6 hours Ago By Sulogna Mehta
Seven decades ago, in May 1954, a Morris Minor car brought newborn Valerian Miranda and his mother home from the hospital in Madras (Chennai). Cut to February 2025. The 1952-model car, purchased by Valerian’s father from Addison Motors, Chennai, in June 1952, was shipped to Houston, USA, to be with Valerian once again, as there was no one in India to take care of his beloved ‘family member.
’ Interestingly, the cost (over Rs 13 lakh) of shipping the old, unusable car was over five times the present valuation of the car. In an era when the affluent change their cars every few years to make a style statement with bigger and more luxurious models, Valerian stands out as someone who honours his parents’ wish that the old car be treasured. A LOYAL COMPANION Retired architect Valerian recalls, “My father was the first owner of this new imported made-in-England car, a black one with the number MEQ 8136.
It travelled with him to whichever city he was posted to. Apart from its being my father’s loyal companion, it was also my friend and I drove it occasionally, especially during my college days. After my father passed away in 1988, we found that our driver had changed and sold some rare parts of the car on the pretext of ‘repair.
’ It was last driven on the roads in 1990, after which it was kept in our home garage in Bengaluru. However, after my sister’s demise in 2022, we sold the house and the car was kept at a friend’s premises in Whitefield. There was no covered garage and there was nobody to take care of it.
So, I decided to bring it to the US permanently, where I had shifted with my family over three decades ago.” “When they were children, my sons used to play with it in the garage, pretending to drive. My mother promised the car to my younger son who was particularly fond of it.
It was her wish not to sell it but let her grandsons keep it,” says Valerian. While Valerian’s elder son is a surgeon, the younger one, a mechanical engineer is delighted to see this car again. THE JOURNEY TO USA Valerian made at least three trips from the US to India to chalk out plans to ship the car.
Though many people tried to persuade him to sell it in India, he did not relent. “I spent around `10 lakh per trip to India and the huge cost of transporting the vehicle far surpassed the car’s current value. After a long search for a shipping company, finally, through my wife’s relatives, I entrusted the work to SPL Logistics,” he shared.
Srikanth Rao, vice-president, operations and strategy of Vizag-based SPL Logistics, revealed that planning to ship the car began in August 2024 and the owner finally received it in mid-February 2025. “No carrier was willing to ship it because it required complex paperwork and permission from different departments. The car was packed and carried by road from Bengaluru to Chennai port and then shipped in a container to Houston, travelling by sea for about two months,” he said.
Another Vizag-based company, Elite Logix Exim Agency, provided the container for shipping. CAR AWAITS MAKEOVER Once the car arrived in Houston port and customs clearance was given, Valerian drove 160 kms in his pick-up truck to receive his ‘oldest family member.’ “I have collected over 30 old cars in three decades.
However, the Morris Minor is not only the oldest, but very special to me. I will get the required parts from England and restore it. It will be with our Family Trust after my lifetime.
My greatest happiness would be to see my grandson (who is now three years old) drive this car once he is eligible,” he quips..
