A Cold Foggy Morning, a Hot Cup of Tea and a Date with an old Classic Car.
I am not a morning person, waking up at 10 AM is my version of an early start. So why was I up at 8 AM, fully awake with a grin spanning ear to ear ? The reasoning was simple. From the time I started on this trip all I wanted to do was two things ; one, take a lot of pictures and two , drive an old car wherever I go. An SD card full of pictures was more than enough proof that the first task was done. However the latter had not even come close to completion. Sure, the drive up to the Nuwara Eliya was in a car , but a small engine coupled with a slushbox gave no inkling of driving satisfaction.

So there I was on cold Nuwara Eliya morning, having finished a cup of hot tea and eager to go drive the car. As I first approach the car I see its not in it’s perfect condition , but I had committed to this and did not want to chicken out. Upon closer inspection I realize the car is looking even worse for wear, but the owner tells me he’s had it for over 15 years and its working condition. After exchanging pleasantries and emergency contacts , we part ways. I get into the old Toyota, make sure the gear is in neutral and turn the key. Within seconds the engine roars to life and then the revs settle into an unnervingly calm idle. The initial impressions were that this car was a cruiser and nothing else.

Old car, youngish man-child, I had attracted quite the bit of attention at my accommodation so I was determined not to stall the car. Dropped the gear into first, let off the clutch and let it slowly roll forward. And then we were off. Slowly let on the gas , okay this isn’t too bad , and then lets see how the brakes work. Slam on the brakes … Nothing. *insert expletive* and then suddenly the brake bites and we come to a stop. That was … different. Dialing in a few characteristics of the car allowed me to have more confidence and I was tearing up those twisty roads in no time. The lack of tire in the rear allowed the rear end to dance about in corners and was a very different sensation than I was used to.
I stop at a few places I needed to take pictures at and after taking a few I stop and start thinking to myself. This car is really really fun. The fact it was in such poor condition put me in such a mental state that I was very easily amused by the smallest of reactions and that’s probably why I really love old cars.


I returned to my car and started driving again. The ever present Nuwara Eliya fog had thickened and I could not see 10 metres in front of me. So I pulled off into a small park right area. In the last few months I have discovered that I like going to small “petti kades” or tiny makeshift shops instead of the massive touristy places. I feel like I can find a better bearing of local culture and opinion in such places. A young boy, around 2–3 years younger to me, beckons and asks me if I wanted tea. As I sit down with the tea and my camera, he asks me about the car. I honestly believe I would not have met the amount of people I have, if It weren’t for cars.


The fog clears, I finish my tea and I head out. There is more traffic on the road now so I can’t push the car as much. The second thing I have discovered about myself in the last few months is that I really like to push old machines to their limits. There is something so satisfying about an old 4 cylinder screaming its guts out over 3000 RPM. I mean sure you could have driven a new car that fast with half the effort but whats the point?



The time to hand the car over comes and I don’t feel any feelings of regret. This was a very fun car , an amazing experience and subject of many stories/photographs but I did not want to own one. The owner picks up the car and drives away. I probably wont ever drive that specific car again, nor will the car be driven in such anger as it was with me. But It makes me happy that even in the most remote of places, there is still a classic car.
