Luxe on wheels: Nandu’s Chicken boss wants to own an Anglo-American Shelby Cobra

Narendra Pasuparthy, founder of the Nandu’s Chicken startup, says going for a long drive is often a family activity in their household.

My first car
“I purchased a third-hand silver Toyota Corolla for $550, when I got my first job in the US in 1998. It was the ugliest car in the parking lot, but I didn’t care. Commuting in the US in the ’90s was a challenge, as public transport was almost non-existent. The car gave me my freedom. It died a day before my wife joined me in the US. I then purchased a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a convertible, a green-coloured Mazda Miata. But through all of this, my first car is still special. I’ve still kept its key and the number plate as a mark of memory.”


Cars I currently own
“Currently, I own two SUVs — the BMW X3 and Mercedes Benz GLC — which I use to visit the rural areas outside Bengaluru. For within the city, I have a Bentley Mini Cooper, which brings out the fun element in my life. In March this year, I bought a twos-eater sports car — the Porsche 718 Cayman. A Porsche had been on my wishlist for a long time. I have since customised its key, got black wheels, red calipers, sporty tail pipes, and red seat belts. In six months, it has covered 2,500 kilometres. It’s actually a good city car too, with great ground clearance. It’s usually the car we use for family night outs or the Sunday morning getaways. This apart, my garage also houses a Harley Davidson, which helps me retain a passion for bikes.”

Person I love talking cars with
“Cars are a platform for me to connect and bond with my teenaged sons. They are ardent fans of cars and of Formula One. My elder son works in our outlets on Sundays, and as a reward for this, I take him for a drive in the Porsche. It helps us clear our heads, and lets us have conversations.”

Best road trips
“My most memorable road trip was with my wife and kids in 2018. We rented a Volkswagen Touareg SUV from Germany to Austria, covering about 2,000 kilometres. Tourist spots were not on our agenda. It was a trip to cover car museums. The Nurburgring race track opens daily for the public, and we drove the BMW M3 sedan there. We visited the Mercedes Benz factory and museum and the Porsche museum. We drove through the Black Forest, going to places like Baden-Baden and Karlsruhe. We also hired a BMW i8, an electric sports car, to drive on the Autobahn. Now we add a road trip to every holiday. Recently, we covered the south of France in a rented Mercedes Benz C-Class Cabriolet. It’s nice to experience the place like a local, pulling over, shopping at a convenience store, eating at a small café. Only a road trip allows you to do that.”

My dream garage
“I like luxury even in a sports car. The interiors must be plush. My dream car is the Anglo-American Shelby Cobra, as it has a rich automotive history and has been owned by some of the biggest petrol heads. My ideal collection would feature a Porsche 911, Ferrari and Lamborghini.”