India
Everyone looks on with amazement when his 1971 DS21 Pallas is out on the streets of
Hyderabad, in the State of Andhra Pradesh, central India. But Janardhana just smiles and
says "no one here can understand the real value of this car". At least he knows: for he put his
heart into it, and restored it entirely by himself, close to its original condition.
Hyderabad, in the State of Andhra Pradesh, central India. But Janardhana just smiles and
says "no one here can understand the real value of this car". At least he knows: for he put his
heart into it, and restored it entirely by himself, close to its original condition.
A family business
To start with, Yalamanchili Janardhana Rao,
in his 70s now, is not exactly the owner of
the car: it belongs to one of his four sons, Y.
S. Chowdary, a mechanical engineer like
him, and like most men in this big family. But
the ownership question is quickly brushed
aside: it is the family as a whole who
collects vintage cars, and it just happened
that it was that particular son that found that
particular car back in 1991, in Chennai
(formerly Madras, state of Tamil Nadu, on
the Coromandel Coast in south-east India).
Vanku, the old garage owner, gave it saying
"I know your father, only he can make
something out of it".
The car could barely be driven; it took two
full days and a wide array of problems to
cover the 500 km to Hyderabad: spheres
broken, tires exploded, bonnet not locked
properly and opening suddenly...
Janardhana has had a long career in
engineering, and nurtures a passion for
classic cars. As of today, the family has
gathered "about" fifty of them, mostly from
the '40s and '50s, resting peacefully in one
of their stockyards. Janardhana warned me
not to be deceived by the dust: all of them
have a perfectly sound engine and can be
started rightaway. All of them ? I enquire.
May I try one ? Of course, he replies. And
the car's engine starts like a brand new
Toyota. I try another one; same result.
To start with, Yalamanchili Janardhana Rao,
in his 70s now, is not exactly the owner of
the car: it belongs to one of his four sons, Y.
S. Chowdary, a mechanical engineer like
him, and like most men in this big family. But
the ownership question is quickly brushed
aside: it is the family as a whole who
collects vintage cars, and it just happened
that it was that particular son that found that
particular car back in 1991, in Chennai
(formerly Madras, state of Tamil Nadu, on
the Coromandel Coast in south-east India).
Vanku, the old garage owner, gave it saying
"I know your father, only he can make
something out of it".
The car could barely be driven; it took two
full days and a wide array of problems to
cover the 500 km to Hyderabad: spheres
broken, tires exploded, bonnet not locked
properly and opening suddenly...
Janardhana has had a long career in
engineering, and nurtures a passion for
classic cars. As of today, the family has
gathered "about" fifty of them, mostly from
the '40s and '50s, resting peacefully in one
of their stockyards. Janardhana warned me
not to be deceived by the dust: all of them
have a perfectly sound engine and can be
started rightaway. All of them ? I enquire.
May I try one ? Of course, he replies. And
the car's engine starts like a brand new
Toyota. I try another one; same result.
The A to Z of vintage car
restoration on a desert island
The family actually employs full-time a small
teams of mechanics to take care of their
cars (now, that's a good idea, I should do
that someday too). Janardhana introduces
me to the two men especially in charge of
the DS; he says they can entirely
disassemble and re-assemble it over 48
hours without the help of a single sheet of
instructions. After the engine-starting test, I
am ready to believe him.
It took only two years to restore the DS.
Janardhana has had to find out by himself
everything about the car. He has gathered
over the years an impressive collection of
original owners' or repair shops' manuals in
English, and has enjoyed the support of
several fans overseas, some of them
becoming life-time friends in the process.
He has had to build himself some tooling,
and some parts too. He has managed to
import some other parts through a
Singapore-based dealer.
restoration on a desert island
The family actually employs full-time a small
teams of mechanics to take care of their
cars (now, that's a good idea, I should do
that someday too). Janardhana introduces
me to the two men especially in charge of
the DS; he says they can entirely
disassemble and re-assemble it over 48
hours without the help of a single sheet of
instructions. After the engine-starting test, I
am ready to believe him.
It took only two years to restore the DS.
Janardhana has had to find out by himself
everything about the car. He has gathered
over the years an impressive collection of
original owners' or repair shops' manuals in
English, and has enjoyed the support of
several fans overseas, some of them
becoming life-time friends in the process.
He has had to build himself some tooling,
and some parts too. He has managed to
import some other parts through a
Singapore-based dealer.
The rear lights covers
do not look original ?
Of course they're not.
They're hand-made,
using bits of plastic
and a picture from a
book as a reference...
do not look original ?
Of course they're not.
They're hand-made,
using bits of plastic
and a picture from a
book as a reference...
Janardhana shows the
apparatus he built himself in
order to fill the spheres.
apparatus he built himself in
order to fill the spheres.
The two mechanics in charge of the DS.
The engine is very close to its original condition. But
the water tank on top is hand-made, and a 2nd fan
has been added behind the radiator.
the water tank on top is hand-made, and a 2nd fan
has been added behind the radiator.
A unique car
The car itself is a 1971 DS21 Pallas ie
(eletronic injection). Nothing is known about
is history, when it was brought into India, by
whom and why etc. As it is a left-hand
model, not suited to a country where one
drives on the left, it may have been imported
by an expatriate.
Janardhana does not know any other DS in
India, and it is by no means a small
country... Only once, another DS has been
spotted in Hyderabad, by one of his
grandsons. Sometimes people call to
enquire about his car, which has featured in
a couple of local movies, and which has
also won the 1st prize in a local vintage car
contest.
Janardhana wants to bring his car as close
as possible to its original condition. His face
quickly became very serious when I pointed
to the small metallic plate inside the engine
room, showing the original body paint
colour: AC095, i.e. gris nacre (litterally,
mother-of-pearl grey). I bet the car will bear
that beautiful mother-of-pearl grey before
the end of the year, and Janardhana will be
fully entitled to be even prouder of his
beautiful, close-to-perfection DS.
The car itself is a 1971 DS21 Pallas ie
(eletronic injection). Nothing is known about
is history, when it was brought into India, by
whom and why etc. As it is a left-hand
model, not suited to a country where one
drives on the left, it may have been imported
by an expatriate.
Janardhana does not know any other DS in
India, and it is by no means a small
country... Only once, another DS has been
spotted in Hyderabad, by one of his
grandsons. Sometimes people call to
enquire about his car, which has featured in
a couple of local movies, and which has
also won the 1st prize in a local vintage car
contest.
Janardhana wants to bring his car as close
as possible to its original condition. His face
quickly became very serious when I pointed
to the small metallic plate inside the engine
room, showing the original body paint
colour: AC095, i.e. gris nacre (litterally,
mother-of-pearl grey). I bet the car will bear
that beautiful mother-of-pearl grey before
the end of the year, and Janardhana will be
fully entitled to be even prouder of his
beautiful, close-to-perfection DS.
 |
| |
 |
Page creation 02/07/2006, revision 08/01/2007
Janardhana (right) and two of his sons
Top: Y. S. Chowdary at the wheel; below: the car
when purchased
when purchased
All rights reserved DSinAsia 2006-2008, except otherwise indicated
