After NGT ban on vehicles above 15 years, vintage car connoisseurs battle out odds

 The order meant that he cannot drive his vintage cars on Delhi roads whenever he wishes to. He, along with many vintage car owners in Delhi, has to take a prior one-day permission to drive their vehicles. 

The NGT is currently hearing the case of Heritage Motoring Club of India (HMCI), the association of vintage car owners of Delhi. Titus is one of the leading members of the club.  HMCI is seeking an exemption from the NGT order for the vintage and classic cars.

Speaking to Millennium Post, Titus said: “We are asking for a reasonable exemption from the NGT order to allow these cars to ply on roads on weekends and to be taken to showcase rallies and events in India and abroad. We are not using these cars for personal transportation. In any case, the number of these cars in the city is very small. In addition, these cars are well maintained and meet pollution-control norms.”

“Now, all these cars are protected under the Antiquity Act, 1972. The government has declared all of them antics. These are not allowed to be exported. This means that antic and heritage value have been recognised by successive governments. In furtherance, in 2013, the Director General of Foreign Trade came out with a notification that allowed imports of cars that have vintage value,” Titus added.

Most of his vintage cars were once owned by Maharajas, Nawabs and freedom fighters. Bodies of many of these cars were custom-made in India for the Maharajas. Every car has a fascinating history. The Rolls Royce that he bought from actress Mumtaz which was originally owned by the Maharaja of Baroda, holds a special place. 

Ashok Gupta, a member of HMCI, also believes that the NGT order should not be applicable to vintage cars. Gupta, who owns a 1936 Roll Royce, said: “There are very few such cars in Delhi. Among them, very few ply on roads on one particular day. No vintage car owner uses them daily,” and added: “Our club has filed a petition in the court regarding the matter.”

Diljeet shares that he enjoys collecting vintage and old cars because: “I simply love their design. Be it cars that were more design-driven than engineered, the artefacts or furniture — everything in the classic era of the 20’s and 30’s oozed substance and character.” 

Known best for his car collection that can be viewed by appointment at his private museum, The Titus Museum of Transportation & Collectibles in South Delhi, which exhibits cars, motorcycles, horse carriages, Osler crystal chandeliers, gilded furniture and rare antique books, he even has a Douglas DC3 Dakota Aircraft parked on its sprawling front lawns. To maintain them, he employs a team of mechanics, painters, carpenters and supervisors. 

His museum houses a number of vintage Cadillacs, Chevrolets, Austins, Mercedes, Jaguar, Buicks, a Dodge, Pacards, a Studebaker, an Alpha Romeo, a Pierce Arrow and a precious Belgian Minerva. His all-time favorite is the 1933 Minerva, Type AL, which once belonged to Raja Mohammed Amir Ahmed Khan of Mahmudabad. Only 33 ALs were made by Minerva Motors, Belgium, of which only 11 survive worldwide. 

“A friend helped me buy this car and was purchased ‘sight unseen’ because Raja Saheb was tired of previous enquiries and stipulated that he would show it only after the purchase price was paid.” His other favorite is the 1939 Dodge Processional Car which once belonged to the Maharaja of Palitana, now in Gujarat.