Every year, on Republic Day and Independence Day, Hyderabadis are treated to a rare sight of a vast fleet of vintage cars parked along the Chirag Ali Lane in Abids. A large crowd gathers from morning to evening in the narrow lane to catch a glimpse of the collection of vintage cars and bikes of Captain Kayarmin F Pestonji who acquired nearly 45 historic cars and an equal number of bikes within a span of just five years, between 1990 and 95.

A commercial pilot by profession and a keen rallyist, Pestonji gave up his passion when the phenomenal success of his readymade apparel retail business in Hyderabad with its own homegrown brand, Cherma’s, left him with little time to pursue his earlier hobbies of rallying and racing. His love for automobiles and the satisfaction he gained from tinkering with them led him to start collecting and restoring vintage cars and bikes.

Pestonji was born into a Parsi family of Hyderabad. His father was a government officer. Originally hailing from Tarapore village, his forefathers –two brothers, Seth Viccaji Meherji and Seth Pestonji Meherji – were invited by the Nizam’s dewan to Hyderabad to open a banking house. With the Nizam’s permission they minted their own coins known as the Pestonshahi Sicca, the only Parsi family to ever do so.

In Pestonji’s fleet is a 1952 Dodge which still bears the board of “King Kothi – A” (the palace of the last Nizam). It was used by Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali till his demise. The car has been retained with its original colour and upholstery. “There was one thing in the car that nobody could understand what it was. It was in the bonnet, fitted on the firewall on the engine side with two wires connected to it. It was a burglar alarm – a very sensitive one. If people who gathered to see the Nizam’s car even touched it the horn would start blowing,” explained Pestonji.

The Captain also has a 1962 Oldsmobile used in the coronation of the last Nizam’s grandson Mukarram Jah. It is said Prince Mukarram Jah had gifted an entire palace, the Barkat Villa to a Hyderabad Civil Services officer in exchange of the Oldsmobile. While two of his cars came from the Danta royal family of Gujarat including a Buick, one of his favourite cars belonged to the scion of the Holkars who had bought a custom-built stretch limousine Cadillac. The 85-year-old custom-built car even had a partition glass between the cabins of the passenger and the driver along with an intercom to communicate with the chauffeur.

Pestonji’s brother-in-law, who owned a fire tender manufacturing business and had settled in Ahmedabad, helped him locate old dilapidated but rare cars. His first car was a 1928 model Ford with rumble seat, bought from a vintage car dealer in Hyderabad. He had gone with the intention of buying one, but ended up with three; the last one was restored by him.

His collection also includes the personal car of Nargis – a convertible Plymouth 1953 model which she drove in the movies of 1950s. Another precious car is a 1933 Packard which had the automatic adjustable radiator grille with engine temperature control fitted into the car for harsh winters. “The Packard’s grille has a thermostat which keeps it open once the engine reaches a certain temperature,” said the Captain.

Eyes twinkling with humour, Pestonji regaled his audience with the story of acquiring this particular car from a 70-year-old Gujarati gentleman who insisted that he must get his own petrol for test driving the car. It turned out to be a petrol guzzler with very low mileage. He also has a limited edition Hupmobile sedan and a Second World war convertible Benz similar to the vehicles used by Hitler. He has a 1933 custom built Buick with extra long chassis and fitted with a small dining table in front of the rear passenger seat.

Once, while travelling from Baroda to Ahmedabad, he found a vintage convertible car in the fields of a farmer that was fitted with a jeep’s engine and gearbox and a plough at the back. It was being used to plough the fields. Another stretch limousine of 1936 from a royal family had a P6 truck engine fitted to it while the original engine was still lying in the storeroom. The oldest car in his collection is a 1919 Fiat with three doors and a wooden body and a 1923 T Model Ford which are yet to be restored.

“My only regret is that at that time I avoided buying cars which were in pretty bad condition in terms of bodywork. I missed out on some very good vehicles,” said Pestonji.

All 45 cars are in motorable condition, well maintained by a small team of mechanics, busy in the task of restoring and maintaining the beauties. However, he has never sold a car and treats them like his own babies. “I sell only garments, never cars,” pat comes his reply to anybody who even dares to suggest it.