The Garage That Time Built

IF HOMES CAN REFLECT A MAN’S SOUL, then Yohan Poonawalla’s garage is its most visceral expression. Not merely a repository for rare automobiles, it is a temple of motion and memory—part archive, part altar, and entirely alive with the energy of passion and precision. “It’s not about value,” he says matter-of-factly. “It’s about how a car makes you feel.”

For Poonawalla, that feeling began not with a single car, but with a single marque— Ferrari. “It was everyone’s childhood dream,” he says. Yet, his obsession with cars wasn’t about speed or flash. Over the years, it has evolved into something far more layered: a chronicle of heritage, identity and of course, impeccable taste.

“Vintage and classic cars? They denote old money,” he muses. “It says something about where you come from.” He’s observed an interesting pattern, too: younger collectors tend to gravitate toward sports cars, chasing adrenaline and aesthetics. But as they mature, they pivot toward gravitas—toward Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. It’s a natural evolution. He should know—his own collection spans all universes: from blistering Lamborghinis to stately Phantoms, smooth Lincoln Continentals to rugged, beast-like Range Rovers. Every car in his kaleidoscopic fleet proudly bears the bespoke YZP plate, and unlike many collectors, he can—and does—drive every single one of them.

Beyond sheer volume and variety, what sets his collection apart is its historical depth. There’s the 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II, once owned by land-speed legend Sir Malcolm Campbell; the 1979 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI from Queen Elizabeth II’s royal fleet; and the 1951 Series 1 Land Rover Defender, previously belonging to the Royal Family of the Princely State of Kutch. He also owns the 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III of Maharaja Panchkote, the 1962 Phantom V of the Emir of Qatar, and the 2005 Goodwood Phantom VII—remarkable not just for its design, but for being the very first Rolls Royce delivered in India after the brand’s five-decade hiatus from the country.

And then comes the crown jewel: his 1928 Phantom I 17EX prototype previously owned by the Maharaja of Kashmir, a two-time Best of Show winner. “It’s a one-of-a-kind prototype,” he shares. “Designed by Henry Royce himself to challenge Bentley at Le Mans, it meant to touch 100mph—but never went into production.” That failure, he says with a smile, became his fortune.

Today, it’s the only one in the world. “There are very few prototype cars ever built. There’s a 10 EX which is in their museum. Most of them are owned by Rolls-Royce now, but 17 EX is the one they don’t have. They’ve asked to borrow mine for a confidential project though.” And that tells you everything you need to know about the weight Poonawalla’s acquisitions carry.

There are some cars in the collection that carry tales that could awe even the most seasoned collectors. Take, for instance, the Maharaja of Mysore’s Silver Wraith Rolls-Royce—a car with a secret jewellery box hidden under the picnic hamper, and over 18kg of solid silver fittings: decanters, scent bottles, sandwich boxes, even vanity kits. WHAT MAKES A TRUE COLLECTOR, in his view, is not the number of cars, but the spectrum. And Poonawalla’s garage is perhaps the most diverse in the country. “We’ve built it together since we got married,” says Poonawalla about Michelle, his wife and co-curator.

“Every car has been a shared decision, every acquisition a story.” The couple seeks out provenance—cars with a soul, a singularity, a secret. “Most of our cars are either one-off editions, rich in heritage, or tied to a historic moment,” he adds. “We’re not interested in the ordinary.” Over the years, Poonawalla has firmly placed India on the global automotive map, representing the country at some of the world’s most prestigious motoring events.

His celebrated collection has earned him numerous accolades, including the Classic Car Ambassador of the Year, Collector of the Year at the Geneva International Motor Show Qatar, and recognition among the Top 100 Classic Car Collectors of the World. He has also been honoured as Hero of the Rally Mille Miglia UAE and has secured several coveted Concours d’Elegance titles, solidifying his standing as a true connoisseur in the international classic car community.

And yet, for all the grandeur, there’s a quiet intimacy to how he celebrates new additions. “No champagne popping,” laughs the teetotaller. “But there’s always a first drive, sometimes in the middle of the night when the world is asleep.” Michelle and the children are always part of the ritual. A small puja—a nod to Indian tradition—is non-negotiable. “Even when we send our cars abroad for shows and exhibitions, we do a little aarti,” Michelle adds.

