I don't know what explains it but lately, I've been coming across quite a few Standard cars that I'd known long ago, and never seen again, only to spot them again recently after years!
It's a different issue that unfortunately all these "long time no see" cars I've come across so far have deteriorated in various degrees from the last time I'd seen them!
I'd mentioned seeing a mk2 and a mk3 Herald (pics. in Rust in pieces thread) I've seen after many years....and today, I came across this Pennant! Seeing this car brought me joy as well as grief!
I'd mentioned this car once on team bhp as well. It belonged to an elderly Tamilian gent, a Mr. Iyengar, in Secunderabad, also the FIL of one of my dad's ex-colleagues/friends who lives in the same colony where we used to live. He was the 2nd owner of this car since 1968, originally bought in Bangalore, and in Hyd. since the early 70s going by the regn.
And, believe it or not, this very car was in absoultely MINT condition when he had it (until 2003-04)! SERIOUSLY!
He with his wife, used to drive down in it to our colony all the way from Sec'bad and back, to visit his daughter/son-in-law, which was very often. I remember it like yesterday, I used to see the car from the same angle as in this pic., parked in front of their house on his visits in our colony. And I would admire not just the car but the gent's ability to maintain it that way at his age (he was 80+ by then!)
He eventually went for a brand new Santro (in 2001-02) but retained the Pennant. Although I didn't know his house and I'd met him just once, I did go to his daughter's house quite a few times and enquire about the car thereafter, but she always smilingly gave me one reply- "he doesn't want to part with it!"
So, I took it that the old gent was indeed passionate about his car and didn't pester them further. Besides, I also then happened to go to Singapore on further studies, 2003-05. I did come home a couple of times on vacation and then too, when I was home, I still asked Aunty one more time about the car. She then told me that he might give it to his nephew (who'd asked him for it long ago) although he was still reluctant to let it go.
We then moved out of that colony, and I eventually forgot the issue. After I came home for good, I once visited them in 2005. I then asked Aunty if her father still had the car and she told me (much to my disapointment) that his health had taken a downturn and he finally parted with it. And insisting on selling to his own mechanic who always helped him maintained it, that too for a pittance (<10k!!)
I then enquired the wherabouts of said mechanic (who was also based in Sec'bad) from a few sources since, but couldn't trace him. None had any idea about his having the car either. I assumed that the car would've been sold.........only to find it again today! And turns out that it's the same mechanic who has this mk3 Herald I've seen:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/1362619-post2157.html
He said that he had driven the Pennant for a while after he bought it, until a few years ago. He's parked it at this spot since, open to the elements, as seen! He plans to restore it fully(!) and then sell it (for a good profit.)Ironically, when he bought it, the car wouldn't have needed ANY restoring at all in the condition that it was then!
I ASSURE you, had it been kept the same way, it would've needed ZERO work, atleast bodily!!
I couldn't go closer to the car for more pics. (it's parked in the compound of an old Parsi bungalow, no-one around so was afraid of 'trespassing') but I hope it hasn't gone worse than it looks!
PS: Sorry for the long post, got a bit carried away!