then its tool kit had amongst others, a vertical type manual tyre-pump, tyre levers AND “Firestone Hot Patch” puncture repair kit ! My Dad could handle all these by himself, including mounting/dismounting of the 4.50.17 X-ply tyres from their Rims (He was an ace footballer of his times), with us kids handing him over, with due admiration, the proper tools as and when required.

If I look back at all those ‘system failures’, I’m more than convinced that the Cars which the Brits then flogged on to India which the ‘Natives’ lapped up gratefully unlike today - were anything but ‘Tropicalised’ or adopted for the Indian weather and road conditions. Yet none complained, perhaps with the ‘slave’ attitude so deeply drilled into us then?

When the family graduated to a Fiat (1965) after almost ten years of its introduction in India, due to economic reasons, the good old Austin suddenly seemed techy wise very inferior (mostly on NVH/Ride quality fronts). Eventually a well known Tailor of Gwalior bought it off us in 1966, again for Rs:6.5K, since a new Fiat then cost Rs: 15,000/- on road, not to mention five years wait list or Rs:5k premium in lieu thereof!

This Fiat also had more or less a similar maintenance needs/history during the years that followed. It was ‘upgraded’ after 5-yrs only for a 1970 model – which didn’t feel as ‘taut’ as the ’65 one but none the less stood by with my Dad without letting him down as such – other than once perhaps when the its Distributor ‘Point/Spring’ just snapped into two while on the move without any prior warning of as much as a mis-fire!

We had it for the next 30-yrs with more than 100,000 kms on its clock and one Engine and one Suspension overhaul in between. Yet I dream of ‘the’ Austin-8 even 37 yrs after we parted with it. During my last two visits to the UK, I have tried to locate one, if not on the Streets atleast in the various Museums – till I found its eldest Sibling – the last ‘Austin-16 produced sometimes in late ‘40s. Picture the Attachment and the pleased as punch smile on yours truly next to it!

Content generated by S. K. Gupta. - 11/’02.