Celebrating history on wheels: 59th Edition of The Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally held in Delhi

The air was thick with the rich aroma of aged metal and the rhythmic thrum of historic engines as the 59th Edition of The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally rolled through the heart of the city on Sunday morning.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena flagged off the Car Rally that commenced at the Statesman House in the heart of Delhi.

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“The Maharanis of Yesteryears’” were flagged off from The Statesman House at Barakhamba Road in Delhi at a glittering ceremony in presence of The Statesman Ltd Chairman R P Gupta, Editor & Managing Director Ravindra Kumar, and Director Vineet Gupta.

Before flagging off the car rally, the dignitaries, accompanied by Mr R P Gupta, had a look at the classic beauties and posed for photographs with their proud owners.

Congratulating The Statesman and its entire team for organising “such a beautiful event”, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor said, “I believe more such programmes should be held in Delhi. The people here are very passionate, and you can see how enthusiastically they are participating.”

Over 100 vehicles participated in The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally. The major attractions of the event were an assembly of vintage and classic cars, followed by a drive-through-the-city where cars were assessed for originality and performance on the road section, a grand parade, and live music.

From a stunning 1906 Renault to the 1938 Mercedes and Adler — also of 1938 — the iconic vintage and classic cars that took part in the rally included 1936 Rolls Royce, 1926 Studebaker Erskine, 1935 Rytecraft, 1937 Wolseley, 1932 Baby Austin, 1937 Dodge, 1929 Austin 7 Tourer, 1919 Citroen Torpedo, 1913 Stoewer, 1912 Standard Coventry and many others.

Rolls Royce, Bentley, the 1914 John Morris fire engine, owned by the Rail Museum, smaller vintage and classic cars, and outstation cars were the highlights of this year’s event. The vintage legends gleamed as people watched the timeless elegance of the machines with nostalgia.

The event transformed the streets into a vibrant living museum as crowds gathered to witness the gleaming chrome accents and meticulously restored craft work and maintenance of the beauties. The sight of rare rolling sculptures was a treat for vintage car enthusiasts. Every drive in these classics is an adventure filled with fairy tales.

The participating vintage and classic cars followed by a drive-through-the-city reached the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium near India Gate at 12:30 pm.

The prize distribution ceremony was held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at 3 pm.

At the stadium, along with the car enthusiasts, people of all age groups, including women, children, and elders, were seen taking pictures and selfies and made their Sunday a memorable one.

The rally culminated at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in the evening leaving behind memories of a bygone era of unparalleled craftsmanship and timeless style.

The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally is an annual event that takes place in Delhi and Kolkata. It is one of the oldest continuously running events in India and the sub-continent.

Commenced in 1964 in Delhi, the rally started in Kolkata in 1968.

Owners of the vehicles eagerly await The Statesman rally every year as it gives them a unique opportunity to drive their machines of the bygone era on modern roads. It opens a window for the people of the National Capital to have a glimpse of an enchanting era through vintage automobiles.

These vehicles are categorised as vintage, classic, post-war, and others.

People of Delhi witnessed the four-wheel engineering marvels displaying their graceful grandeur while cruising along the roads of the city and its suburbs. The timeless machines were not just old steel beauties but rolling sculptures, transporting one back in time. It was a day to celebrate not just the metal but also nostalgia.