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Vintage beauties strut Delhi roads

As they shone with pride and beauty, the metallic wonders became the cynosure of heritage enthusiasts and photographers who had gathered at the venue to catch a glimpse

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The various vintage cars seen at the rally on Saturday
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Delhi was left in awe on Saturday as some of the rarest automobile relics strutted down the city roads, amidst admiring noises from spectators. More than 125 vintage cars, including a 115-year-old Humber from Mumbai and a rare Rolls Royce from Kanpur, were part of this international vintage car rally, flagged off from India Gate by Union Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma.

As they shone with pride and beauty, the metallic wonders became the cynosure of heritage enthusiasts and photographers who had gathered at the venue to catch a glimpse. Besides the 1903 Humber, and the carriage-style 1913 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, two rare models of Cadillac, a 1922 Moon and a 1942 Packard 180 Limo, floored visitors.

Speaking about the eighth edition of the '21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally', Sharma highlighted the significance of such events in showcasing the rich cultural heritage of India, and said that they "add colours to the vibrant tourism sector of the country". "The current generation will also get to appreciate the culture of preservation that these car lovers espouse," Sharma said, who also sat in the open-top Humber, that has old-styled lamps on its sides.

Lutyens Delhi came alive with rare models of Bentley, Jaguar, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, Buick and Pontiac, Lagonda, Fiat and Ferrari, that stunningly moved through the streets, en route Gurgaon. Luigi Estero, Charge'd' Affairs, at the Italian Embassy here, who attended the event, said, "It is a matter of pride for us to see Italian cars in this rally. Fiat, Ferrari and Vespa have been a part of the automobile history of India, too. And, we want to celebrate our shared culture, including the automobile heritage." Umama Ibrahim, who brought her 1913 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost to the rally, said, "We have 8-10 cars back home, all well-maintained. Our generation has realised the importance of keeping these heritage cars in proper condition. And, we take a lot of pride in our vintage cars, like a family jewel."

The event also showcased the few last surviving editions of cars, such as the 1939 Delage D-8 120 (the US) and 1965 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud (the UK). A 1937 Rolls Royce 25/30, earlier owned by the Darbhanga Raj family of Bihar, a 1942 Packard 180 Limo, of the Second World War era, along with the restored 1938 Armstrong Siddeley, previously owned by the Kapurthala royal family, were also among the head-turners.

 

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