Limousine used by Quaid attracts Lok Virsa visitors

Made by Hudson Motors, Detroit, in 1920, six-cylinder car was preserved by original owners

ISLAMABAD:

The father of the nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had one of the most grandiose lifestyles among the elites of the British Indian subcontinent particularly his choice of luxury cars, besides his well-tailored suits, cigars, high-pedigree dogs.

Jinnah’s villas, the one in Malabar Hills Mumbai and the other presently named Flag Staff House in Karachi, spoke of the successful barrister’s high taste acquired during his education in England.

One of Quaid's vintage car Hudson Limousine Model 1920 was showcased at the Pakistan Monument Museum as it had a huge cultural and historical significance with its old-age grandeur and memories of our great leader.

The limousine was gifted to National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) by the original owners Seth Musaji Essaji's family on the occasion of Quaid's 145th birthday December 25.

The car was used to ferry Quaid-i-Azam to his meetings during his stay in Quetta. The Parsi Seth family would proudly leave the luxury car to the disposal of Jinnah, who besides being a leading political figure and top lawyer of undivided India, was also married into a Pars family.

The vintage car was attracting many local and foreign visitors who could be seen taking selfies with the car.

According to a Lok Virsa official, Ali Khan, the seven-seater right hand drive limousine with a horizontally split windscreen and large full-length running boards was powered by a straight six cylinder petrol engine which was built in-house; this was unusual at the time as many smaller firms used engines made by independent manufacturers.

He said that Hudson was a highly successful automaker between 1909 and 1954; their cars were manufactured in the automobile-hub of Detroit, Michigan. Named after Joseph Lowthian Hudson, a famous entrepreneur of the city, Hudson had a number of industry firsts to their credit such as balanced crankshafts, and dashboard-mounted engine warning lights.

Ali Khan said that the vintage car, manufactured by the Hudson Motor Car Company USA was owned by the Late Seth Musaji Essaji, a prominent dignitary of Quetta, Baluchistan, and his wife Late Daimbai Musaji Essaji.

He said that the Seth Musaji had the honour of hosting the founder of the nation during visits to the city before independence.

He said that originally acquired by Seth Musaji in Karachi, this car remained under the use of his family at Quetta for many years. Here it also saw service ferrying occasional dignitaries, including Quaid-i-Azam.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2021.