The nation is mourning the sad passing away of the national icon – Sir Ratan Tata – but it is important to take inspiration from his life
In this post, we shall discuss the car collection of the late Ratan Tata. He left this world on Wednesday at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. There is a massive outpour of emotions from all across the nation. People have been devastated by this irreparable loss. It is a unanimous sentiment around the country that there won’t ever be another gem quite like Sir Ratan Tata and I echo that claim. In any case, let us step back from these emotions and take inspiration from his life. Here are the top vehicles in his garage.
Car Collection of Ratan Tata
| Cars of Ratan Tata |
| Land Rover Freelander |
| Mercedes-Benz SL500 |
| Ferrari California T |
| Tata Nano |
| Tata Nexon |
Land Rover Freelander
The most recent vehicle Ratan Tata was spotted in was the Land Rover Freelander. It is a slightly rare model from the iconic Tata-owned Range Rover. Under its tall hood sits a potent 3.0-litre engine which generates a cool 296 hp and 650 Nm of peak power and torque. Performing the transmission duties is an 8-speed automatic gearbox distributing power to all four wheels. That makes it one of the most successful luxury off-roading SUVs on the planet. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h comes up in just 7.5 seconds despite the huge dimensions. This model retails between Rs 93.55 lakh and Rs 2.30 Crore, ex-showroom.
Mercedes-Benz SL500
One of the most expensive vehicles Ratan Tata owned was a Mercedes-Benz SL500. The billionaire had a knack for owning all sorts of automobiles ranging from ultra-luxurious and powerful to absolute budget cars. This belongs to the former. The SL500 is an iconic automobile in the history of the German car marque. Under its long hood, you will find a ginormous 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V8 engine making a healthy 306 hp. This is a two-seater convertible which is not all that common. This is one of the older vehicles of Sir Ratan Tata.
Ferrari California T
The car collection of Ratan Tata even contained a swanky and sporty Ferrari California T. Now, we know that Ferrari represents the absolute best in terms of driving dynamics and performance. The fact that Ratan Tata had it in his garage is a clear indication that he was a speed buff and loved fast cars. This red beauty carries a potent 3.9-litre V8 engine under its voluptuous bonnet which is good for a whopping 553 hp and 755 Nm of peak power and torque. Performing transmission duties is a 7-speed automatic gearbox. This combination results in a blistering performance. In India, the sport cars retailed for Rs 3.50 Crore, ex-showroom.
Tata Nano
The biggest example of the humility of the great man is the fact that he owned a Tata Nano as well. We all know how passionate he was about the Nano. The aim of the cheapest car in India was to give the regular public the safety and practicality of a car at the price of a two-wheeler. However, the tag of being the cheapest car didn’t resonate too well with the customers. As a result, the Nano didn’t do all that well on the sales charts. Still, Ratan Tata bought one for himself. Not only that, he even had a special iteration of the Nano.
Tata Nexon
The next vehicle in the car collection of Ratan Tata is the Tata Nexon. It is one of the most popular compact SUVs in the country. Nexon also holds the title of being the first Indian car to score a full 5-star safety rating at the Global NCAP. It is inspirational that the legendary businessman even had the Nexon in his garage. This was the pre-facelift model. It used to come with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel engine generating 120 hp / 170 Nm and 115 hp / 260 Nm of power and torque, respectively. There were options of choosing between manual and automatic transmissions. Hence, the needs of all sorts of buyers were taken into consideration.
Jaguar F-Type S
Next up, Ratan Tata also owned a Jaguar F-Type S. Just like his Mercedes-Benz SL500, even the F-Type S was a convertible. The soft-top model was in a sporty red colour. It was a left-hand drive variant which means that he imported it to India. Under its curvaceous bonnet sits a powerful 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine which is able to generate a decent 488 hp and 625 Nm of peak power and torque. Performing the transmission duties is an automatic transmission which powered the rear wheels for the most driving pleasure.
Cadillac DTS
Yet another imported vehicle in the car collection of Ratan Tata was the Cadillac DTS. You must have seen Cadillac being extremely popular in America. Many celebrities in the U.S. purchase cars from Cadillac. However, it is not all that common in India. Still, Ratan Tata had imported one to India as well. It was a Cadillac DTS 4-door sedan with prominent chrome grille and wheels. This vehicle had a colossal 4.6-litre V8 petrol mill with an automatic transmission. The appearance of this vehicle evidently possesses American design philosophy.
Pontiac Firebird 400
Then there is the Pontiac Firebird 400 in the garage of the legend. This represents that he even harbour a knack for vintage vehicles. You must know that even MS Dhoni has this vehicle. This is one of those rare beauties which you will almost never see on the Indian roads. Still, Ratan Tata was one of the very few personalities in India to drive it. This 2-door American muscle car definitely had a road presence unlike any other car out there. Despite being a vintage car, Ratan Tata had kept it in top shape which is a testament to the fact that he valued his vehicles a lot.
Maserati Quattroporte
The Maserati Quattroporte is also one car that Ratan Tata loved. The Italian beauty is among the rare cars in our country. He had it in black colour. This is the 5-generation model which was also known as M139. Under its long hood nestles a powerful 4.2-litre V8 mill or a 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine. Both these engines paired with an automatic transmission. It is unclear which model did Ratan Tata own. Maserati often borrows powertrains from its Italian cousin, Ferrari, but offers incredible interior comfort and amenities to pamper the customers. That is what sets it apart from Ferrari.
Buick LeSabre
The next rare vehicle in the car collection of Ratan Tata is the Buick LeSabre. Buick is an American car marque which is not all that popular in our neck of woods. Still, the fact that Ratan Tata had one is representative of his knowledge and passion for international vehicles. He was fascinated by American cars since he had studied in the U.S. The Buick LeSabre was available with either a 3.0-litre V6 or a two 3.6-litre V6 alternatives. We are not clear about which one did he possess. Buick still makes cars in the U.S. but is not all the popular in other parts of the world.
Chrysler Sebring
Ratan Tata also possessed a Chrysler Sebring in his garage. Again, this is an American car which must have been imported to India by Ratan Tata. Reportedly, he fell in love with the colour of the car and used the same colour on the Tata Indica when it was showcased at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show. The Sebring remained in production between 1995 and 2010. Many celebrities in the United States of America possess this car. As far as Ratan Tata’s vehicle goes, it bears the 0555 number plate which we see on most Ratan Tata cars. He even got it repainted in special colour.
Cadillac XLR
The next Cadillac vehicle of Ratan Tata was the XLR. It bears the typical Cadillac demeanour with that iconic headlamp and a rugged body. What I find particularly exciting is the fact that he didn’t opt for the familiar Cadillac SUVs like the Escalade. This is a clear indication that he loved the comfort and performance of sedans. That is why we see so many sedans in his garage both from the era gone by and the new-age times. The XLR comes with a large 4.6-litre Northstar V8 engine which is manufactured by General Motors. It is common for GM to supply its engine and transmissions to many other carmakers. Even this model is painted in a dark red/maroon shade.
Honda Civic
Finally, Sir Ratan Tata also possessed a Honda Civic. It was a premium mid-size sedan for the mass market. It was positioned between the regular sedans and premium sedans in India. During its time, it was a popular offering. Ratan Tata was spotted driving it on many occasions up until a few years ago. In fact, it is said that he loved to drive this car. In any case, these are the top vehicles Sir Ratan Tata owned during his lifetime. I wish everyone learns something from the life of this great man, the likes of which we won’t perhaps see again!
Also Read: How Ratan Tata Revolutionized Tata Motors
