[ajmat]

Note from Mod - Thread merged with an earlier Chor Bazaar Thread

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

How do I go to Chor Bazaar ? - my cardinal rule - I go by bus and I come back by bus if things can be carried, otherwise I take a taxi. I have never ever taken any of my cars in that area and I have absolutely no intention of ever doing so.

What do I wear (clotheswise) ? - dirty greasy shirt and ordinary pant. The dirtier your clothes, the more you are allowed to explore ("apna hi aadmi hai" syndrome) because you need to go into dingy gullies etc. Get the idea ?

What do I wear (attitudewise) ? - tyical "Mumbai ishtyle" Hindi and a no-care attitude for rejecting their prices outright and walking away even if I just have to buy some rare part. Don't worry, they will call you back. It's the way you speak, they know how much to stretch with you.

What do I carry ? - A strong plastic bag neatly folded in my pant pocket is a must, otherwise it becomes a pain to get a bag and then there are guys who will ask for 5 rupees for getting you a bag !

What have I got away with ? - Go at around 5.30 PM (after namaaz). An old guy sitting outside his "tapri" was dead drunk. I picked up a Lucas SFT700 original Made in England and made of brass chromed headlight with it's ring and mounting for Rs.40. What do I do as soon as I strike paydirt ? Again cardinal rule - Leave Chor Bazaar immediately. If you hang around, you risk losing your precious deal. Leave from another gully so even if the guy realises what he's sold, it's too late. I have done it many times. There are times when the "chokras" at the shop have told me "saab, mamu aaneka pehle aap nikal jaao". So, during Namaaz time, look for bargains with "chokras". They must be pocketing the money and mamu be damned. Funny, isn't it ?

That's the charm of Chor Bazaar !

In my next post, I will tell you how to develop contacts at Chor Bazaar.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

I have never ever taken any of my cars in that area and I have absolutely no intention of ever doing so.

Once my grandad's fiat was missing one hubcap, so he decided to go to chor bazaar to buy a single peice.

Upon reaching he showed the guy the hubcaps on his car, and he was told to wait as they would be getting if from another place 5minutes away. He had some chai and waited, and sure enough the guy returned with the right style hubcap. Slightly used, but in good condition, and at a good price.

My grandfather returned home happily, only to later find out that they had removed the hubcap from the other side of his car and sold it to him!!

cya
R

[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

Once my grandad's fiat was missing one hubcap, so he decided to go to chor bazaar to buy a single peice.

Upon reaching he showed the guy the hubcaps on his car, and he was told to wait as they would be getting if from another place 5minutes away. He had some chai and waited, and sure enough the guy returned with the right style hubcap. Slightly used, but in good condition, and at a good price.

My grandfather returned home happily, only to later find out that they had removed the hubcap from the other side of his car and sold it to him!!

cya
R

Rehaan, this is the most common story you get to hear about Chor Bazaar. Second being: My car stereo went missing and next day I went to Chor Bazaar only to find the same very stereo from my car

[karlosdeville]

Fact or fiction, my aunt has proof. A very unique table lamp was missing from her house in Mahim, which her son in law found at chor bazaar. The proof? Her name and adress was stuck on the bottom

They didnt bother buying it back...

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by Technocrat

slightly OT but have you guys observed old Monograms of companies like Plymouth, Fiat, Chrysler etc at the back of Autoricks. Have spotted such autos both in Mumbai & Pune. Not sure how much genuine are these but most of them look very close to the originals

Yes I too have noticed a few such autos when I'd visited Pune......and of course heard of them from our very own Karlos....almost all of them are very much the genuine/original monograms, many of them stolen from old cars!

Karl told me he once travelled in an auto that had a chopped-and-resized-to-fit Standard Pennant dashboard!!

Karl- pity to hear bout your table-lamp! Do you find things apart from vehicle spares at chor bazaar as well?

[khanak]

Originally Posted by Stanher

Karl- pity to hear bout your table-lamp! Do you find things apart from vehicle spares at chor bazaar as well?

