Ramnath N Pai Raikar
Panaji: The red coloured 1959 Mini Minor model of Morris car owned by Goan vintage car enthusiast Milind Angle has won an award in the Maharaja category at the 11th edition of the 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance, which recently concluded in Gurugram.
The event was held from February 21 to February 23 and showcased a spectacular blend of vintage automobiles and rich Indian cultural heritage, which featured an extraordinary line-up of rare automobiles, attracting over 25,000 enthusiasts and visitors from across the country.
Angle, who had been honoured at the same competition-cum-exhibition two years ago for his traveller model of Morris car, said that he was happy to have his both vintage cars, dating back to the Portuguese era, awarded at the prestigious biennial event.
Speaking to The Navhind Times, Angle said the 1959 Mini Minor model of the Morris car was launched by UK-based Morris Motors Limited – which became British Motor Corporation in 1952 – on August 26, 1959. “However, my car was rolled out of the factory in December, the same year, and arrived in the then Portuguese-ruled Goa by ship at the end of January 1960,” he said.
“The particular model is the only model of this car manufactured in 1959 that exists not only in Goa, but the entire country,” Angle said.
He said that in 1959, at the height of the Goan freedom struggle, Goa faced economic blockade from India and not even a needle could be imported from Independent India to Goa. “However, all the imported goods, including vehicles arrived in Goa from European countries by way of ships,” he said, revealing that the car came from a Vasco-based car agency.
Speaking further, Angle said that he is the only owner of the 1959 Mini Minor model of Morris right from its purchase, and the car has been always operational, even though it received routine coats of paint and replacement of some parts.
“In fact, over the years, I have been purchasing spare parts for this car from the company, and they have been providing me with substantial discount on these parts,” he said, “However, the huge import duty on the parts as well as the heavy courier charges has nullified the benefit of the discount.”
Angle also said that he had visited UK in 2019, when Morris Motors Limited celebrated its 60th anniversary of the 1959 model of the car. “I could not take my car to UK; however, many owners of this particular model of the vehicle were present at the event with their cars,” he said.
