India’s most premium vintage
car event, the 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally & Concours
Show, 2016 was inaugurated amongst renowned national and international car aficionados and
connoisseurs of culture, art & history. Vintage beauties included the likes
of Maybach SW 38 1937, Horch 780 Cabriolet, 1959, Lister Costin Jaguar, 1933
Jaguar SS1 Coupe, Jaguar XK 120, Mercedes 630 Murphy, Rolls Royce – Silver
Ghost and many more saloons and convertibles. Cars from Rolls Royce, Stutz,
Buick, Ford, Chevrolet, Austin Martin and Bentley were the centre of attraction
at the event.
Vintage & Classic Cars
like the 1939 Mercedes TYP 230 from Jaipur, Jaguar Mark V, 1949 from Ahmadabad,
1935 3.5 Litres, Bentley along with 1938 Cadillac Series 90 & 1935 Rolls
Royce Phantom II Continental from Mumbai, 1929 Mercedes Nurberg from Bangalore,
Mereceds Benz cabriolet 1935 from Rajkot, 1923 Rolls Royce from Kolkata, 1966
Jaguar MK II from Chennai, Dodge 1940-7 Seater limo from Pune and many other
cars from different parts of the country were the cynosure of all eyes at the
event..
The most precious automobile
on display was the Benz Patent Motorwagen- the first car invented by Karl
Friedrich Benz - pioneering founder of Mercedes-Benz & the Quadra cycle by
Henry Ford.
Besides, showcasing the rich
automotive heritage to the world, the rally also took up a social cause. This
year, the rally promoted the message of ‘Save the Girl Child’ and there was a
special promotion of “Beti bachao beti Padhao” on cars, to promote the message
of saving and empowering the girl child.
Visitors included Vinod Zutshi
- Secrectary, Tourism Govt of India, Suman Billa - Joint Secretary, Ministry of
Tourism, Government of India, Narendra Kumar Sinha - Secretary, Ministry of
Culture, and Ms. Sandra Button - Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d’
Elegance. K.T.S. Tulsi - President, Heritage Motoring Club of India and Member
of Parliament was also present.
The Chief Guests for the first
day (February 6, 2016) were Manohar Lal Khattar - Chief Minister of Haryana and
Ratan Tata - Chairman Emeritus of Tata Son. Both inaugurated the display of
Vintage & Classic cars and the Concours Show on the on February 6, 2016 at
Red Fort.
On second day (February 7,
2016) Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Tourism
& Culture, and Minister of State of Civil Aviation flagged off 100+ vintage
cars & 65 bikes from Red Fort to F1 Racing Track, BIC, Greater Noida.
Madan Mohan Founder &
Managing Trustee - 21 Gun Salute Heritage & Cultural Trust said,
"Through this event, I take forward my passion and my dream that aims at
establishing India as a world-classing motoring tourism destination and through
the 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally & Concours Show, we will
surely make a mark on the Global Vintage Rallies Map, attracting lakh of
international tourists from all over the world, in the future editions of the
event."