The Cartier ‘Travel with Style’ Concours D’Elegance is coming back in its fourth instalment, this time in New Delhi on March 13th and 14th, 2015, at the Jaipur Polo Grounds. Since its inception in 2008, the event has played host to the crème de la crème of vintage automobiles. Each automobile is hand-picked by its curator, Indian automotive historian Manvendra Singh of Bharwani, and only the very best make it to the final showcase.
The judges for the event include Sandra Button (chairman of Pebble Beach Concours), Jean Todt (president of FIA) (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile), Riccardo Patrese (F1 racing driver) Sir Michael Kadoorie and Nigel Matthews (classic car collectors), David McKirdy (poet and classic car restorer), Yasmin le Bon (supermodel) and Simon Le Bon (musician), amongst other esteemed judges.
The timeless automobiles will be judged on various parameters such as originality and current condition under various categories (see table below). This time, two new categories have been added, the ‘Picolo Fiat Class’ – celebrating the Italian company’s famous small cars and the ‘Veteran Class’- for motorcycles from the dawn of motoring to 1930.
The previous Cartier Concours d'Elegance in 2013 held in Mumbai showcased over 70 cars and included classic motorcycles for the first time. With each passing edition, the event continues to get grander, and we don’t expect it to be any different this year. Entry to the event is by invitation only.
The class list for 2015 is as follows:
Preservation Class
Open to all cars up to and including 1961.
Pre War Classics
Open to all cars build between 1919 to 1945
Pre War Classics
Coachbuilders to the Maharajas: Vanden Plas
Pre War Classics
Purpose built cars of the Maharajas (exhibit only)
Post War Classics
Open to cars build between 1946 to 1961
Post War Classics – Fabuleux Fin:
The late fifties gave birth to the jet-age of styling. This class celebrates the magnificence of chrome, rockets and wings.
Roadsters – till 1961
Celebrating Cartier's "Roadster" brand and the sporty two doors cars that it was named after.
Indian Heritage Class – from 1946 to 1960
In a continued commitment towards preserving independent India’s early automotive history, the popular Indian Heritage Class returns.
Picolo Fiats
Celebrating the Italian company’s famous small cars.
Motorcycle Classes:
Veteran Class
Up to and including 1930
Pre War Class
From 1931 up to and including 1945
Post War Classics
From 1946 up to and including 1964
Check out Cartier Concours D’Elegance 2013 photo gallery