Vintage cars to roll down Guwahati streets on Sep 29

Guwahati, Sep 25 (UNI) Cars that had once behind its wheels the likes of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Rajiv Gandhi will take to the streets of Guwahati on September 29.

With 15 bikes of good old days to accompany, as many as 35 vintage cars would roll out on the streets of this capital city of Assam on Saturday in a rally organised by the chief collector of vintage items in the entire North Eastern region Pickloo Deka.

Mr Deka said the rally is part of his endeavour to push for a permanent display centre for his collection of vintage cars, bikes and various other items.

He said, ''I want to preserve these items for the future generations so that they can see from where the amenities they enjoy now evolved.'' State Cabinet Minister Rockybull Hussain will himself take on the wheel of one of these cars, Mr Deka said, adding that former owners and other vintage car enthusiasts will drive the other cars.

The bikes would be displayed on trucks as getting expert riders for these bikes was a problem, he added.

As a result of Mr Deka's personal initiative and labour, 25 of his cars will participate in the rally and the remaining 10 will be of his associates.

The state tourism department is supporting the rally, with the lone financial support for the event till now coming only from the Numaligarh Refinery Limited, which has promised petrol for the rally.

The cars that would roll out on Saturday included the Ford car used by the late Rajiv Gandhi to drive his mother, late Indira Gandhi, to the airport here during one of their visits.

Currently owned by Mr Deka's close associate Raja Das, the Ford car was part of the Governor's pool car at that time and was used by Assam's first chief minister late Gopinath Bordoloi. It was fitted with air conditioning facilities, a most rarity during those days.

Another Chevrolet car of 1920 make, driven by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, will also feature in the rally.

A vintage Chevrolet car owned by the owners of 'The Assam Tribune' group, a leading newspaper group, is also likely to feature in the rally as is another Jaguar of the 1940s, presently owned by Tanmay Das.

UNI