[anjan_c2007]

The Statesman is organising its 52nd Vintage and Classic Car Rally at Kolkata on Sunday 29th January 2023. The venue is the same Fort William Sports Stadium of the Eastern Command, Indian Army. The entries are allowed for imported models upto 1975 and the cut off year for Indian heritage models is 1965.



The 50th V&C Rally of 2020 was organised with much fanfare during late January 2020 as it was the Golden Jubilee of such events. This was just some weeks before the nation was crippled with the pandemic. There was no V&C Rally by The Statesman in Kolkata in 2021 owing to the pandemic.

Luckily, this rally is now being organised after a two year gap. Some new entries are expected.

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While it is a welcome move to allow imported cars and bikes manufactured till 1975, the intriguing fact remains that Indian Heritage Models manufactured till 1965 only are being allowed.

When Germany, France, many states in the US including California, the U. K. and quite many states in Australia recognise 30 or more year olds either as "Classics or "Historic Vehicles" or "Young Timers" (Germany uses the latter phrase) it is felt that at home here, if the cut off year for Indian Heritage Models is fixed at somewhere between 1980-85, our classics could be better looked after by their respective owners. V&C Rally preparedness plays an encouraging role to preserve classics, as most owners render the best possible care to prepare their beauties for such events that are attended by hundreds of old car and bike fans.

Kolkata, which once was densely populated with Ambassadors that comprised about 90-95% of all cars on its roads has been sadly impoverished of its Ambassador wealth as thousands of these have faced the guillotine that has annihilated these. Very, very few older, private Ambassadors are sighted these days on the streets. Many of these private cars still preserved are refitted with the 1489 cc BMC diesel and by now with a disfigured once new, body shell of the 1990's or 2000's. Body corrosion was a killer in Kolkata weather for the Ambassador body shells. Very, very few Mark I's, II's, 3's and 4's survive. The only fitter Ambassadors are the taxis on Kolkata streets, that are also dwindling with the passage of time and the last taxis will only survive till 2034, going by judicial and executive decisions, after which they shall all be history.

Had The Statesman been proactive at least 20 years ago to allow privately owned Indian classics to enter their rally, the scenario would have been different. It's only around 2018 that we saw Landmasters and Ambassadors (manufactured till 1965) in this rally, whereas Standard Super 10's, Pennants and Heralds and Fiat Millecentos, Elegants, Selects, Super Selects of the 50's and 60's were being allowed entry.

The sad part is that despite 1965 being the cut off year for the Indian Heritage Class, only one Landmaster and three Mark I's were sighted on different ocassions in 2018, 2019 and 2020. No Mark II was seen despite the fact that this model came in October 1963.

Sad plight of the once Ambassador capital of India.

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The 53rd Statesman Vintage and Classic Rally was organised on 29.01.2023 successfully after a two year gap. There were more post Independence models especially from the 1950's, 60's and 70's. Some regular imports from the 1930's, 40's , 50's and 60's were missing, some for the first time in many years.

Some photos from the event:-

























































More to come

[anjan_c2007]

Continuing to post the images of rally.









Morris 8 E Series





Austin 10











Ford Tourer





Austin Seven











MG





Studebaker



Willys



Triumph





Fiat 1100 D





Austin 16