Sudhir Choudhrie: The Man Behind the World’s Most Enviable Vintage Car Collection
Entrepreneur Sudhir Choudhrie has spent decades building a successful career in international commerce. Renowned for his business acumen and extensive charitable work, Choudhrie is also one of the world’s longest-living heart transplant survivors.
In addition to his professional and philanthropic endeavours, Choudhrie is an avid collector of vintage cars. His collection – one of the world’s most unique – reveals his deep-seated love of automotive history, which began when he was a boy.
Sudhir Choudhrie’s early passion for cars
Choudhrie’s love for vintage cars dates back to his childhood in India. Growing up, he collected Dinky toys and Matchbox cars, sparking a lifelong passion. During this period he collected over 400 models of vintage cars which still exist in his collection. In his early adult life, he attended vintage car rallies and, later on, he supported his wife’s racing endeavours.
When he was 31, he bought his first vintage car: a 1938 convertible Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet D. Acquired for around 50,000 rupees (worth just over £11,000 today), the four-door vehicle was ‘in a terrible condition, with cats living in it.’ Choudhrie later discovered that the car was custom-built and worth much more than he paid for it.
This first acquisition signalled the start of a remarkable journey for Choudhrie. He has now collected 37 vintage cars, which he houses in a dedicated garage in Delhi.
A closer look at the collection
Each car in Choudhrie’s collection has a unique story, such as his 1903 Cottereau Voiturine. The Maharaja of Patiala originally owned the vehicle, and it was one of the first cars ever imported to India. Imported cars arrived in India at the beginning of the 19th century, decades before the first Indian-manufactured car arrived on the roads in 1950’s.
Choudhrie’s collection also contains Cadillacs from 1900 and 1902. Continuing the multinational theme, he bought the U.S.-made vehicles in Europe from a British tea estate manager who lived in southern India.
One of the most prized pieces in Choudhrie’s collection is his 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6B. First introduced at the 1919 Paris Motor Show, this luxury car features a revolutionary design. Its straight-six engine, based on aircraft engines designed by Marc Birkigt, showcases cutting-edge technology.
Notably, the Hispano-Suiza H6B uses deceleration to drive the brake servo. This innovative feature allows for more efficient braking and better fuel economy.
The appeal of vintage cars
Vintage cars, defined as those built before December 1939, represent a fascinating era in automotive history. The early 20th century saw rapid advancements in vehicle technology. From the 1900s to the 1930s, the automotive industry evolved with streamlined designs, safety and comfort innovations, and the mass production of affordable cars like the Model T.
Many collectors feel that owning a vintage car is like owning a piece of this transformative period. As such, restoring and preserving these pieces of history is a crucial aspect of collecting and cherishing automotive heritage.
Restoring vintage cars is a delicate and time-consuming process. Choudhrie’s commitment to restoration is evident, as certain projects have taken him and his team over a decade to complete. The restoration of a 1920s-era Bugatti, for instance, involved extensive labour and international collaboration.
The Bugatti was in a severe state of disrepair when Choudhrie acquired it. The roof of the garage that housed the car had fallen in, badly smashing the vehicle. It’s taken over 10 years to restore the Bugatti, including 3 years just to get permission to send the engine for a custom rebuild in the UK. The car was finally completed in the year 2022.
Sudhir Choudhrie’s plans for his vintage car collection
Choudhrie’s impressive vintage car collection isn’t on display to the public yet, but he hopes it will be in the next few years. He plans to build a museum to exhibit his automotive treasures, so fellow vintage car enthusiasts can visit and enjoy the collection.
Ever the visionary, Choudhrie’s plans don’t end there. He also envisages a convention centre and hotel that will sit alongside the car museum. Additionally, he plans to build an adjoining gallery to house his and his wife’s collection of Indian art. The multifaceted destination will be ‘a place to mix business and pleasure.’
Indeed, vintage cars have given Choudhrie immense pleasure over the years. He plans to place his collection in a trust so future generations can also enjoy them. ‘For me, the pre-war period was the real heyday of the motor car,’ Choudhrie says. ‘This is a way to ensure it is never forgotten.’
About Sudhir Choudhrie
Choudhrie is a prolific entrepreneur and a well-regarded philanthropist. His charitable efforts span various fields, from healthcare to education and the arts.
An Honorary Radcliffe Fellow of Green Templeton College at Oxford University, Choudhrie helped the college set up its annual Emerging Markets Symposium. This initiative addresses the human welfare issues facing emerging economies. Choudhrie is also a member of the university’s Vice-Chancellor’s Circle, reflecting his ongoing support for academic excellence.
After a successful heart transplant operation in 1999, Choudhrie supports the Columbia University Irving Medical Centre in New York. The centre established the Sudhir Choudhrie Professorship in Cardiology with support from the Choudhrie family. The professorship focuses on advancing medical research, specifically in gene therapy and stem cell therapy that could help treat and potentially cure heart failure. Dr Paolo Carlo C Colombo, a member of the centre’s heart transplant team, currently holds the professorship.
From My Heart: A Tale of Life, Love, and Destiny
Choudhrie shares his extraordinary heart transplant story in his candid memoir From My Heart: A Tale of Life, Love, and Destiny (2017). Diagnosed with a leaking heart valve at an early age, Choudhrie faced several health problems, including a period of temporary blindness.
Following years of illness, Choudhrie underwent his heart transplant operation just eight months after the loss of his brother Rajiv, who also suffered from a chronic heart condition. The world-renowned surgeon Dr Mehmet Oz, supported by the world famous Cardiologist Donna Mancini conducted Choudhrie’s life-saving surgery.
Despite the operation’s success, Choudhrie grappled with post-operative trauma. He experienced terrifying visions that required additional therapy to overcome. With support from his family, Choudhrie began his journey towards recovery, gaining a renewed appreciation for life.
Sudhir Choudhrie’s career history
Choudhrie’s entrepreneurial achievements have facilitated his ambitions as a vintage car collector, with his financial success allowing him to invest in his collection. During a multi-decade career, the business leader has earned a strong reputation for growing companies through strategic partnerships and international investments.
In 1973, Choudhrie along with his elder brother Rajiv founded Magnum International Trading Company Ltd, focusing on exploring and expanding India’s export markets. In 1995, he partnered with Taj Hotels Resorts to develop Taj Kerala and a portfolio of local resorts.
Also in 1995, Choudhrie and Adidas AG established Adidas Indian Trading, launching the brand in India and growing a network of 180 stores and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. This venture ended in 2008.
Choudhrie also served as a non-executive director at Ebookers PLC, an early internet travel search agency, from 1999 to 2005. In 2003, he invested in Air Deccan, India’s first budget airline, which grew from owning just one plane to carrying seven million passengers annually by 2008.
Today, Choudhrie leverages over 30 years of investment experience at an international private equity firm. His strategic advice has helped expand the group’s subsidiaries in aviation, banking, healthcare, hospitality, real estate, and utilities. Notable successes include the £95 million sale of UK-based Alpha Hospitals to Cygnet Health Care in 2015.
Choudhrie advises companies worldwide on vision, growth, and risk management. His turnaround strategies have helped numerous businesses achieve sustainable success. In 2013, Theresa May awarded him the ‘Asian Business Lifetime Achievement Award.’
