While I was growing up in Delhi in the ’90s, owning a car was a luxury. My father, an erudite armed forces employee, had the rare privilege of owning a second-hand, white Hindustan Ambassador. It was the talk of our neighbourhood. Sitting in his lap, grasping the black steering wheel—almost the size of a hula hoop—it was my first time behind the wheel. Today, that white Ambassador would qualify as a vintage car.
It’s a memory that crosses my mind as I walk down the winding stone path that connects the Oberoi Udaivilas to the Trident hotel, where I’m staying for the Oberoi Concours d’Elegance 2026. It’s lined with classic cars: from a red, E-type Jaguar to a beige Fiat 1100 Familiare, a popular family car from the 1950s. Some cars stand still, while others rev up their engines in anticipation. Oh, the smell of burning petrol first thing in the morning. Do people bat for vintage classics in the time of electric cars and smarter vehicles? It appears the answer is a resounding yes.
These classics are warming up for the start of the Oberoi Tour d’Elegance, introduced this year as part of the annual showcase of rare vintage cars and motorcycles, where the vehicles will drive alongside Udaipur’s scenic Fatehsagar Lake.
While it would have been ideal to experience this drive seated inside a vintage car, it feels odd to be trailing a couple of classic red Ferraris in a modern-day electric vehicle, which is rather quiet on the road. The only sound reaching my ears is the crushing gravel. Ahead, the loud roar of the Ferrari engines fills the skies around Fatehsagar Lake. Onlookers and morning joggers stop in their tracks, whipping out their smartphones to capture a moment rarely seen in these parts.
Past and Passion
The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance returned for its second edition this year, with more than 120 vehicles on display or in exhibition. Several factors were considered when evaluating a vehicle for the Concours, including historical significance, rarity, provenance and its overall condition. The cars and bikes spanned decades, going as far back as 1905. There were cars resurrected from dust, vehicles hidden inside museums, single-family-owned coupes, and an entire section on Rolls-Royce, which has a checkered history in India.
But between the shining liveries, colourful number plates and klaxon horns were stories of restoration that spoke of an innate love for these vehicles.
Shrivardhan Kanoria, a Kolkata-based owner and restorer of classic cars, says there’s no commercial angle to working on vintage classics. “The answer is simple: it’s passion,” he tells me, as we take a closer look at his 1934 SS 1 Tourer, first delivered in Oxford, England, in December 1934. Still in immaculate condition, the car travelled the globe before being brought to India recently.
“When it comes to these cars, the beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Not everyone has a keen eye for them. I am a collector myself. There are people like us who look only at vintage cars and nothing else,” says Kanoria, who had two of his cars in the competition and seven more restored by him.
From pre-war American and European classics to young timer classics that once adorned bedroom walls as posters, there was a piece of history wherever I looked, as I walked the vast expanse of the Udaivilas to different sections of the Concours with the aid of a map.
Who would have imagined, for instance, seeing a Ford Model T on the roads of Udaipur? Produced in 1908, Ford’s universal car put the world on wheels. It was one of the first mass production vehicles ever. The oldest car at the Concours this year, however, was a 1905 Oldsmobile—a rare car that was manufactured for only one year and featured a horizontal opposed flat-twin engine with two forward speeds and reverse.
The spectators revel in it all. “India has been a great market for vintage cars since the 1920-30s,” says Kanoria. “Now more people, especially the younger generation, are wanting to get back in touch with the historical importance of these cars.”
A Touch of Heritage
As the cars are slowly placed into position a day before they are judged, there’s a certain stillness to these classics standing in silence, soaking in the moment.
In one lawn, a 1931 Cadillac 355-A convertible coupe stands under the shade of a tree, as the car’s caretaker carefully wipes the tires of any visible grime. On the other side, a shining red 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air sports sedan waits patiently on the grass, sunlight bouncing off its protruding tailfins, as an attendant works under its hood.
Rajesh Somasundaram, a Chennai-based auto enthusiast, who had the best of both worlds in the competition with a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 from 1990 and the 1931 Cadillac, calls himself a new player in the game. “I have more than 15 cars in my collection, and I am going to keep collecting them,” he says, marvelling at the Cadillac’s V8 [engine]. “These are machines that are true adrenaline… you must drive these cars to enjoy them. I take the Porsche out every week.”
For those who like to ride rather than be behind the wheel, the bikes did not disappoint. Near a fountain at the Udaivilas, two vintage Indian Chief motorcycles, one in a catchy bumblebee yellow and the other resplendent in red, have a silent stare-down. People pass them by. Some stop to admire the setting and the bikes. The winning motorcycle this year was a 1944 BSA WM20, a rugged 500 cc British military motorcycle first made in 1937 for World War II.
The Concours has come a long way since its first outing in 2024, which also saw it win the “Breakthrough Event of the Year” award at the International Historic Motoring Awards 2024, held in London.
“It’s always difficult to supersede the first show,” says Siddhraj Singh, Concours event director. This year, some new classes were added, and India’s racing history, especially after Independence, was highlighted. “There’s a lot of electrification and digitisation today. But people still enjoy that tactile feel of wood, leather and burning petrol.”
While Singh believes every car entered is special, he does have a personal pick. “I’d like to highlight the BMW 507, because we don’t get to see that every day,” he says. Owned by Elvis, whose white car was often dabbed by love messages in lipstick marks until a red livery solved the problem, the 507 was a hit amongst industrialists, racers and artists. The long bonnet and elegant flanks made it an absolute looker. Only 252 cars were ever made. Like Elvis’s music, which lives on, the 507’s impact continues to be seen on roadsters even today.
“The 507 is a special icon. It’s a beautiful roadster. It was first introduced in 1955 at the motor show in New York. Nearly everyone knows the car,” says Silke Brigl, global head of communications for BMW Group Classic and the BMW Museum.
Brigl adds that heritage plays a crucial role in sustaining interest in classic automobiles. “There’s no future without heritage. With classic cars, we see more young people showing interest in cars of the ’80s and ’90s.”
Time Machines
The Indian Heritage Motor Racing category is where I found more fascinating tales. The 1959 Lancia Flaminia Berlina, owned by Delhi-based automotive enthusiast Ravi Avalur, was one of them.
The Flaminia was once owned by Cesare Rossi, an Italian expat who moved to India in 1953. An expert in man-made fibres and textiles, he founded South India Viscose Ltd and was the longstanding President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for India. Apart from horses, the Italian loved his racing cars and raced the Flaminia in the 1960s. Almost lost to time, Avalur has restored the car to its original racing specification, down to the black livery.
“I began the restoration two years ago. It was a fairly famous race car of its time. You can see the original competition number she used to race with as well,” says Avalur.
He believes that’s part of what makes classic cars stand out even in the modern era. “Today, design is dictated by function. That has perhaps come at the cost of form.” Avalur quotes motorcycle designer Willie G Davidson who once said: Form follows function, but both report to emotion. “I think that doesn’t happen with cars today,” adds Avalur.
I don’t blame him. With classics, it’s like standing next to a time machine and just listening. Every car tells a story. And they look damn fine while at it.