It’s not every Best in Show winner that is marched on stage by the band of an infantry regiment and flanked by four ceremonial horses… but then, not every concours is blessed with the ceremonial detail that sets India’s 21 Gun Salute concours apart from many others around the world.
The 11th edition of the nation’s longest-running concours was won by the 1922 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Open-Tourer Hunting Car by Windover. Exhibited by Mr Dhanraj Gidwaney, the Ghost impressed the judges by being a quintessentially Indian heritage car. The Rolls-Royce was in beautiful condition, and its styling provided a visual connection to the country’s past thanks to its glamorous design, prominent hunting lights and other accessories.
Second place was the 1955 Chrysler Imperial Limousine of Mr Viveck and Mrs Zita Goenka, with third place going to a 1930 Cord L-29 Cabriolet of Mr Gautam Singhania.
The cars assembled at India Gate at dawn on Friday for the start of the concours d’elegance. The Minister of Tourism flagged off the cars before they embarked on a tour, with most of them ending up at the Ambience Golf Greens in Gurugram – the business district of New Delhi.
Unfortunately, the traffic and the heat resulted in a number of casualties – with one being the chief judge, Christian Kramer, who had the indignity of arriving into the concours venue in a 1965 Lincoln Continental on the back of a pick-up truck. Theirs was not the only classic car that littered the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway as the tour added to the chaos of the rush-hour traffic.
Entering the millennium city of Gurugram, a visitor could be in any major conurbation on the planet; business hotels, a shopping mall with everything from Brooks Brothers to Victoria’s Secret, and a lush golf course with cars displayed in a similar fashion to a multitude of concours locations around the world.
But what makes this event of particular import on the global stage is the status and exposure it gives to this hugely enthusiastic and culturally important classic car fraternity. From the cars of the maharajas to the Hindustan Ambassador, India has a rich cultural automotive heritage, and events such as the 21 Gun Salute and the more recent Oberoi Concours – each of which takes place in alternate years – provide the platform to showcase the very best of the historic car community.
For the 11th running of the 21 Gun Salute, there were 95 cars competing in 11 classes, ranging from 120 Years of Rolls-Royce to Post-War American Convertibles. Whilst the quality in depth was perhaps missing, the presentation of many of the class winners was excellent and, according to many of the international judges, proof of the continued improvement in the standards of restoration seen over the past few years. Chromework in particular was exceptional, although the enthusiasm for chrome where originally the metalwork may have been nickel-plated or painted bodywork is a very Indian fashion that may be frowned on by those seeking authenticity in their restoration.
The concours was definitely not full of trailer queens; many of the cars are used daily, and a number of them had been driven many miles to attend the event. The 100 Years of MG class winner had been driven from India to Abingdon in 2023, and a TC in the same class owned by Tr Reghenadan and his son Ishaan had been driven the 2500km from Bangalore to Delhi, only to have the half-shaft break along the journey. The TC was transported through the night directly to Delhi, where the MG community rallied round to ensure the car was on the lawn and on time with a replacement shaft.
The organisation of any concours is a huge undertaking, and the efforts of Madan Mohan to establish the event and build its reputation within the Indian and global classic car communities cannot be understated. An international jury, a celebration of some of the greatest cars in India, and the coming together of the major collectors, restorers, influencers and enthusiasts to celebrate its unique automotive culture bodes well for the development of the classic car market in Southern Asia.
