[karlosdeville]

A little late, but here are my pictures from the event. I tried to capture every car at the event, but I may have missed 5-7 of the regulars. What was immediately apparent was the large number of visiting cars, mainly from Bombay, Goa, Calcutta and Jaipur - a trend I hope will continue. Its always great to drive your classic in a new city, and see different reactions of people. The efforts from the organisers are commendable, and I am sure the next event will only get better.











The highlight for me of course was the four classics brought down especially from Singapore for the event - A Bentley R-Type Continental being my pick without a doubt. The Bentley 4 1/4 litre I think was an MX, making it that much more special, and the Rolls carried a barrel sided tourer body, though probably redone in period. The fourth car was a Triumph Dolomite roadster with its trademark waterfall grille being hard to miss.





Here are most of the cars present

1936 Adler Trumpf Junior Sport attended from Bombay - probably unique in the country




Austin 7 attended from Jaipur


Austin Six saloon looked particularly original.


1933 Standard Avon attended from Bombay


1921 Bean is a unique car, and very well finished, down to nickel fittings instead of chrome.


1934 Bentley 3 1/2 litre carries rare Mann Egerton coachwork


The Bentley 4 1/2 that attended from Singapore




The R-Type Continental looked like a million bucks


1949 Bentley Mark VI with Park Ward drop head coupe coachwork was originally delivered to the Maharaja of Mysore.


Early Buick Tourer


1929/30 (?) Buick Limousine was originally a Balasinor car


1938 Buick Limousine


1940 Buick Saloons




The story is that this Buick Super was chopped into a tourer in period in the Bikaner garages.


1959/60 (?) Buick Electra looked stunning, and has probably been owned by the Gondal family from new




Buick Skylark cabrio

[karlosdeville]

I used to see this 1941 (?) Cadillac rotting for years in a Pune garage - so happy to see it rescued


1947 Cadillac I was told is ex Patiala


1947 Cadillac convertible attended from Bombay


1954 (?) Cadillac convertible attended from Goa


1955 Cadillac Limousine has been with Gondal long term


Later Caddy is a Delhi car


I missed pics of the super convertible Series 62 of Tehri Gahrwal

Now this was a strange and surprise entry for me - a genuine Checker cab! I suppose these were sold only as taxis or maybe a few as fleet sales.






A host of Chevy Tourers










Chevy saloon is a Delhi entry


This 1938 car was probably converted from a saloon at some point.


1951/2 (?) Chevy Styline


1957 Chevy 210


1957 Chevy Bel Air attended from Calcutta


1949 Chevrolet Styline still with Rajkot


A rare Chevy Corvair convertible


1931 Chrysler CM6 is ex Kutch


1935 Chrysler Airstream has just come out of decades of storage in Mansa state.


1947 Chrysler Windsor


I was particularly glad to see this rare Citroen H Van on display - attending all the way from Pune


This Daimler coupe looked smart, and I don't think I've seen it before




Daimler limousine


1930 DeSoto Tourer is one of the brand's first models


1949 DeSoto

[karlosdeville]

1938 Dodge attended from Jaipur and looked very smart


1939 Dodge saloon




1954 Dodge Kingsway attended from Bombay


1954 Dodge Kingsway convertible


1956 Dodge Kingsway


Early Fiat Tourer also attended from Jaipur


We have seen many period photos of this lovely little Fiat thanks to BHPian Srinand - his father owned the car for many years




Fiat Tourer


This Fiat Campagnola is a rarity in these parts


I was naturally happy to see this 1955 Fiat 1100 stationwagon - we followed the restoration closely here https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-...tationcar.html (Fiat 1100-123 1955 Stationcar)




Fiat Super Select was the lone Indian Fiat


Fiat 124 Spyder attended from Bombay - this car is lucky to have designer Tom Tjaarda sign the dash on his recent visit to Bombay


1934 (?) Ford standard saloon of BHPian shivraj88 - was great to catch up with him, and the Ford looks terrific.




One can always expect a host of Model A Fords at events



A rarer hardtop



This Coupe attended from Jaipur - I believe the body was fabricated from scratch, and the result is exceptional











This Model B Tourer is fitted with dual controls, probably used as a driving school trainer





Another Model B, a pickup, with a superbly finished Lambretta D mounted in the bay.





A couple of later tourers.

