1959 CHEVROLET IMPALA

Before the Mercedes-Benz became a staus symbol of the high and the mighty in this country in the days after independence, the most outrageous as well as the most ostentatious demonstration of having arrived – literally – was if one drove or was driven in a Chevrolet Impala! This example from 1959 was laid up in a Hyderabad garage for over 30 years before it as liberated by Sukhwant Singh of Indore just last year. Having been boxed into a room barely the length of the car, it had to be eased sideways to be taken out (via oil and grease on the floor).

Thankfully, the entire car was intact and in fine condition, having done just 28,000 miles from new. Walked away effortlessly with top honours in the Preservation class but I wish they had kept the original tyres instead of getting those brand new whitewalls for the event!