“It’s our way of grounding the glamour.”

Naming the cars is also part of the fun. There’s the Pope Mobile, a Lincoln Continental imported for Pope Paul VI’s 1964 India visit and later gifted to Mother Teresa. There’s Rubarb and Custard, a Bentley Mark VI previously owned by the Maharaja of Mysore with a whimsical nickname coined by the global collector fraternity—its colour as unique as its legacy. Others carry royal lineage in their names: Mysore, Sachin, Panchkote—homages to the princely states whose rulers once commissioned them.

But does ownership of such expensive and lavish cars change perception? “Everything you own shapes how people see you,” Poonawalla admits. But public opinion was not the agenda. “Initially, people may have seen it as flamboyant,” Michelle adds. “But what he’s achieved on the international map and all the accolades that he’s won for India internationally, has given them a different perception. Today, they understand it’s about preserving history, representing India internationally, and bringing home accolades. It’s a serious pursuit now.”

There are no regrets in their collection either. No lost loves or ‘one that got away’ stories. “I don’t part with my cars,” he says with a grin.

Yet, the pursuit is far from over—and the wishlist remains ever-evolving. “This isn’t a candy shop or like buying some chocolates. They’re not readily available,” he shrugs. “These are rare machines, often one-of-one. You wait. You watch. You get lucky. My collection has evolved over a period of time. So there are always special cars that are on one’s list and I have to acquire them one by one.” And as internal combustion cars give way to electrics, he believes the vintage world will only become more coveted. “I’m not an EV fan,” he confesses. “They lack soul. But fossil-fuel cars—they’ll be sought after like art.”

For the Poonawallas, the collection is both legacy and lifestyle. “It’s something we experience as a family,” he says. “The kids come for shows when they can. They drive with us. They care. Our daughter Tania once rerouted her schedule to receive an award on our behalf in Lake Como. Even as a toddler, my son Zayan chose vintage drives over flashy sports cars. “It’s in their blood,” Michelle smiles.

Poonawalla nods in agreement, adding, “It’s very important that the collection gets passed on to the children. I’ve seen a lot of families where the next generation are not interested, and that can be really heartbreaking. Because as Michelle mentioned, it’s just not cars for the sake of cars or for showing off. It’s also in my blood and I get attached to my cars.”

Beauty trumps practicality often, especially in sports cars. “Low slung, rigid suspensions... it’s hard after a cushy Bentley,” he jokes. “But the thrill has its own place.” And when asked how he explains his passion to someone indifferent to cars, his answer is refreshingly pragmatic: “You don’t. Everyone has their thing—watches, wine, fashion. Cars are mine.”

Some of his most unforgettable drives have been in the UAE—the Mille Miglia rallies, three of them. “On the third one, last De ember, I was awarded with Hero of the Rally Award. Then there are the hairpin curves of Jebel Jais, or cruising vintage steel on the Yas Marina F1 track. You’d never get those roads in India in a thousand years,” he says with a half-sigh.

There are echoes of his childhood, too—a family-owned E-Type Jaguar that he’s since replaced, recreating a photo - graph from 1975 with his son standing be - side the same model. “One in black-and white, one in colour—both of us at about three years old. That’s legacy.” Michelle is more than a co-pilot—she’s his confidante.

“We go to every show together. We decide together.” Though she jokes that sometimes cars appear in their garage overnight. “I thought he’d just paint - ed the red Jaguar grey,” she teases. “Turns out, there were just two now.” Her favourite? Maharani Gayatri Devi’s 1958 Mercedes-Benz SL—a convertible once driven by the queen herself. “Imagine that,” Michelle says, “a Maharani in a sports car. That’s forward-thinking.”

And yes, she does tease him about cars being his first love. “But it’s not true,” he insists. For all their garage-packed vehicles that are valued in millions, we can’t help but wonder if there’s one wheel we’d never find Poonawalla behind. “An EV,” he says, dead - pan. Perhaps even that will change, in time. Just not today.

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