[karlosdeville]

Ford Prefect


A later Mustang convertible


A smart looking Ford Maverick


Mustang in cool colours


A much later Ford convertible


A smart Ford Galaxie convertible


This Fordson also attended from Pune


Gaz truck


Austin jeep emphasised the number of rare military vehicles participating


Rare Graham Paige tourer


Rare Hudson Tourer attended from Bombay


Harit's grand Humber


Humber saloon still with Rajkot


I had the fortune to drive this lovely Jaguar 1 1/2 litre, also a Bombay entry


This Jag attended from Goa along with some more cars with 'character'


Jag Mark VII from Bombay


Loads of Jeeps
















Harit's Lancia special


There was also a super Lancia DiLambda Tourer from Bombay but I somehow missed pictures.

Lincoln V12 convertible was a new entry

[karlosdeville]

Mercedes Nurburg Tourer attended from Bombay


Pre-war Mercedes 170V sedan was also a Bombay entry


Mercedes Tourer attended from Goa


Mercedes K Type looked superb


Mercedes Saloon again from Goa - obviously bearing the scars of years of weather damage, but I doubt original finishes. Looked like fun to use as is!




This was the surprise of the show for me - a Mercedes Limousine in completely original unrestored condition. Pretty sure paint is original too. Original blue leather under covers. Original keys as well! In the same ownership from new






Mercedes Ponton


Pair of Mercedes fintails






Mercedes 123


The now popular Mercedes Pantentwagen replica - superbly done, and astonishingly finished the whole 52 km route!






1946/48 Mercury


MG TC from Bombay


Local MG TC


MG TD is rarer as far as MGs go


Morgan roadster


Was great to see KartikeyaL and his beloved Morris


Morris 8


Early Morris Oxford from Goa




Morris 8 saloon


Pair of lowlight Minors - saloon and convertible




Oldsmobile was a Bombay entry

[karlosdeville]

Pair of 48/49 Packard Clippers




Plymouth Tourer


Plymouth sedan looked pretty smart


1947 Plymouth attended from Pune


1947 Pontiac


1952 (?) Pontiac attended from Bombay


Porsche 911 looked stunning




No shortage of Rollers to be seen
This 20hp is a regular at long distance events, and attended from Bombay


Another 20hp, ex Nawab of Sachin


This 20/25hp with partition looked smart


20/25hp ex Baroda sports rare Kellner coachwork


20/25hp with sports saloon bodystyle looked great, and is a new import to India. There was another Landaulette that attended, but I couldn't get pictures




Rolls Phantom 1 with boat tail bodywork


Special guest from Singapore




Pair of Silver Shadows




1923 Rover was quaint, with a boxer air cooled engine. Attended from Bombay


Rare amphibious jeep


Rare Stoewer attended from Calcutta


Awini's superb 1930 Studebaker Commander


1933 Studebaker attended from Bombay and was superbly turned out


1947 Studebaker cabrio


1956 Studebaker President donning new colours




Sunbeam convertible


VW based Tempo always draws attention, and had the crowds thrilled. Attending from Pune

[karlosdeville]

Triumph Dolomite roadster visiting from Singapore


Triumph saloon (Renown?) from Baroda




Pair of Triumph Spitfires, one of which came from Calcutta




Triumph saloon


Vauxhall saloon


Karmann Ghia convertible


Lovely original Beetle convertible, still with factory interiors. Attending from Bombay


Another Beetle


Rare Whippet was new to me


Wolseley saloon - unfortunately the only picture I got.

[karlosdeville]

Assorted pictures of the bikes attending including a couple of rarities.




































Enough prizes for everyone





Overall I do appreceate the efforts of the organizers, and look forward to the next.

[tsk1979]

The trinity looks quite pointless. Without purpose. To be frank, more like a fly in a perfect ointment.
Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Lamborghini, let alone three of them, including the very new Hurracan. However today, as I say, all of them look pointless. The V10s, the horses, the madness.. it seems without purpose.

Like placing an ordinary wafer in a dessert spread of Shahi Tukda and Phirni. Or placing an Aloo Tikki burger in rows of Lucknawi Kabab platters.

After all, everything is relative. And today, the theory of relativity was making these three look more pointless than the smoke bellowing indica taxi. Atleast the taxi was ferrying people. These three? Well, they did not stand a chance. The hallowed company made them look like teenagers dressed hipster clothing attending a black tie event.

