Driving through a rich legacy

When Dr P C Uthappa and wife Minnie, decided to return to India in 1960 after completing their medicine in London, they didn’t return empty-handed. They brought with them a 1960 Ford Anglia Super Deluxe which was among the first batch that was just introduced and bought from the 88 Reagent Street Ford Showroom in London.

 The car was first shipped to Mumbai and brought to Bengaluru before the couple drove it to Kodagu. Now in their early 80s, the couple don’t drive the Ford themselves but their son P U Ponnappa has taken it upon himself to take the legacy forward and maintain the old beauty.
Ponnappa is just as passionate about the car as his parents. He has literally grown up with it. He says he wouldn’t swap the grand old lady for anything. The car has an interesting history to it.  “It was manufactured at Dagenham Motors and was the first batch of Anglia with the New Z shape. It came with a 997 Lotus Engine 105 E and was rated as a high compression engine. Those days, the car was used in many rallies and was indeed a head-turner,” explains Ponnappa in an excited tone. 

He points out that the original car number plate YGJ 800 is still on the reverse. “When the car was brought down, it had to be sent to George Oakes who were the Ford representative back then in India. They had to fill up all the fluids in the car like oil and coolant. The car has covered 300,000 miles without a single breakdown,” adds Ponnappa.

Sharing his thoughts about what impressed his parents about the car, Ponnappa says the first thing that attracted them was that it was a two-door vehicle and that the backseat was safe for a baby. “What caught their attention was the unique shape of the vehicle and that babies would be safe in the backseat. We have never had to fix a wiper for the back glass because of its incline that does not let water accumulate. The car has travelled on the roughest of roads and managed to climb the steepest paths,” shares Ponnappa, who learnt driving on this car.

He adds, “This was the only car in the family and my father was very possessive about it. I was so eager to start driving it that I would quietly take it out. I would get shouted at by my father when I brought it back but I enjoyed driving it and still do.”  

Maintaining the car is indeed a challenge, concedes Ponnappa but he says he doesn’t find it tiring because he enjoys being around and taking care of it. “Getting a size 13 tyre was a great challenge. The car is now maintained by me and I give it all the affection it deserves. My passion for cars and its mechanics has been there right from my childhood and I carry out most of the maintenance work myself. Whenever I travel to England, I buy the spares necessary. It also runs on high octane which is available only in Nagpal Petrol Station,” he adds.

Ponnappa makes it a point take the car out for a spin every Sunday. “Sunday mornings are usually when I drive around in the old beauty. I go for breakfast with my cousin to either Devanahalli or to the MTR in Whitefield. This not only ensures that the car runs but also gives me a chance to spend time with the vehicle. The family has also travelled by the car a great deal and we still venture out in it,” says Ponnappa. 

The family gets admiring looks from passersby whenever they are driving in their prized possession.

“However, the most exasperating question is when people ask me about its mileage. I politely tell them that the mileage doesn’t matter to me; it’s my passion and hobby,” he shares.

(Ponnappa can be reached on ponnappa@hotmail.co.uk)

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