Report: 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally and Concours Show 2017

The 7th edition of the 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally and Concours Show was held in New Delhi from February 17-19, 2017.

The show displayed some of the finest and most exotic vintage cars and motorcycles from across the country and this year’s event was judged by experts from India and abroad, each renowned for their expertise in vintage and classic automobiles.

Here’s a look at the models that stood out:

1933 Minerva AL 40HP Limousine – Diljeet Titus
Winner of the Best of Show and the European Pre War Classic Class at this year’s 21 Gun Salute Concours Show and the Cartier Concours d’ Elegance in 2015, the straight eight cylinder engine Minerva also sports Art Deco interiors. This Vanden Plas-bodied car originally belonged to the ruler of Mahmudabad. Only nine Type AL are believed to be existing today. Minerva AL chassis were known to feature with gold plates bezels, switches and trims.

1914 Mercedes Runabout 8/20 – PCM family of Madurai
C.S. Ananth from Chennai took over two-and-a-half years to restore this incredible Benz 8/20 Runabout. It is owned by a single family and is the oldest known Mercedes-Benz in India. The owners still have the original bill of the car.

1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V – Robert Gaines-Cooper
This fabulous Phantom V limousine was the international entry at this year’s event. It is said that only 21 such cars which incorporated the Hooper-style rear quarter windows have been built.

1939 Lagonda V12 Rapide - Awini Ambuj Shankar
One of 200 Lagondas V12 ever built, this fine example is believed to be originally built for Alan Good, the then chairman of Lagonda Motors, just before World War II. The car was refurbished and sold to the Maharaja of Jodhpur in 1940.

1949 Bristol 400 – Amit Sapre
This Bristol was recently excavated and restored to the tee in a record eight months and is one of the 487 ever made.

1927 Triumph Super 7 – Dinesh Lal
Padma and Dinesh Lal’s Triumph Super 7 was found with a jeep body on it. It was rebodied recently with period style doors, hood and windscreen. The Triumph Super 7 was the first Triumph car built in large numbers.

1928 Ford Model A Coach – Rajiv Joseph
Originally owned by the state of Bijawar (now in Madhya Pradesh), the car was used as a doli (palanquin) to ferry the bride. The car has a brass body, gets louvred windows, and a separate chair to seat the bride.

1936 Alvis Speed 20 – Madan Mohan
This pristine example was owned by Madan Mohan, the chairman of the 21 Gun Salute Concours. The Alvis Speed 20 is a British sportscar known for its remarkable performance back in the day. 

1939 Delahaye 135MS – Maharaja Duljeet Singhji
First runner up in the European Pre War Classic Class, the car also won the best of show at the first Cartier Concours d’Elegance in the country in 2008. Maharaja Duljeet Singhji of Jodhpur’s gorgeous Gorham - designed 1939 Delahaye 135 MS with Figoni et Falaschi coachwork is one of only 11 produced. The car features an electromagnetic gearbox too. It was originally brought into the country by a Frenchman who left it behind when he returned after World War II.

1936 Cord 810 – Viveck Goenka
The Cord 810 with hidden headlamps and coffin nose was an absolute stunner. The car has a four-speed electrically selectable semi-automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT - Ishtiyaq Nagree
This lovely Alfa is one of very few classic Alfa Romeos known in the country. The car was completely refurbished a few years ago.

1939 Mercedes-Benz Type 230 – Sudhir Kasliwal
This stunning convertible Type 230 was originally owned by the Maharaja of Ayodhya.

1930 Stutz Series M - Diljeet Titus
The only surviving Stutz known in the country, this car was originally owned by Capt. His Highness Maharaol Sir Ranjitsinhji K.C.S.I of Baria, Gujarat. It was also used by Michael Schumacher during the drivers parade at the 2011 Indian Formula 1 GP at the Buddh International Circuit. 

1914 Fire Brigade
This 1914 Fire Brigade was built by John Morris & Sons UK. It featured a chain drive from the gearbox to each of the rear wheels individually and could reach speeds of 40mph (64kph).

1932 Lancia Racer – Harit Tivedi
This attractive car was raced in Kolkata in the 1950s and is part of a large collection in Mumbai.

1959 Chevrolet Parkwood – Amal Tanna
This immaculate example is a 6-seater.

1958 Edsel Villager – Viveck Goenka
Probably the only known Edsel in India, the car was immaculately restored by Viveck Goenka and looks factory fresh. The car also has a rare manual transmission.

1969 Mercury Cougar – Harinder Singh
The Mercury Cougar was based on the first-generation Mustang and came with covered headlamps that opened and closed with vacuum canister systems.

Take a look at some of the other cars present in our image gallery.