The Kansal Clunker

"An endearing and thought-provoking road odyssey." — Kirkus Reviews

"You will want to 'call shotgun' on this epic adventure . . . the teacher became the student . . . and the student became the teacher." — Scott Chesney, motivational speaker, life coach, and consultant

A father and son set out to rebuild a broken car—and end up rebuilding themselves.

At sixteen, Neil dreamed of learning to drive a manual car. His father, Ruchin, was at a crossroads, questioning his next steps in life. Neither could have imagined that a rusted, beat-up Acura Integra would become their greatest teacher. With just $5,000, no mechanical experience, and a wild idea, father and son embarked on a yearlong transformation—of the car, themselves, and their bond.

What began as a simple driving lesson turned into an epic 5,000-mile road trip to the highest paved road in the United States. Along the way, they faced unexpected challenges, breathtaking landscapes, and moments of raw connection. Through laughter, frustration, and detours, they discovered resilience, strength, and the unshakable power of family.

With every twist of the wrench and turn of the road, Neil and Ruchin learned what it truly means to rebuild—not just a car, but trust, identity, and connection.

Readers call The Kansal Clunker “heartfelt,” “cinematic,” “easy to read,” and “hard to put down”—a story that stays with you long after the last page.

A meaningful gift for parents, grads, and anyone who wants to reconnect with family.

No car knowledge required. This is not a car manual—it’s a dual-voice memoir about learning by doing, becoming resilient, and reconnecting across generations.

Perfect for book clubs and community reads (discussion guide available at thekansalclunker.com/bookclub).

In India, the book will appear as: Where the Highway Ends: A Father, a Son, and a Car that Rebuilt Them.

Neil Kansal is a dreamer who turns bold ideas into action. A graduate of Washington & Lee, he studied biology and data science while co-founding W&L Remote Area Medical, an award-winning program delivering free clinical services. He also led as principal cellist and mentor. A certified EMT and lifelong car enthusiast, he rebuilt his first clunker at sixteen and drove it to the highest motorable road in America. He now brings that same grit and curiosity to Deloitte.

Ruchin Kansal is a leadership educator, advisor, and author dedicated to helping people and organizations embrace transformation. A professor at Seton Hall and Brown, he wrote Redefining Innovation and has held senior executive roles in strategy and innovation at EY, Deloitte, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Siemens Healthineers. Beyond the boardroom and classroom, he shares a lifelong passion for building, cars, and travel, and inspires others to reimagine the future with vision, creativity, and courage.