars produced in the world. With the head office and main plant in Detroit, another smaller plant was setup across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario which built all their export cars with left hand drive.

I noticed a 1950s Morris Convertible and Chrysler hidden away in the back garage waiting restoration plus a very nice Ford Model "A" close to being finished. Not sure if it will make it to The Statesman this year.

I grew up in the small town of Essex, 16 miles from Windsor, where both Ford and Chrysler had there Canadian Car Plants. My fathers very first car was a 1950 Morris Minor convertible that I learned to drive in and got my licence at the age of 16. It became the car my twin brother and I drove and later did some modifications and customizing. Indulge me a little as I post a photo of it with me behind the wheel at the age of 13.

Unfortunately the photos didn't load in the right sequence.

Time permitting, I hope to visit a few more of Kolkata's Collector / Restorers.

[john a milne]

[quote=john a milne;3010337]
When I was speaking with Pratap Chowdhury, I was quite disturbed at the deteriorating condition of the yellow Fiat Topolino and he shared my feelings but the owner who had left it with him years back neither wants to sell or restore it. The motor is missing and I understand very difficult to find.

I'd love to Hot Rod it, "God Fore-bid" into something like this "Beast" that captured my heart years ago and hangs on my wall back in Toronto.
Hope I haven't offended any of the purists ! ?

Something like this would add a LOT of SIZZLE to The Statesman!

[travancore]

Originally Posted by john a milne

I did some serious cropping and have been able to post a few of the photos
taken at Kanoria's main Works where he is storing some of his future projects and a few other cars for some family and friends.

Superb nostalgia, John!

Looks like a Rolls Royce is being rebodied - interesting "cut-away" steering wheel . Any idea of Chassis Number and any pictures with the original body ?

[john a milne]

Originally Posted by travancore

Superb nostalgia, John!

Looks like a Rolls Royce is being rebodied - interesting "cut-away" steering wheel . Any idea of Chassis Number and any pictures with the original body ?

Shri said all he had to start with was the Chassis and will ask him if he has found the Chassis Number. Should be finished for next years Statesman hopefully.

Here are a few photos of his Dad's old Rolls that he used to drive to work twenty years back. It's been stored in their old Works and finally has been restored impeccably about a month ago. It's off to The Cartier along with his MGA.

[amit V8]

Great pictures. What is the blue SUV/MUV/Van standing next to the green MG TC?

[john a milne]

Originally Posted by amit V8

Great pictures. What is the blue SUV/MUV/Van standing next to the green MG TC?

I don't have a clue. Any idea anyone?

[john a milne]

I stopped by Sanjay Ghose's Works this afternoon. Boy were they BUSY!

Their biggest challenge is finishing off the French 1919 Minerva Type NN.
A stunning car that only arrived in his works with frame, running gear and fenders. I understand that the Minerva Club of France has provided a great deal of information and even loaned Sanjay a number of parts and fittings for him to reproduce. When I asked him if it would be ready for Saturdays Concours judging, he said they had their fingers crossed as the new wheels were being flown from France and were expected tomorrow and they would be working round the clock! They are hoping to have it up and running for the Statesman and then do the fine tuning before shipping it to The Cartier Show. I had taken some photos about a month ago and would have lost my bet that it would have been this far along. Again I had set too high a resolution and will try and crop them for posting.

The other interesting new car is the Nash Wagon. As I was in a rush I didn't have time to ask too may questions and didn't want to distract Sanjay. As they say, "A photo is worth a thousand words", so i'll post as many photos as I can. I've maxed out my TADOCOMO Plan and am running at a very slow speed.

Judging starts in about 40 hours!

[john a milne]

Here are photos of the Minerva with two taken about a month ago.

[KPS]

Originally Posted by john a milne

Here are photos of the Minerva with two taken about a month ago.

Thanks to Kasli we know how the Dharbanga Minerva looked when prior to restoration

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/pre-wa...ml#post2685488



From this picture to the picture posted by John we can see significant progress

Cheers

KPS