Dr. Bobby Mukkamala’s Auto Collection

“I get the most happiness when I talk cars with people.”
—Dr. Bobby Mukkamala

People serving in the medical profession can be considered the élan vital to our everyday well-being and quality of life. While great personal satisfaction exists in this vocation, it also lends to stressful settings. So how do physicians cope with this stress and create a balance in their personal life? For Flint-bred Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, his passion for automobiles strikes the balance.

“I’ve always liked cars,” he says. “When you grow up in Flint, it almost becomes part of your DNA!” In addition to his medical commitments, Dr. Bobby – as he is affectionately referred to – is and has been a staunch supporter of Flint’s revitalization efforts through his personal involvement in various community organizations and as a stakeholder in multiple entrepreneurial ventures. During his quiet moments, he spends time in a warehouse just outside of downtown Flint where he parks his diverse collection of autos.

Dr. Bobby recalls when he came back to Flint from his medical training, he would buy a car that personally appealed to him, then drive it for a while. Some other car would catch his eye, and thus he would sell the current car and purchase the new. He admits, however, going through regrets soon after the previous car drove away.

“After experiencing that a few times, I said, ‘I’m not going to sell anymore,’” he recollects. “I decided to start a collection and soon one became two, two became three, three became 55!” While the typical car collection concentrates on a certain brand, era or style, Dr. Bobby simply collects the cars that have always charmed him.

He also enjoys driving cars. “I never push the cars to their edge of performance ability,” he explains. “It’s not performance nor a certain driving experience that appeals to me, I’m more of a cruiser. To me, it’s more of the aesthetics and the potential for the car to increase in value – it’s like an appreciation for fine art.”

Although he acknowledges it is difficult to narrow down his preferences, On The Town asked Dr. Bobby to feature a few personal favorites.