It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing this. Adarbad Setna(16-6-1925 to 3-5-2010), the automotive legend, our dear friend, philosopher, guide to many aspiring young people who took up automobile engineering, garage owners, racers and most important those who owned special cars in India passed away a few weeks ago at his residence in Pune.

Adarbad was educated as a chartered accountant and cut his teeth with Bees & Co., in Aden. Just fro interest Dhirubhai Ambani was in the same company and both shared the same room for a few years. His love for automobiles from his childhood made him give up this job and brought him back to India where he started the Apex garage. His talent took him to apprentice with Rover and Jaguar 1952-1954 London, and eventually to Rolls Royce at Crewe, twice on invitation, the last visit being in 1981. He is the one and only Indian who was on the technical team, and in the pits of Jaguar Racing during the legendary Le Mans races of the 1950’s.

Lovingly called Ada Uncle by those who knew him well were well aware that he did not suffer fools and had a temperament as volatile as racing angina. He tuned several racing cars and one for Maharaja of Gondal, with a Jaguar engine that touched 300 kmph. Till now no car on the Indian track has achieved this feat. All the super cars of the 60’s,70’s and 80’s passed through his hands. When he did up the Ferrari 250GTO of Dr. Rossi, he was commended by no less a person than Enzo Ferrari.

Besides cars he was passionately interested in reading and western classical music. He was also considered an expert on Persian carpets and many consulted him before investing in them. His knowledge of carpentry was acute and not known to many. That legacy is left behind in the cabinets of Cadence High End Speakers, the furniture in house and clocks he made himself. Ada uncle was a real foodie and a fantastic cook himself.

Knowing him intimately for the last 25 years I feel a tremendous personal loss not only as a friend but as an encyclopedia of knowledge that has been snatched away from me. He is survived by his wife Freni, daughters Shenaz and Rashne, grand daughter Shaheen and son in law Jamshed Contractor who is in the same business and who had the privilege of being personally mentored by Mr. Setna.

They don’t make them like this any more. May his souls rest in peace and may the knowledge he left behind used in a wise way...

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