Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally dazzles Delhi streets

On a nice, balmy Sunday morning, we headed to witness the Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally – now in its 46th edition and considered to be one of the biggest and most famous rallies of its kind in the Indian subcontinent. 

With models ranging from stunning and sturdy Dodges, Willys jeeps, Morris, Original Fiat 500 to gleaming vintage beauties including the likes of Jaguar, Chevrolet Impala, Austin, Mercedes and Bentley, the rally brought back the nostalgia for vintage car enthusiasts. The highlight of the rally and one that added oodles of charm was a 1914 John Morris, which was India’s first fire engine, owned by the Nizam of Hyderabad, and now restored and maintained by National Rail Museum.

As many as 82 golden oldies participated at the annual rally, with the oldest car being a 1909 Willys-Overland, and the youngest a 1962 Mercedes. Other notable attractions were the Austin Seven, the original Morris Minor, a 1919 Citroen, a 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1, a Ford 1928, a Citroen 1938 that has been featured in films like Gandhi, a Buick 1938, a Plymouth 1938, Lagonda, Chrysler and a Sunbeam 1947, along with a collection of Chevrolets, Jaguars, Mercedes, Bentleys and Pontiacs.

Also on display was the evolution of automobile design, featuring early horse-drawn-inspired carriages; and some recent ones that boast the aerodynamics of a jetliner. The rally also had a range of military jeeps, troop carriers, vintage bikes and scooters.

A few of these classics sputtered and stalled mid-way, leaving us to wonder if the others would reach the destination. Fortunately, most of the cars were in immaculate condition, testifying the owners’ commitment to preserving their cars.

The Rally was divided in three categories, Vintage (up to 1939), Classic (1940-56) and Post War (1940-1962) and the prizes were awarded on the basis of age, maintenance, performance and restoration.