CARTIER’S CARS
Abright winter weekend, a steaming cup of chai and a hundred exotic vintage and classic cars and motorcycles to ogle at! The 2019 edition of the Cartier Concours d’Elegance held in Jaipur last weekend was the high point of a vintage car season that included events like the Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally in Delhi and Kolkata and the Osian vintage and classic automobiles auction in Delhi.
Vehicles across various classes were a part of the event along with a special ‘transportation class’ to honour hard-working commercial vehicles. One of the stellar exhibits was the country’s first beer truck, which was deployed to transport beer from the northern hills to the British army across the country.
We also witnessed a duo of rare Alfa Romeo GTV cars, and were told that only three examples of Alfas remain in India. Then there was the ‘Thunderbird Class’, where Viveck and Zita Goenka’s 1961 Hard Top Coupe was our showstopper. Gleaming in a period-correct shade of blue and shining chrome, this T-bird was to die for. There was also a set of Ferraris and that too a GT4 2+2 and then a 1979 GTS Targa!
In motorcycles this year, we especially loved the sidecars and there were a few rare ones. The 1918 BSA Model K sidecar owned by Sandeep Kapoor was a spectacular exhibit. Restored to perfection, the bike had gas-powered lights all around and the side car featured a clock.
It was not just the spectators who were in awe but also the jury members. Curator Manvendra Singh said, “For each edition, we try to raise the bar higher by introducing new categories and elements that augment the visual montage of India’s automotive legacy. When an owner brings a car to Cartier with an intention of showcasing, the most important criterion is that the car must be period correct, i.e., the colour, upholstery, the kind of accessories in it have to adhere to the era that the car originally belongs to.” By the looks of it, the organisers have got it spot on. The only disappointment was the lack of participants in the ‘Indian Heritage Class’, other than an immaculate Hindustan 10. We expected more gems like the Standards, Fiats or the ultra rare station wagon versions of the Amby. Maybe next time!