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Originally Posted by harit And finally, DKG, did APX 110 really come to Mumbai? When and under what circumstances was that car here? |
Do you remember a phenomenal rally called the All India Rally held somewhere close to 1970? Dad participated in a white MG Midget with a Britisher. I think they came fourth. Nasir Hussain had won that event I think. Dad lost a lot of time on account of a busted silencer and subsequent goof ups in fixing it by the army garages during their start. He also opted to stop to help another participant who busted his petrol tank and lost more time. That MG was such a darling car. The owners were our neighbours in those years
We drove to Bombay in APX 110 for the finish (two of Dad's friends drove the car with Mum, my sis and I). I remember the finishing point for the rally was some ground near Churchgate I think.
I am not aware of any other vintage car amongst our friends and families who have done as much long distance driving as we have in APX 110. Thrice to Madras, once to Tirupati, once to Bombay and once to Bangalore. I can never forget one such journey when I think he was tired and wanted to sleep it off. He parked the car by the highway. Mum slept on the front seat, my sis and I slept on the luxurious rear seat and Dad actually slept in front of the car on a mat !! BTW that spot lamp on the car was his weapon to diasarm truck drivers. On highways he used to have it focused on their faces and invariably they gave way to APX.
The last great roadtrip for APX 110 was in 95/96 when Dad at 67 drove her all the way from Hyderabad to Bangalore (attended a vintage car event) and then headed onto Madras and back to Hyd with Mum and my aunt.
These are just some tales which makes this car so special to us. We consider APX 110 family. She has spent more time with us on countless road journeys than any other car we owned. BTW I am not counting the zillion road trips around Hyderabad to Warangal and Mahbubnagar when my uncle was posted there in the police dept.
During the fifties Dad would drive to Bombay for weekend parties ! And it was usually in his six cylinder Packard and once in the 34 Eight which he dropped off in Bombay when Savalas shipped it out.
He has used APX 110 like we do our modern cars. I learnt to drive on APX 110
Someday I'll scan the many pictures of this beloved car and host a thread dedicated to her life and times as a member of our family.
I have a dream to one day drive APX 110 right up to the north. Someday soon hopefully.
BTW the car has never broken down ever and let us down. She's never been towed ! That's Packard !!
Last edited by DKG : 21st April 2010 at 00:00.
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