Ramesh Babu-The Billionaire Barber Exotic Garage

The Ramesh Babu owns a collection of more than 400 luxury automobiles today!

Brands like Rolls Royce, Jaguars, and BMWs had a life one usually only finds in the halls of movie theatres. Unlike our popular celebrities, most of whom happen to be born billionaires, Ramesh grew up in a small village in Bengaluru. Through a life of extreme hardship, poverty, and uncertainty.

He lost his father when only 7 years old, had passed on leaving behind a barbershop that he had owned. Ramesh and his three siblings, his mother and grandmother. Penniless, grew entirely dependent on his uncle, who took charge of the shop and gave the family ₹5 each day. After that, his mother worked as a housemaid and her meager income was barely enough to feed her family.

Growing up, Ramesh Babu took multiple odd jobs to help his mother out. While at the same time, continuing his own education and higher studies. After his tenth year, Ramesh besides his education also took to running his father’s old shop himself. The shop soon became well-known and saving little by little. With his uncle’s help, Ramesh managed to buy his first car, a Maruti Van (Omni) in 1993. However, he spent most of his time at his work. He decided to rent his car out when not in use. His first business contract came from Intel. Similarly, he managed to gather a potential customer base and began to buy more cars.

Over the next thirty years, Mr. Ramesh Babu continued to add to his fleet as his business- Ramesh Tours and Travels. It expanded across multiple states, in cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Chennai. Ramesh Babu’s first luxury car was a Mercedes E Class Luxury Sedan, costing him 38 lakhs. Ramesh Tours and Travels Private Limited now has over 400 cars, including not only vans and minibusses. Moreover, imported luxury cars like Mercedes C, E, and S Class, Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, BMW 5, 6 and 7 series. Vans and minibusses belonging to brands like Toyota and Mercedes.

He still spends at least five hours daily at his barbershop.

Some of the grandest cars in Ramesh Babu collection are listed as follows :

1. Rolls Royce Ghost

The Rolls-Royce Ghost comes with a 6.75-litre twin-turbo engine. Moreover, it produces 563bhp and a peak torque of 850Nm mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system. It comes in two variants:

• the Ghost V12, which is the lowest-priced model,
• the Ghost V12 Extended, the top model, (both having a wide range of customization options).

Both the variants have petrol-running 6750cc engines. And can hit a top speed of 250kmph and can do the 0-100kmph in only 4.8 seconds.

The car is a 5-seater with a Sedan body type. Also, Rolls-Royce Ghost has electric-adjustable seats at both front and rear, both a sunroof and a moon-roof. It has LED headlights, Rain Sensing Driving Lights, Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). As for safety measures, there is Brake Assist, Hill Assist, Tyre Pressure Monitor. Also Anti-Theft Device, Crash Sensor, ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts, etc.

Its current prices in the country start at ₹6.95 crores and go up to 7.95 crores. Its competitors in a similar price range are

• the Rolls-Royce Cullinan V12, priced at ₹6.95 crores,
• the Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge, priced at ₹7.21 crore, and
• the Ferrari SF90 Stradale Coupe V8, priced at ₹7.50 crore.

Also the models are available in a melee of colors including Silver, Black, Diamond Black, Sea Green, Salamanca Blue, Midnight Sapphire, Metropolitan Blue, Ensign Red, Madeira Red among others.

2. Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Ramesh Babu’s first luxury car, with which he began providing luxury cars to VVIPs. The Mercedes E-Class comes in three variants, all three mated to 9-speed automatic transmission units:

• Expression,
• Exclusive and,
• one on the AMG line.

The Expression and the Exclusive variants have the options of a 2.0-litre petrol (E200) engine. Making 197PS with 320Nm of peak torque, and a diesel (E220d) engine, producing 194PS with 400Nm of peak torque. The AMG line variant has a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder diesel engine, giving 286PS power with 600Nm peak torque. In addition, the average top speed an E-Class can reach is around 240kmph, and can accelerate from 0-100kmph in 7.6 seconds.

Some shared features of the E-Class cars include 64-colour ambient lighting, LED lighting, three-zone automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof. A 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster integrated with a retractable touchscreen infotainment system in the rear.

Not only this, it has a 590W Burmester sound system, front and rear wireless charging pads. It is electrically adjustable seats at both rear and front. Safety features include 7 airbags, electronic brake assist, attention assist, electronic stability program, anti-lock assist, anti-theft alarm, etc.

In addition, some available models are-

• Expression E 200 (1991cc, automatic, petrol, 16.1 kmpl) at ₹64.55 lakh,
• Expression E 220d (1991cc, automatic, diesel, 16.1 kmpl) at ₹65.77 lakh,
• Exclusive E 200 (1991cc, automatic, petrol, 15.0 kmpl) at ₹68.20 lakh.

Moreover, some competitors the E-Class faces in the Indian market are Audi 6, BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF, Volvo S90.

• Exclusive 220d (1950cc, automatic, petrol, 16.1 kmpl) at ₹69.32 lakh,
• AMG E 350d (2925cc, automatic, diesel) at ₹82.11 lakh,
• AMG-E 53 4MATIC Plus (2999cc, automatic, petrol, 15.0kmpl) at ₹1.02 crore and

• E 63S 4MATIC Plus (3982cc, automatic, petrol, 15.0kmpl) at ₹1.7 crore.

3. Mercedes-Maybach S600

Ramesh Babu happens to be one of the only 3 persons owning a Mercedes-Maybach S600 in Bengaluru. He bought it for 3.2 crores.

The Maybach S600 comes in RWD-drive type, with a 7-speed gearbox. Automatic transmission petrol engine producing 530bhp power and 830Nm torque with a mileage of 7.08kmpl. Moreover, It can go at a top speed of 250kmph. And has AIRMATIC front and rear suspension, and an adjustable steering column.

Its other features include automatic climate control, heated front and rear seats, front and rear parking sensors. Even sun and moon roofs, an integrated 2DIN audio system with USB and auxiliary input facility, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Safety features include –

• Anti-lock Braking System,
• Brake Assist,
• tyre pressure monitor,
• vehicle stability control system,
• centrally mounted fuel tank, EBD, etc.

Moreover, it is available to us in more than 15 variants! The market prices ranging from ₹83.11 lakh to ₹10.50 crore.

4. Rolls-Royce Phantom

The Phantom is powered by a 6.75L V12 engine, giving around 563 horsepower with an 8-speed gearbox. However, the maximum speed it reaches is 250 kmph and can accelerate to 100 kmph in 5.4 seconds. With a mileage of 9.8 kmpl, its price ranges around about ₹8.99 – ₹11 crores.

The car is also fitted with a 130 kg sound-proofing system. Double-laminated glass windows to block out unnecessary road noises. It has a 4-camera system with panoramic view and all-around visibility and an alertness assistant.

Currently, the Phantom is available in the market in two variants –

• the base model of the Rolls Royce Phantom series: Series II starting at ₹8.99 crores and,
• the top variant, Rolls Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase, going up to ₹10.48 crores.

Not only these, but Mr. Ramesh also owns 11 Mercedes-Benz, 10 BMWs, 3 Audis, 2 Jaguars. Along with these are Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Toyota Camrys. Most cars in Ramesh Babu’s garage are of German make.

Beginning with a career of charging ₹75 for a client’s haircut to becoming a billionaire. With a still-expanding business, surviving through poverty and the cut-throat industry in a country like India! He remembers and stays faithful and honest to his roots anyway.

Therefore, Ramesh Babu’s story is not just another rags-to-riches tale, but one truly awe-inspiring.

Also Read: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Surprisingly Modest List of Cars on the AutoFlipz Blog page.