Crowds thronged the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) on Sunday to catch a glimpse of 40 cars that took part in India’s first car rally dedicated to modern classics.
A modern classic is a car that is typically between 10 and 30 years old.
The rally featured around 40 iconic cars manufactured between the 1970s and 2000s. The cars were driven in a convoy on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and returned to the Sofitel Hotel, BKC.
Cars such as the Jaguar E-Type, BMW E30 that once belonged to art and motorsport aficionado Jehangir Nicholson, as well as the Mercedes-Benz SL, Pontiac Firebirds and Honda NSX were some of those shown at the rally.
The participants welcomed the initiative to give prominence to modern classic cars.
Yashvardhan Ruia, who attended the rally along with his six-year-old son Reyansh Ruia, said, “We always take part in vintage car rallies. But for the first time we have got a chance to drive our modern classic car in a rally along with others.” He drove a 1994 Honda Beat car.
Following in the footsteps of international trends, modern classics are gaining popularity in India, according to car enthusiasts present at the event. The prices of such modern classics including the Mercedes W123 and Mazda Miata MX-5 have gone up in India. In fact, many restorers are increasingly working on several such cars.
Jatin Patel, who ran the 1978 Pontiac Firebird, appreciated the need for more such rallies.
“Over the years, modern classic cars have gained fame among both the young and the elderly. It is a blend of old and new engineering with design.”
Sunday’s event – the first edition of the Turtle Wax Modern Classic Car Rally – was supported by car care brand Turtle Wax and organized by Autocar India along with Shaman Youngtimers.
.