A spectacular procession of Buicks, Fords, Rolls Royce, Plymouths, Austins, Willys and many other vintage cars held the onlookers spellbound recently as the 21 Gun Salute Vintage Rally passed from Delhi to Gurgaon. About 125 gleaming vintage cars including Rolls Royce Silver Ghost 1912 and Buick 1940 raced down one after another from Panchsheel Club in the city to Leisure Valley Park, sector 29, Gurgaon.
A joint initiative by Madan Mohan, managing director 21 Gun Salute, dining and heritage motoring club of India, the rally brought in many vintage beauty lovers together to enjoy an outing. “It is always a treat for vintage car lovers to go for a drive. Car restoration and collection is something not possible without passion. 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,” says Mohan.
Not just restoring the cars, every paricipant had a story to tell on how they happen to possess a particular car. The proud owner of 1935 Buick, Diljeet Titus, shares his, “About 12 years back I bought this car from the Raja of Ayodhya. Since then it has been my favourite car. Of course, vintage beauties cannot be taken out on the road everyday, and therefore, this rally is what I always look forward to,” says Diljeet.
Some of the most popular vintage car models that participated in the annual vintage car rally included Willys Overland 1909 — the oldest model at the rally, Rolls Royce 1912, Bentley 1947, Fiat 501 1919, Wolsley Ten Roadster 1920, Rolls Royce Phantom 1 1925, Rolls Royce, Twenty Series K, Barker Tourer 1927, Dodge Brothers —WW Armed Carrier 1942, Ford Jeep 1942, and vintage bikes such as Sunbeam 500 cc 1926, BSA M 20 500 cc 1940, Triumph 3 HW 1942, Norton 1942, Norton 1940 Corgi 1948, Lambretta Deluxe 1959 from United States, United Kingdom, and other countries. About 45 vintage bikes and scooters were also part of the rally.
HW Bhatnagar, a participant, could not stop talking about his 1940 Buick, “This is one of the few cars of its kind in India. I love it because it was my dream car during my college days. It brings back so many memories.”
The entire caravan of vintage cars, bikes and scooters participating in the rally exhibited at the leisure valley park in Gurgaon. General Bikram Singh, Chief of the Army staff, flagged off the rally which passed through IT, Vasant Vihar, NH8, Huda City Centre, MG Road and Golf Course Road.