Cars are often featured in movies— whether in an action sequence, including car chases or a classic song starring the lead actor. Cars have been a permanent fixture in cinemas from time immemorial. They are far from props; their roles have not been restricted to chases in action-packed sequences. Often, an auto has played a loyal sidekick to the protagonist, enjoying as much screen time as the stars of the film.
Photo Credit: flic.kr
Today, we are used to seeing cars being set on fire and blowing up in the air–à la a Rohit Shetty film. In multi-crore films, seeing a rich hero driving fancy cars has become all too common. Yes, might be wowed by the models but they don't stay with us. But there was a time when vintage cars added to the charm of a black-and-white film, sometimes even driving the story forward. Back in the day, actors did not switch cars like their clothes and probably that's what made them special.
When we talk about vintage vehicles and Bollywood, the discussion is incomplete without the 1958 classic comedy Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. That the word car features in the title of the film only reiterates the fact that it is integral to the plot. The movie revolves around three brothers who run a garage; the eldest resent women, so much so that he is against his siblings taking the plunge.
The garage and cars are a constant in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi but the show stopper is a Ford Model A. The film opens with a scene where the three brothers Brijmohan, Jagmohan, and Manmohan—essayed to perfection by Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar, and Kishore Kumar—are stuck in a traffic jam because the four-wheeler gives way. They struggle to get it started, but the car doesn't let up. Brijmohan believes the car isn't starting because there's a woman across the street who is laughing at their plight. Together, the brothers hatch a plan and make faces at the woman, who turns away. Of course, the car starts and what follows is the peppy number “Babu samjho ishaare”. Shot in the Ford as they drive Mumbai, the song remains a favourite.
From there on, the Ford appears in many memorable scenes in the film: lead actress Madhubala is seen behind the wheels and it appears in another all-time hit “Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si”, where Kishore Kumar is seen repairing the car while trying to serenade his love interest.
With the ability to reach the maximum power of 40 BHP, its performance at that time was considered stunning. Combined with a 3.3-litre, 4.4-cylinderical petrol engine, and a three-speed manual transmission system—this vintage car was quite splendid.
Lovingly called “Champion” in the film by the Ganguly brothers, the car held a special place in their hearts; it was owned by their father Kunjalal Ganguly. “My grandfather Kunjalal Ganguly bought it during his Khandwa days and used to travel to Mumbai in it. It was probably a Ford made in 1928, older than my father by a year and its number was CPV 65,” said Kishore Kumar's son Amit Kumar in an interview
The classy coupe is a car that can't be easily forgotten. It looked great, but there was more to it than its stylish hood and over-the-top headlights. With the ability to reach the maximum power of 40 BHP, its performance back in the day was considered impressive. Combined with a 4.4-cylinder, 3.3-litre petrol engine, and a three-speed manual transmission system, this car was truly a wonder on wheels.
The Model A was first produced in 1927 and today, more than a century later, it continues to be a dream car for collectors of vintage vehicles the world over. While the price varies depending on the condition of the vehicle, a coupe could fetch around $17,600 today.
The Model A continues to be evergreen. It's a piece of history that lives on through the blockbuster hit Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, one that is etched in our memory.
