3 generations of roadsters traveling from India to UK in 73-year-old vintage car

By Merve Berker

A 73-year-old vintage car called the Lal Pari has been traveling all the way from India to its native UK, with three generations witnessing its journey.

Speaking exclusively to Anadolu, its current owner, Daman Thakore, recounted the lifetime journey of their beloved car, how and why the journey started, which countries the iconic car will be visiting, and how long this trip will take.

In addition, he also explained what this car means to him and his entire family, what it taught them during their adventure, and their message for the whole world.

"My mom used to tell me bedtime stories in which we were always caught up in dangerous situations and a red car would come flying in and save us,” he said, recalling childhood memories.

"My mother and father bought this 1950 MG YT and we named it Lal Pari, which actually means 'Red Fairy' or 'Red Angel,'" he added.

This is the first time their beloved car is outside India. Having started on Aug. 28, they plan to complete the journey on Nov. 5 for over three months in total on the road.

"Our car is actually British, so we thought, why not drive it all the way to its homeland, the UK," he said.

"We — three generations of one family — are attempting to become the first Indians to take a 1950 car that is registered in India to travel by road from India to London," he said.

The plan is to travel 12,000 kilometers (over 7,450 miles), crossing 16 countries in total.

"So me, my father and my uncle started driving Lal Pari from India. So far, we have visited Dubai, Iran, and now we are in Türkiye," said Thakore.

Moving on its Eastern European leg, their adventure will take them next to Greece, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia.

After that, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and finally, the UK, are in their sights.

- Donating smiles

"We have given so much for this car to run again," said Thakore, describing the excitement that Lal Pari inspires wherever they go.

Having been through so many communities during these travels, the seasoned globetrotter said that if people did just a little bit more for others, the world would be a better place.

"If you have money, you can donate it. We have Lal Pari, and we said, why not donate smiles to people?"

Describing himself as a "regular messenger," Thakore said their aim was to spread love and joy, represent unity and Indian values, and "convey the message that people have to follow their dreams and take care of beloved ones."

"Life is not always easy, and you do not always get to be happy. So people should accept it with all its hardships and be patient about it," he emphasized, adding that Lal Pari is an important part of his life, teaching all this through the different experiences it led them to encounter, along with the lesson: "Exploration and adventure are timeless."