SHILLONG: Cars and motorcycles once discarded in scrapyards have found a new lease of life at Rock Cliff Classic Motors and Antiques in Shillong, where Ashok Lyngdoh has opened a museum reflecting his longstanding passion for vintage vehicles, antiques and restoration. Built around a collection assembled over many years, the museum represents a personal effort to preserve vehicles and objects that might otherwise have been lost to neglect.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said he acquired many of the cars and motorcycles from scrapyards when older vehicles were relatively affordable and attracted little interest from buyers. Where others saw machines beyond repair, he recognised the possibility of restoring and preserving them.
His fascination with vehicles began in childhood, particularly with jeeps. Over time, that interest developed into a commitment to finding, collecting and restoring old automobiles. Lyngdoh said his search took him to private owners and government offices, where he found vehicles dating back to his father’s and grandfather’s generations.
His collection includes Willys jeeps, other American jeeps and Ford vehicles from the British colonial period. Vehicles dating to 1937, 1950, 1957 and 1967 are among those preserved. Restoration, however, was not always straightforward. He recalled bringing home vehicles in severely deteriorated condition, some without engines or other essential components. Their condition often prompted people to question whether they could ever run again. Despite such doubts and the challenges involved, he continued working on the collection.
Opening a museum had been a longstanding ambition. After repeatedly postponing the project, Lyngdoh eventually fixed an opening date, giving himself a clear target for completing the preparations. The attraction extends beyond vintage vehicles. Antiques displayed indoors, carefully arranged rooms and the surrounding garden reflect his broader interest in collecting and preserving objects from the past. Together, they offer visitors a setting in which to explore the collection at leisure.
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For Lyngdoh, the pleasure of owning an old vehicle also lies in driving it. He said he takes the vehicles out on Sundays when the weather permits, enjoying the interest they generate among people along the way. Some vehicles also carry personal and family significance. Recalling a car his father once drove, Lyngdoh spoke of his happiness at acquiring another of the same type, although the family’s original vehicle could no longer be traced.
He said visitor numbers would be regulated to preserve the tranquillity of the premises and ensure that the vehicles and other exhibits receive proper care. Through Rock Cliff Classic Motors and Antiques, Lyngdoh has opened to the public a passion nurtured over decades. Vehicles once abandoned as scrap now stand as reminders of motoring history—and of the lives and memories connected to them.