For today, I'm at the 5th annual 21 gun salute vintage car rally in Delhi.
Once a year, the capital's streets roar with nostalgia, as the heritage rally winds its way to Gurgaon.

I had a couple of hours to capture them, a little too less in hindsight, but nevertheless, let me present whatever I could capture.

For starters, lets start with the Bentely 4 1/4 litre



Its a work of art, handcrafted to perfection


Its from the time when cars had a soul. They were not something manufactured with robotic precision, copies after copies of the clone army. They were made with love, blood and sweat, and it showed.


Moving on to her cousin. Another work of art, a Bentley R-Type Continental


So different, so refreshingly unique, crafted, not just assembled.


And where there is Bentley, can its arch rival be far behind?

It was a time when competition was not about getting 0.2L/km more, or having one extra button on the stereo, or having an extra cladding made of dustbin plastic on the sides. It was a time where competition was about the very soul of the car.


Every detail, every curve, sculpted, crafted... not manufactured by a nameless faceless machine

[tsk1979]

That said, the Automobile is much much older than these royal beauties. Very few specimens of the first ever machines remain, but there exists a lovely replica of Benz's Patentwagen, crafted just like the precursor to the modern automobile





Every single details is taken care of. Over a century ago, a similar machine must have rolled out, all gleaming and new, signally the death of the horse cart.






Cocooned behind panels, we rarely get to see such mechanical art, the symphony of gears and levers, all working in harmony. All that exists now is faceless panels, hiding everything behind few shiny LEDs, and some silly knobs and buttons.

[tsk1979]

And before I get lost in my own ramblings, lets move forward to something more down to earth a Ford Maverick


Yes its a Ford my friends, a V8. It may not have the pedigree or charm of a Rolls or Bentley, but its far more significant if you talk about the history of the automobile.




And where there is Ford, can the Buick Eight be far behind?


But as the Americans experimented with the grand, the Italians looked at the curves. Good things come in small packages, I am sure most Fiat fans will agree - the Fiat 124 Spider


However, the other side of the pond had no use for small. With the massive freeways, it was the era of the supertankers - a Buick Electra 225






But, super-size me was not the only thing America created. It also created the legend... Ford Mustang

[tsk1979]

Lets turn back the clock again, and look at some more beauties, tastefully restored by their owners, sentinels of an era gone by.

Yes, its a Ford again, a Model A Roadster


That leather smell on a rare Bean, replaced now by plastic and cheap perfume


Its not a car its art.
After all, its Rover. Yes, the brits are here


And that is real wood


Standing tall in his Majesty's service


How much blood and sweat must have gone in crafting this thing of beauty


Today, we make clones. Efficient, but clones. Monkey see monkey do. But once a upon a time, it was all human




There is nothing which is not worthy of attention. even the battery cover


As I marvel at this beauty, I realize, we have made cars mainstream, but we have also made them mere machines.

[tsk1979]

But its all all shiny. There are also some rusting beauties there like this Mercedes saloon.


And then, there are the war babies. No vintage event is complete without the Jeep. The real Jeep







While Jeep rules the terrain, WW-II often required something which could tread water too, and do it with more reliability than the "hovervan"


Just look at those levers


Fordson by Ford

[tsk1979]

Moving on, its time to change tracks, and I decide to pull myself away towards the two wheeler stand for a bit. I am not a big fan of two wheeled stuff, but anyway here goes!

The mascot from the Indian Chief motorcycle, after whom the bike is named.














BMW with the driveshaft

[tsk1979]

And thats all for the bikes. Its time to go back to the cars. Sorry about that fellows. Old or new, somehow... I don't really get bikes.

Coming back to our vintage beauties, but now you are asking, can any vintage rally be complete without the three pointed star?
Well, nope. So here she is!

Mercedes Nurburg


Car no.1 - Mercedes K Type
Todays merc's may be the ultimate in comfort and features, but when it comes to class, you can't beat this


Its Supremacy, over land, air and water


And where there's a merc, can the Bentley be far behind? A Mark VI


And also spotted, the yankees answer to all of them - a Lincoln Continental


She's biiiiig!


We are now at the end of the pavilion - a rare Graham Paige.


Look at the wooden wheels!


Also spotted is this early Morris Minor


GTO's Honda Civic may have power windows, a VTEC engine, and the extreme value of a pre-worshipped car with honda reliability.. but it does not have this.... A temperature guage


And, on that bombshell.. its the end, but wait... there's more