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DATE: OCTOBER
30, 2005
It took our breath away. Nothing had prepared us for
the sheer enchantment that lay beyond the ornate gates
of Tarun Thakral's private estate close to New Delhi.
The road had turned narrow as we got off the highway…
it was a winding and verdant drive to a crisp, autumn
morning with our gracious host. And, Rob and Sharon
McLellan from McLellan's Automotive History, Houston,
were about to be charmed…
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Tarun
Thakral
with the lady in red
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India's royal families are known to
own the most envious collections of antique cars. Tarun's
collection is no less fascinating — he is among
India's prominent young car collectors — in fact,
a collector of all things of yore, for antiques occupy
a special place in his heart. Steeped in a hobby that
he began pursuing over 15 years ago, he is today the
owner of many a relic from the past — old oil lamps,
clocks, kerosene fans, irons, gramophones, postage stamps
and water filters… a bed made in 1900 and a Wilcox
& Gibbs' original sewing machine from 1850! Among
his collection of all rarities, big and small, is also
a 1930-built Indian Railways saloon coach used by a
Maharaja that he has restored with love and care —
in all its exquisite detail.
Tarun's estate — a two-acre oasis of the lushest
green, complete with water fountains, a pair of Labradors
bounding about, ducks and a lotus pond — houses
his collection of 18 vintage and classic cars, and other
auto memorabilia such as 65 automobile related enamel
signboards of yesteryears and original advertisements
of vintage cars from old newspapers and magazines!
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Tarun
Thakral's collection
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Tarun believes that the 1938 Ford v8
convertible is his most prized possession yet. With
evident pride he says, "The Ford company manufactured
only 600 pieces of this particular model, which has
an eight-cylinder engine; to date, there are only a
few of them in personal collections across the globe.
I have one of them."
But it was a forlorn 1930 Chevrolet that marked the
beginning of his everlasting romance with old cars and
their restoration. It was love at first sight with this
Chevy he says, and he brought the first baby home.
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Tarun
Thakral's collection
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His collection grew with time and he
acquired this estate to give his cars a new home. A
1936 Ford, 1937 DKW, 1946 Buick Super 8 and Nash, a
1947 Chevrolet and a 1949 Pontiac joined the family.
All these cars came to him in a state of gross disrepair.
Most of them had been lying unused in the garages of
erstwhile royalty and old families of Rajasthan gentry.
Tarun restored these cars to their regal state with
the assistance of experts as committed to the hobby
as he is. Only the best will do for his cars —
he travels to the U.S., sometimes twice a year, to source
original parts for his bevy of beauties.
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Tarun
Thakral, Chief Operating Officer at Delhi's Le
Meridien is joined by his wife Mandeep in this
passion for the past. In fact, his two sons may
just turn out to be chips off the old block as
the older one who is only one-and-a-half has already
acquired an antique scooty!
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See all photos of our
October 30, 2005 visit
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