MUMBAI : Mumbai Samachar proprietor Hormusji Cama’s 1936 Lanchester Straight 8 DHC and Delhi’s Madan Mohan Yadav’s 1952 Daimler Convertible won the Concourse D’Elegance, the top honours in the Vintage and Classic categories, respectively, in the annual VCCCI Vintage Car & Motorcycle Fiesta that was flagged off by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, at Horniman Circleon Sunday.
Sanjeev Bhiwandkar and his wife with the 1963 Vespa Sportique
The event is organised by the Vintage & Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI), India’s official body for vintage motor vehicles that is affiliated to world body FIVA, in association with Sofitel and Western India Automobile Association.
While Cama’s Lanchester and Yadav’s Daimler faced a strong challenge from other formidable contenders to emerge supreme, the late Fali Dhondy’s 1930 Rolls Royce won for Best Performance in the Vintage category, while Umesh Rele’s 1952 Morris Minor won for Best Performance in the Classic category.
It was double delight for veteran Abbas Jasdanwalla whose 1908 Wolseley Landaulet won for Best Maintained Vintage car and the Oldest to complete the rally.
Amal Tanna also bagged a double for Best Restored Vintage with his 1927 Rolls Royce 20 HP and for Best Restored Classic with the sparkling 1957 Chevrolet Packwood.
Sanjeev Bhiwandkar of Girgaum, in his 4-Speed 1963 Vespa Sportique, completed a rewarding day while winning the Period Costume prize. “My uncle was not interested in this vehicle, so I chose to maintain it,” revealed a beaming Bhiwandkar. “It’s a rare piece, all the parts are original and I maintain it myself.”
In the two-wheeler segment, the attractions were Nitin Dossa’s 1911 Triumph, Amal Tanna’s 1918 Indian Broad Track Racer and Aman Moghul’s 1919 Whizzer.
A record 252 cars and bikes featured in the competition this year. Among them were, Sanjay Sable’s 1931 Dodge Bros. Wood Bus driven all the way from Pune and the 1924 Rover 8 HP air-cooled engine owned by the late Fali Dhondy.
The oldest driver in the event was Abbas Jasdanwala and the youngest was Varun Shroff who powered uncle Nitin Dossa’s 1932 Hudson Phaeton..
The Fiesta was open to cars and motorcycles manufactured between 1940 and 1980, along with some rare cars till 2015, which fall into the Modern Classics category.
This year’s rally will included some exceptional cars and the attractions were the Ford, Rolls Royce, Packard, Bentley, Buick, Cadillac, Studebaker, Hudson and Volkswagen.
There will be cars from the stables of press baron Viveck Goenka, Sameer Kadam and Nitin Dossa, among others.
Results: Concourse D’Elegance (Vintage 1900-1940): 1936 Lanchester Straight 8 DHC (Hormusji Cama)
Best Performance: 1930 Rolls Royce (Late Fali Dhondy)
Concourse D’Elegance (Classic 1941-1960):1952 Daimler Convertible (Madan Mohan Yadav, Delhi)
Best Performance: 1952 Morris Minor (Umesh Rele)
Best Maintained (Vintage): 1908 Wolseley Landaulet (Abbas Jasdanwalla)
Best Maintained (Classic): 1947 Chrysler New Yorker (Pheroze Mehta)
Best restored (Vintage): 1927 Rolls Royce 20 HP (Amal Tanna)
Best Restored (Classic): 1957 Chevrolet Packwood (Amal Tanna)
Oldest car to complete rally: 1908 Wolseley Landaulet (Abbas Jasdanwalla)
Period Costume: Sanjeev Bhiwandkar (1963 Vespa Sportique).
