A trip down the Memory Lane….Vintage Cars Museum

Ahmedabad has always had a lot to offer in terms of history and culture. Whether it’s the beautiful archaeological sites of Adalaj Stepwell and Modhera’s Sun temple or the historical and spiritual adobe of Gandi Ashram. But this week I discovered a totally unexpected element of Ahmedabad’s historic prides – a sprawling vintage car collection with over 105 cars.

A proud collector Mr. Pranlal Bhogilal, founder-president of the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India, has converted his personal car collection into a museum named Auto World Vintage Vintage Car Musuem – Dastaan Farms. The museum is open to public at a nominal fee of Rs 50 per person. And in case you plan to capture some of those eye pleasing wonders, like the giant Daimler, on your camera then you would have to buy an additional camera pass for Rs 100. But the wonderful pics are worth much more than that nominal charge. Checkout some of the pics I managed to click @http://www.flickr.com/photos/11193960@N06/set

To begin with it’s a great drive from Ahmedabad, along the SG(Sarkhej-Gandinagar) Highway. Newly constructed toll-road on which we went speeding on our bikes at 110-120 kmph. A must see place if you have half a day to spare in Ahmedabad. Think of any car brand that you have ever heard of (and some ever unheard of) – the Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Jaguars, Mayback, Daimlers, Langodas, Maybach, Pakards, Cadillacs, Buicks, Austin, Ford, Lancias, Chryslers and Lincolns. And the most amazing part is that each one of them is in perfect driving condition. There is a car with complete wooden exterior as well as a car built completely with silver aluminium body and then there in a 1906 Ford. They also offer rides around the estate for a charge of Rs 500 in some of these beauties.

Someone fascinated with automobiles, as most of boys naturally are, it’s probably the best getaway around Ahmedabad. Even the attendents at the museum are more than happy to take you around the aesthetically laid out museum which is planned in a way that you don’t miss out on any of the cars.

Plus the place also has a great restaurant that serves some nice authentic Gujarati food at very nominal prices. Just the perfect settings to discuss and savour your memorable experience before kick staring the ride back home.

Address :

Auto World, Dastan Farms, Kathwada, Sardar Patel Ring Road, Ahmedabad. Ph. 079-22820699 – (they were more than happy to assist us with driving direction when we called this number)

Driving Directions :

From SG Highway, turn right after Nirma University to get onto SVP Ring Road,
Keep going straight passing 3 toll booths – Bhat, Tragad and Ranasan.
Keep going straight towards Baroda from Kathwada circle (with power grid) for about 3 km.
You’ll see big hoarding on left which indicates take a right for the Auto World Vintage Car Museum/Restaurant.