An interview with Karl Bhote – A young man who has already made such a huge difference! EXCLUSIVE!!

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      Born on the 7th of October 1985, Karl Bhote today, at 21 years of age, living at Pune city,  is a role model for young and old vintage car and bike collectors, restorers and fans alike. 

Karl has always found cars fascinating, ever since he can remember, and as thrilling as a youngster might find playing in a sand box, Karl always preferred to get drawn in by the beauty of cars, especially vintage cars. His father shares the same passion for cars as his son does, and hence it’s easy to assume that it’s a classic case of “like father, like son”. Upon asking Karl why does he have such an insatiable desire and passion for vintage cars, he replies with a smile on his face, showing the calmness of a person who has been asked the same question a hundred times over, and yet has the patience of a sage to answer it with the same enthusiasm and grace as he must have the first time, “Vintage cars are so much more unique, charming and elegant, it’s as if each car has it’s own personality, it’s own unique story, it’s own individual personality. It’s the very fact that these cars were often built to order, and that no 2 cars are alike, that makes them so special, like a puzzle that keeps unraveling throughout one’s magical journey of exploring them” 

It all started with Karl getting his hands on his aunt’s 1960 standard 10, which has been passed down for 3 generations! Some of the current list of cars and bikes that he is working on includes a 1960 standard 10, a 1960 fiat, a 1973 fiat, a 1956 Volkswagen Beetle, a 1956 Triumph and a Tiger 100 Motorcycle to name a few. Apart from this, he is constantly helping out his friends, associates and basically everyone who needs help, with their vintage beauties. Hence it wouldn’t be wrong to refer to him as the “Doctor Dolittle of Vintage cars!

A Brain-Child of this amazing young man, that has caught the eye of many a car collector and admirer, is the body created by him and Mr. Subhash Karmakar, called the “FCCC” or as one may choose to call it – “Fiat Classic Car Club of India”. Founded on the 15th of August 2004, the idea that is the driving force behind this group is to get FIAT owners together, increase networking amongst members, thus increasing mutual co-operation, help, and thus developing lasting friendships! Their Club requires no membership fees, no donations and is run on a purely non-commercial basis. The idea behind the club is to keep it as simple as possible, without making it complicated or confusing. No bureaucratic structure or anything like that whatsoever. At it’s current strength of 160 members, it has members from all over the country, and it boasts of some international members as well. “At the date of it’s creation, it’s youngest member was 19 and the oldest was 91 years old ‘young’  ” in the words of Karl.

The ‘FCCC’ holds 2 rallies a year, one on the 15th of August, and the other on the 26th of January. These rallies are linked with a meaningful social cause. They are run in association with the army, police, botanical gardens, doctors to name a few, so that they can use the publicity generated by the rally to the advantage of the cause they have chosen for that particular occasion. They also often contribute to charities, such as recently when they contributed to the paraplegic rehabilitation center. They also recognize and felicitate aging mechanics and individuals who have contributed to the world of automobiles, sometimes their entire lifetimes, yet go no recognition. He also tells me, “It’s not all about the cars, for many of these people, it’s a chance to interact and find time from their busy schedules, for the old timers, it’s about finally getting the respect they should get”. 

When asked why is he obsessed with the FIAT, when youngsters choose to go for the razzle dazzle of modern cars and super bikes, he calmly comments, “ These cars represent the values of that Generation, they are practical, easy to use and maintain, their spare parts are easily available, in a way, they teach me how to live life, keeping things simple and doing them right, combined with hard work and perseverance, are sure ways to success.” He also shares a story of the late Lal Bahadur Shastri, once the prime minister of India, “He had booked a Fiat on installments, despite being the Prime Minister of the nation, and when he tragically passed away, his family chose to pay the remainder of the installments from his pension – Such are the values that the Fiat symbolizes”.

As I start to inquire about his future plans for himself and the ‘FCCC’, he comments determinedly, “To save every vintage car that I can. They are often treated as the children of a lesser god, when in reality, they are works of art in their own right. I’d also like to see a museum made someday, especially about Indian cars, and our rich legacy of vintage car ownership and restoration, right from the Maharajas and the royal families of the yesteryears, to the proud owners who own some of them today. The manufacturing of spares, and raising the public image of these cars also figures high on his list of priorities.”     

The FCCC also actively participates with the FIAT company itself, and the two sides work closely on a variety of topics. The oldest car owned by the members of the FCCC is a 1919 Fiat model, whereas the youngest is a 2007 Fiat model.     

As soon as I feel this interview might have started, it has come to it’s end, and there are places that Mr. Karl Bhote has to be off to, as I thank him for the time he made for me, he smiles warmly and welcomes me to enjoy the hospitality of his welcoming home anytime I may desire, and I must say, with parents as supportive as his, or a sister as helpful, one can only smile and realize, that the future of these old beauties is secure in such capable hands.   

PS – You can see the parts of the interview that I recorded on video in the two video clips below, also enclosed are some other pictures and a few article scans.