Yup, you find some really interesting things at Chor Bazaar. Iv found things like really old bath tubs, old doors with intricate carvings, old glasses,watches clocks (including some original and fake Smith's clocks) not to mention some really awesome tin signs. When I visited Chor Bazaar I was really facinated by the Thums Up signs there and really wanted one. I was eventually gifted a Thums Up sign, a Pennzoil sign and a old Ford advertisement.

[fx45]

Originally Posted by Lalvaz

Theres this place in Kurla where my garage walla frequents for ORVM's, old wheels, tyres, etc.... Supposed to be a lot cheaper than Opera House. Will find out the name of the place if ppl are interested....

that place is called CST ROAD in kurla west.

[amtak]

And just 5 mins walk from Ichibaan Honda showroom and my office! Let me know if anyone is planning to go there soon. I would love to explore the market.

[michael schume]

coming back to stripping cars last week i was a witness to a strip down of a wonderful uno. car was in an absolute mint condition fire engine alloy wheel [after market] and the body to was almost rust free. the odo showed 36000 something and was working the most astonishing thing was the car was driven in by the shopkeeper right in front of me. the engine felt silky smooth and was actually worth a second hand by.got hold of a few parts a could use sadly though couldnt get hold of the front seats had no cash left but still
what a waste

[V-16]

Made another of my numerous visits to Chor Bazaar. Had to pick a few things for myself and fro some of my friends.
My first agenda was to pick up Landmaster rear light lens, a speedo meter, and the tray in which the ignition button and the switches are housed for a friend. Success, he had still not sold any of the items, so picked them up.
I was accompanied by my friend who wanted original fogs for his 1957 Mercedes 190D Ponton. Thought, i had seen one a few days ago and found that he had the fogs...only one piece of an original pair of yellow Bosch fogs. Got that too.
Then we went around the business of visiting some of the shops we generally go to, to make a courtesy call.
I also took pics of the spirit of Chor bazaar through my E-90. Pics of a car being stripped down in the matter of 15 minutes literally.
Thats how this place works. The car is bought and before it is stripped down the dealers get a preview of the car. The individual dealers bid for the parts and the offer is then accepted by the owner. The car is stripped immediately and whoever had bid and paid for whatever part, takes it there and then.



See this Escort. It was a full car when we entered the lane only to find it in this way after a few hours


The roof of the Escort and a carcass or another red car in the background



Saw this Contessa Classic in pretty good shape. Thought as to why would someone be crazy enough to bring this car in these congested lanes and then have the audacity to try and find a parking space here.
Yes this car was being driven in the lane.

Around five minutes later I saw several body parts missing on the car. Yes it had come to meet its doom. Its already missing the lights, bumpers, grille, hood, amongst other things.



15 minutes later this is what it looked like. R.I.P.-ped

[SirAlec]

check the alloys on sale man, awesome, that too with tyre! what are the average cost? and are all four/five available?

[Cyrus43]

The Last time i went there, i saw a set of Five BBS RS GT With some fancy tires on them for sale at a shop. Looked brand new to me!!

[Stanher]

Atleast here they seem to take the body panels off decently (atleast seems to me!)
Here in hyd. the method of breaking is totally different (worse!)- they first strip the car leaving jus the tyres on. Bonnets/boots are also taken off. Then they tie the doors shut and topple the car over onto its side and take off the wheels/suspension etc. While the car falls onto its side, the doors/side-wings get damaged.
Then they finally push it upside-down on its roof, thus the roof getting damaged and then hack off the doors, body wings etc.

[vcash]

Originally Posted by V-16

I was accompanied by my friend who wanted original fogs for his 1957 Mercedes 190D Ponton. Thought, i had seen one a few days ago and found that he had the fogs...only one piece of an original pair of yellow Bosch fogs. Got that too.

Very nice Gogi Bhai! My next trip to bombay and I will surely visit this place. Out of curiosity, you didn't happen to see any interesting parts for a 110?

Are the prices reasonable for classic parts?

My guy in delhi fell through with the bosch fogs so this is something I would look for in Chor Bazar. It would be cool to find stuff like original 110 / 111 gooseneck mirrors, the original becker radio, etc.

P.S. I am not very familiar with proper bbay since I stay in the suburbs whenever I come there - Is Chor Bazar located next to the erstwhile Crossroads in Haji Ali?