A bevy of vintage cars was recently parked tidily against the backdrop of the majestic Red Fort. The heritage cars in orange, blue, white, silver, black, grey and brown, created a riot of colour on a breezy Saturday morning.
In case you are wondering why these four wheeled vehicles were allowed so close to the world heritage site, the cars had assembled for the 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally. The rally commenced from Delhi, passing through Raj Ghat, Teen Murti Marg, Dhaula Kuan, IFFCO Chowk, before concluding at Gurgaon.
Like the Mughal era fort, these vintage cars too have historical significance and the priceless tag of heritage attached to them.
Little wonder, connoisseurs from the NCR and even from far off places within the country and abroad gave curious looks to these antique automobiles that defy time as they continue to run in good condition. That their owners have left no stone unturned, whether it means going to the mechanic every now and then or bearing the expense of procuring spare parts from abroad, can be gauged from the fact that these heritage cars are still driven on the Indian roads, despite being over five decades old.
Owner of a Hudson 1933, Nitin Dossa was one of the winners, whose elation was dampened following the National Green Tribunal’s decision to ban vintage cars from Delhi roads.
“My car was checked for pollution and I got a certificate from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a recent function in Mumbai. I have given this example to highlight the fact that vintage cars are well maintained and emit less pollution than the latest versions on the road,” says Nitin, who bought the car 20 years ago from a car collector in Mumbai. “They do not pollute like the SUVs and other modern cars.”
He feels such rallies need to be encouraged by the authorities to give tourism a fillip.
Larry Lim, an adventure freak from Singapore, says Delhi occupies a special place in his heart as it was one of the cities he had explored on his Asian safari last year.
“With architecturally rich palaces and forts of the Mughal dynasty, Delhi has an old world charm to it. After Delhi, I visited Srinagar and consider myself fortunate to have stayed in the Valley, which is nothing short of a natural paradise. Then we rode to Nepal and Bhutan before concluding our safari in China. In 21 Gun Salute we have to drive only till Gurgaon, but nevertheless the rally is important, as it highlights the need to restore vintage cars. These cars are not mechanical devices but pieces of moving art, which has been preserved and conserved for custodians of future generations.”
His shimmering Drop Hit Crupe Bentley R-Type was described as the “world’s fastest four seater”. Larry, a retired businessman, says, “It has a beautiful aluminium body and cruises 200 km an hour.” But this Singaporean senior citizen knows that rallies are more about camaraderie, warmth, the spirit of adventure, rather than winning. “Striking new friendships, exchange of knowledge and sharing technical expertise are the reason for participating.”
