Roshan’s revving passion for restoring classic cars
Living up to its, name the Fairmont is a classic collectible which was lovingly restored by Newcastillian, Roshan Deochand, and it is a beast to be reckoned with.
‘Reborn’ is the registration which adorns the menacing, metallic orange 1970 Ford Fairmont 351 GT.
Living up to its name, the Fairmont is a classic collectible which was lovingly restored by Newcastillian, Roshan Deochand, and it is a beast to be reckoned with.
Mr Deochand is a well-known road construction contractor, and lives in Newcastle with his wife and daughter.
At just 15-years-old, his interest in restoring classic cars stemmed from his late father’s immense dedication to rebuilding a 1948 Chevrolet fleetline.
“We spent countless hours and effort refurbishing that,” he explained. “This helped create a strong relationship between my father and I.”
After his father’s death in 2003, his legacy and passion for classic cars lived on.
“It was then i acquired the ‘Mean Machine’ 1970 Ford Fairmont.”
It has taken him approximately two years to complete the restoration.
“Every ounce of sweat shed was all worth it! Each panel of the car was hand-sanded to metal, before being primed and prepared for the final coat. Every detail of the car was kept original,” said a proud Mr Deochand.
Mechanical parts and various accessories for the Fairmont were imported internationally, as it was not available in South Africa.
“The Fairmont currently tops a speed of 200 miles, which converts to 320 kilometers.”
Mr Deochand has big dreams for his classic beauty, as he plans to modify the engine into a V8 and add branches with a bigger carburetor.
“I have not taken her out of town yet, but the furthest I’ve pushed her was 120 miles, which is about 190 kilometres,” smirked Mr Deochand.
Mr Deochand’s wife supports his obsession of classic cars, although spending many hours and an unlimited amount of money, she feels it is over-doing it.
When asked what he enjoyed most about restoring vintage pieces he said, “I like that when I drive the Fairmont around town, it turns heads because it is unique.”
By successfully turning his hobby into a passion with the Fairmont, Mr Deochand is now planning to move on to the iconing American ‘muscle car’ – the Ford Mustang.
“I purchased a 1968 Ford Ranchero, which I scouted as a restoration project. I find comfort in restoring cars, as it gives me a sense of achievement to know that I’ve built something from scratch. I am proud of my cars.”
With the intention of leaving a legacy behind, just like his father, Mr Deochand’s intention is to gift his car collection to his daughter, Arisha, who shares her fathers passion for restoring classic cars.
