The Historic Adlers of Calcutta

Text & Images: Yatharth Sheth

In Calcutta, the two Adler Trumpf Junior cars from 1938 & 1939 stand as rare relics of Calcutta’s pre-war automotive history. Originally imported in the late 1930s, these German cars were used by expatriates and progressive Indian professionals, valued for their modern design and suitability to the city’s streets. Their presence was short-lived, disappearing with the outbreak of the Second World War. German engineering, front-wheel drive, and sleek styling made the Adler an exclusive status symbol in pre-war Calcutta.

Today, these two mechanical relics are under the careful stewardship of Mr Gadai Chandra Dey and Mr Raja Basu Chowdhury. Both cars have remained within their respective families since they were first acquired by their grandfathers, and have been preserved in immaculate condition. Together, they represent an important chapter of European influence on Calcutta's pre-war motoring culture.

The 1939 Adler, belonging to Hon'ble Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury of the Calcutta High Court, has its own fascinating story. During its retrieval, the front-left tyre went flat and had to be stuffed with hay to keep the car moving. As it made its way through the Khidirpur market, the wheel suddenly came off and crashed into one of the many makeshift roadside stalls.

The car had lain abandoned for nearly two decades at the family's farmhouse in Kulpi, Jadavnagar, before finally being retrieved and brought back to Calcutta. It was restored during the 1980s with the assistance of Mr Arun Dutta. Today, the Adler attracts attention wherever it goes and has earned a special place among members of the legal fraternity associated with the Calcutta High Court.

Several years after Indian Independence, Mr Gadai C. Dey received the Adler from his grandfather as a graduation present. In 1965, he decided to retrieve the long-forgotten car and have it carefully restored. Nicknamed 'Survivor', it has remained in immaculate condition ever since and is now cared for by his son, Richeek.

Today, the custodians have ensured that these automobiles, whose presence in the city was short-lived, have survived the test of time. They continue to make people, especially old-timers, think and reminisce about the era of German motoring in Calcutta.