When the names Auburn, Fiat, Morris, Austin, and Cadillac are uttered, the blood of any hot blooded male gets pumping. These beautiful models can rarely be stopped on the roads. But there does seem to be quite a few fanatics in the city that crave for these priceless treasures. For car owners these are collector's items that in their eyes could equal a Rembrandt.

Sometimes the reason for owning a vintage car is wholly nostalgic. Not only do these beauties reek of simpler days, but they act as a rear view mirror in a car lover's life, transporting you to your own deeply remembered past. While some regard them as an investment option, others prefer the classic car merely for the attention quotient. And if you share the passion, getting the chance to say "I own a Corvette", will make the hair on your neck stand up, and that's a pretty nice feeling.

In the 40s and 50s, at least in India, owning a car was the ultimate symbol of luxury. The kind of status that a car exuded in those days was phenomenal. And when you get to own a beauty of that period, it's like keeping an unforgettable slice of history with yourself. "If you give me a choice between the latest Ford Mustang GTO and an original Mustang of the 70s, you can bet that I will pick up the original" said a vintage car lover.

Now its time to break a huge myth. Though a lot of people think that vintage cars are worth bagsful of money - it isn't. Yes, truly rare vintage cars in pristine condition may be expensive, but they are only the exceptions. At least that is the case as far as Chennai is concerned. Coupes and saloons may be worth from less than a lakh to about 3 lakhs, depending on the condition. Sports cars will carry a bigger tag, but nothing to go 'wow' about. It is only the passion and obsession of car lovers which keeps us going�

In fact quite recently, a rally was held displaying all the finest collection of vintage cars a car lover could dream of! Held by the Airtel's vintage car rally, as part of a heritage car procession, a turnout of 30 luxury cars made a stand still to the large crowd present. It comprised of the rarest collections ranging from Peugeot, Renault, Austin Rover, and Chevrolet etc. Some owners were so passionate that they had come in costumes symbolizing the original period their cars belonged to.

Being an owner of a vintage car is not about owning a piece of machinery; rather it signifies passion for the machine, status for the society and pride for the sake of ownership

SOWJANYA.S