The Hindu : New Delhi News : A special place for vintage, classic cars

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 13, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

A special place for vintage, classic cars

The one-stop show of beauties vying to rule the highway ramp in the coming months, the ongoing Auto Expo Show in the Capital has once again brought in the best of hot wheels from across the world.

But occupying a rather special corner at the expo this year are a group of oldies who continue to make heads turns every time they get on the road. The eighth Auto Expo once again has a special display of vintage and classic cars.

Organised by the Heritage Motoring Club of India (HMCI), some of the prominent cars to be seen at the expo include a Standard Coventry (1927), Mercedes 680 K Supercharged (1927), Minerva AL (1928), Studebaker Commander (1930), Chevrolet Phaeton (1932), Chevrolet Belair (1956), Dodge Charger (1970), Austin Chummy (1928), Citroen Traction Avant (1947), Lagonda (1934) and Mercedes 170 (1954).

A non-profit making organisation working towards helping people restore their vintage cars, HMCI had exhibited its cars in the sixth and seventh Auto Expo too. The organisation has also established Pro Bono Publico, a vintage and classic car museum in the Capital, to encourage the passion for classic cars and create awareness about the country's automotive heritage.

As part of its attempt to highlight heritage causes, the HMCI has been organising drives from Delhi to nearby cities. While the year 2003 saw 100 years of the Kalka-Shimla rail link being commemorated with a drive to Shimla, the 350 years of Taj Mahal was celebrated with a drive to the historic city of Agra. Last year saw a drive being organised to the Sariska Tiger Reserve Forest to highlight the "Save the Tiger" project. -- Lakshmi B. Ghosh

-- Lakshmi B. Ghosh

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