Ravi Shastri’s Audi 100 gets restored at the Super Car Club Garage
Raymond chairman Mr Singhania ensured no replica parts were used
Restoring cars is a passionate business, and the hardcore petrolheads would be privy to Mr Gautam Singhania’s passion for automobiles. No wonder the Chairman and MD of Raymond Group opened up a restoration facility called Super Car Club Garage (SCCG) in Thane during the lockdown to help enthusiasts transform their prized possessions to their original and immaculate condition. And the most recent recipient of this transformation was the celebrated cricketer and Indian cricket team’s former coach Ravi Shastri.
Cricket enthusiasts would be aware that Mr Shastri had won an Audi 100 executive sedan at the 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Australia. However, the Audi was reportedly in bad condition with several parts missing, broken lights and a ruined state of the interior. The same was reciprocated to Mr Singhania, a close friend of Mr Shastri, and the former took it up as a challenge to restore the car in its original glory.
A representative of the Raymond Group stated, “Mfa1 came to us in a very poor condition. The car had done its rounds and visited many garages that were unable to get the car repaired as they weren’t in a position to procure the parts.” Though upon the Audi 100’s handover to SSC, the car was put back together in a matter of eight months.
“We went through various countries’ old part auction sites and brokers and scrap yards. It was a shock to know that only a limited number of cars survived. Mr Singhania was very clear that he wouldn’t use any replica parts, therefore the task became even more challenging. Different bits and pieces were bought, collected and shipped from all over the world. Bodywork painting had already started by that time, the original colour code was also procured from the manufacturer so we could have the original colour shade which was on the car when the car was presented in 1985. The engine, wiring, air conditioning and all electrical including power windows have been worked on at SCCG.”
June 3rd 2022, marked the day when Mr Singhania handed the Audi 100 numbered MFA 1 back to Mr Shastri. The car was restored in factory finish state, and the handover ceremony took place at The Atelier – JK House, Breach Candy.
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