Lanchester, Cadillac share honours

Ravindra Zende, Mumbai.

Herbertson Ltd’s ex-Gondal 1924 40 HP Lanchester and Amal Tanna’s 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible were declared winners in the Concourse D’Elegance, as they shared honours in the annual Vintage & Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI) Car & Motor Cycle Fiesta, sponsored by United India Insurance, in Mumbai on Sunday.

In a dramatic conclusion, Hemant Ruia’s 1919 Minerva Type NN was originally declared the Vintage winner. But being an office-bearer of the VCCCI, Ruia could not accept the top prize.

The situation was similar when Anju Dossa’s 1933 Avon SS was named the Classic winner, but for the same reason Dossa had to surrender the title to Tanna’s Cadillac.

S.S. Dabholkar’s 1933 Austin Harley won the 1911-1940 Vintage title, while Jerry Varghese’s 1971 Beetle Volkswagen bagged the 1960-2010 Recent Classics honours.

The 45km rally was flagged off from Horniman Circle and traversed to Five Gardens, Dadar and back.

Entries poured in from all over India for this year’s edition including rare cars from 1900 to 2013. Once again, this year’s rally showcased some of the country’s most important and exceptional cars that had not been seen in any Indian rally till date, making it a legendary event that drew great enthusiasm from participants and spectators along the route.

Cars from the stable of media baron Viveck Goenka, whose 1929 Mercedes Noomburg won the Vintage honours last year, included the 1933 Studebaker Commander Convertible, 19497 Chevrolet 6-Cylinder Convertible, 1967 Pontiac Fire Bird Convertible and the 1961 Fiat 500. Vintage veteran Fali Dhondy also featured in the competition with beauties that included the 1929 20 HP Rolls Royce.

But all eyes were on the Maharana of Kutch's 1931 Chrysler Hudson, a rare 6-cylinder Open Tourer, now owned by Madan Mohan from Delhi and Nishant Dossa’s 1933 Phaeton Hudson 7-Seater Open Tourer, the only surviving car in the world.

In addition, there was H.H. Harshwardhan Singh of Dungarpur's 1947 Packard Clipper and a 1951 Chevrolet Pick Up Truck that entered for the first time in a rally.

The VCCCI is India’s official body for vintage motor vehicles and is affiliated to the World body FIVA, in association with the Western India Automobile Association.

The Fiesta was open to cars and motorcycles manufactured between 1940 and 1980, along with some rare cars till 2013, which fall into the Modern Classics category.

Results: Concourse D’Elegance (Vintage): 1924 40 HP Lanchester (Herbertsons Ltd)

Classic: 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible (Amal Tanna)

Cars: Vintage (1911-1940): 1933 Austin Harley (S.S. Dhabolkar)

Recent Classics (1960-2010): 1971 Beetle Volkswagen (Jerry Varghese)