Vintage car rally captivates Delhi

NEW DELHI - A stately procession of Buicks, Plymouths, Austins, Willys and many other restored classics held the onlookers spellbound at a vintage car drive in south Delhi Saturday.

The drive was organised by the Heritage Motor Club of India (HMCI) in association with the Nizamuddin East Colony Association for the second year in a row. The list of timeless beauties included Chevrolet Belair, Volkswagen Beetle, Fiat Millicanto, Pontiacs and a Dodge. The rally was led by the oldest - a 1930 Ford Woody.

The idea behind this drive is that the passion for vintage cars should not be limited to aficionados but also extend to the general public, HMCI’s president K.T.S. Tulsi told IANS.

He had brought along his 1934 Austin which was bought by the Nawab of Lucknow for a princely sum of Rs.1,920 as a birthday gift for his daughter. It had been shipped from London to Kolkata from where it was driven to Lucknow, added Tulsi.

The colourful array of vintage cars rolled down the historical lanes of Nizamuddin East, covering a distance of around four kilometres. Thrilled children also got joyrides around the colony as they ran helter-skelter in a bid to choose their favourite classic.

K. Kashyap, the proud owner of a Renault Dolphine, said: This is the only car of its kind in India and I bought it in Goa in 2000. I love it because I used to drive a similar classic back in my college days in Germany. It brings back so many memories.

The HMCI has been organising various such events in the country since its inception in 2001, especially between October and March, when the weather is ideal for running such cars over a long distance.

It is a mistake to believe that interest in items of historic value is restricted to the young. The huge popularity of such drives and the range of people shows the value of such an event, said Diljeet Titus, a vintage car aficionado who owns about 82 such classics.