Taking forward a six-decade-long tradition, cars of the bygone era kept a date with the National Capital. 123 in number, the cars of different shapes and colors hit the city’s roads on Sunday for the 56th edition of The Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally 2023.

Proud owners and drivers of the participating vehicles were filled with joy and enthusiasm. Excited auto aficionados and charmed onlookers and passers-by lined up on the roadside to have a glimpse of the vintage beauties. All of them were ready to have a day-long vintage trip in the course of The Statesman car rally.

The rally was flagged off by Indian Oil Corporation Chairman cum Managing Director Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, NDMC Chairman Amit Yadav, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, and Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon at the Statesman House. Chairman of The Statesman R P Gupta and Editor and Managing Director of The Statesman Ravindra Kumar were prominent among those who were present on the occasion.

The vintage automobiles made a beeline outside The Statesman House at Barakhamba Road this morning. These mechanical marvels were brought to take part in The Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally by their owners. The rally once again proved a perfect occasion for their prized possessions to display with all their glamour in full public view and to tell enchanting stories about their glorious history.

A legion of car enthusiasts and common people were also seen gathered at the venue. All of them were sharing the joy reflected through the occasion. They took snaps and clicked selfies with the cars. They could not have asked for more on this beautiful, sunny winter morning.

­­Being the oldest participating automobile in the rally, the 1914 John Morris fire engine, owned by the National Rail Museum, was the first vehicle to be flagged off. As in the past, this time too it was a cynosure of all eyes. The cars moved gracefully in the decree of age, with the oldest being flagged off first followed by their younger counterparts.

Former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri-owned 1964 Fiat, which is participating for the first time, is one of the centers of attraction of the Rally.

About 123 vehicles participated in the rally, including 47 cars under the vintage category, 11 under the classic section, 18 under the post-War section, and 37 in other categories.

Of the large number of remarkable cars that participated in the rally were Lanchester (1927), Chevrolet (1927), Austin (1928), Rolls Royce (1928), Ford (1929), Buick (1929), and Morris Minor (1929). The very names of these cars bring back memories of the automobile history.

The motoring marvels participating in the rally will follow the route of JP Hospital-Greater, Noida-Mahamaya overbridge before taking a U-turn to reach the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium near India Gate at noon. After dazzling Delhiites throughout the entire route, the cars assembled at their final destination for a prize distribution ceremony to be held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at 3 pm.

More than 56 trophies will be given away to the winners across different categories. Among the prestigious trophies were The Statesman Challenge Trophy and the JMAI Trophy.

The cars participating in the rally are divided in four categories, namely vintage, classic, post war and others.

Various parameters will be taken into account while determining the winners in the four categories such as restoration, authenticity, and originality.

The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally is among the oldest running vintage car rallies in India. The rally was first held in 1964 in Delhi. Following its success in Delhi, the rally was taken to Kolkata in 1968.

Unfortunately, the Rally could not be held for two years, in 2021 and 2022, on account of the COVID-19 lockdown.

On March 6 last year, owing to COVID-19 restrictions, The Statesman held a vintage car ‘display’ instead of a full-fledged car rally.