A physically disabled running a car museum in Coimbatore
Coimbatore, Feb.26 : A physically disabled man in Coimbatore has set up a museum to display his private collection of vintage car models for public viewing. He is holding a month long exhibition to spread public awareness about vintage cars. Set up by George Peter, the physically challenged and a school drop out in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore city, the mini museum has vintage car models from 1770 to 1950.
The car models that appear to be made of metal or wood have actually been made of cardboard. Complete with miniature lamps and horns, these brightly coloured vintage cars are very eye catching."I am running a one man vintage car museum with around 75 vintage car models, all designed by me. The cars range from the period of 1770 to 1950 and are displayed along with a brief history. Now I am also planning to start a mobile museum with these vintage cars, to take them to all parts of the state. This will help in creating awareness about the vintage cars," said Peter.
"Since childhood I was fascinated towards handicrafts. Though I had to discontinue my studies, I still nurtured a dream to set up a museum in Coimbatore. It was after a long wait I could finally manage to have a museum in 1995 related to earth and space. But, during the serial blasts, that hit the city in 1998, the museum was destroyed. I also lost one of my legs in the blast. That did not deter me from setting up another museum in the city related to road transport," added George Peter.Models of Rolls Royce, Ford, Buick and many such vintage models have been on public display in the museum.
Apart from the cars, the museum also displays rarities like world's first train engine, steam engine, wind rowing cars and royal carriages. In all there are 75 models in the collection.The museum, now thrown open for public view, has become a place for vintage car lovers and automobile enthusiasts."Today, I came to know about this month-long car exhibition. I saw a number of cars, done in different models. I never saw such cars during my childhood. I only saw them in books. But now, I can see them in reality," said Karthika, a visitor.Peter has plans to set up a mobile museum so that he could take his special collection to far off regions of Tamil Nadu.
