As I drove in and parked my ‘meager’ Honda City in the company of über luxury sedans and SUVs, I was already feeling the stateliness of the premise. But just as I opened the door and stepped down, I was annoyed. This was a high-flying affair and my shoes landed on sand. Aaarrrggghhh…! Everyone else will be in their polished Jimmy Choos, Christian Louboutins, and Pradas – how the hell am I supposed to enter with my Hush Puppies? Sheesh, even the name sounds so lame in comparison – Hush Puppies!
Anyway, I managed to clean my ‘baby dogs’ and walked in. And goodness-be-damned, I didn’t care about my shoes anymore. I wouldn’t have cared if I were wearing a sarong – which, in hindsight, would’ve been so-wrong.
The magnificence of the place just immersed me all the way into it. There in front of me stood some of the most exclusive cars that I had ever laid eyes on – not to mention some of most beautiful people Delhi has within its borders. Yes, I was at the Jaipur Polo Grounds on a day slated to host one of the most highly sought after automotive events in the country – Cartier’s second Indian Concours d’Elegance.
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When Cartier entered the Indian market in 2008, they needed a reason to celebrate, and so they sought the consult of Rana Manvendra Singh of Barwani, and decided to organize India’s very first ‘Travel with Style’ Concours d’ Elegance in Mumbai. Three years later and here I was, surrounded by 56 exotic and unique cars which any vintage car lover would drool over. While each city may boast of its own vintage car show, the Cartier Concours is an invite only event in which only the best and most historical cars of India are put on display to compete in seven different categories. That’s not all, to decide on the winners, Cartier invited a host of celebrities and experts from around the world, which included big names such as HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Sir Anthony Bamford, super model Yasmine Le Bon, actor Olivier Martinez, and Prof. Gordon Murray, just to name a few.
Rana Manvendra Singh was once again the curator for Concours 2011, and the event was orchestrated by conservationist and travel writer Mark Shand – also the brother of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. President and CEO of Cartier International, Mr. Bernard Fornas, when asked why Cartier had decided to host an event such as this in India, replied: “India has had an influence on the creativity of Cartier, we are very close to the country and our relationship goes back to more than 100 years. Cartier Concours d’Elegance is part of the 4 big concours in the world, and it’s a significant endeavour, which takes a lot of effort for us to put together. We are delighted to showcase the crème de la crème of cars at Cartier ‘Travel with Style.”
After a few short circuit runs, the judges started doing their rounds. And after everybody was happy and high from drinking expensive champagne, the winners were announced. It was no surprise to anyone that the 1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Dome Roof Limousine (the Throne Car) owned by Princess Ezra of Hyderabad won the Best Car of the Show Award. This priceless gem was ordered during the reign of Mahbub Ali Khan, Nizam VI of Hyderabad. The car was delivered in 1912 after the Nizam’s death in August 1911. It features a dome adorned with silver mouldings and a gold and silver Dastar-i-Mubarak (royal crown) on the roof. It is one of the rarest cars seen in India, and it sure was a sight for sore eyes.
The Best of Class Jaguar was won by Mr. T.T. Raghunathan for his 1937 SS Jaguar. This special car was originally imported by French Motor Cars. However, it went back to the UK, only to be re-imported in 1939. This is a very rare and early SS Jaguar, and is claimed to be one of the 105 units of the 2.5 litre Tourers that were originally made. A 1947 Cadillac Series 62 won the Best of Class for Post World War Classics, while the Best of Class for the Roadster segment went to a 1959 Daimler SP 250 Dart.
Another prized rarity was the 1929 Mercedes Nurburg, which won the Resurrection Cup. A 1938 Bentley 4.5 liter overdrive MX Series won the Best of Class in the Classics, and the 1955 Fiat 1100-103 Millecento – which has been continuously restored under preservation since 2000 – won the Best of Class in Indian Heritage Class. Other winners included the 1959 Chevrolet Impala in the Preservation Class, and the 1928 Lancia Di Lambda, which won Judges (Ladies) Choice.
The event was, once again, a major success. And, after drinking and rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, I decided to take my (unfortunately rightful) place back in my Honda City. Nevertheless, I headed home feeling blessed to have witnessed such an event. Events like these not only display beautifully restored machinery, but also the tenacity and resourcefulness of the owners and passionate enthusiasts. These stunning cars also highlight the automobile heritage of this astonishing country, and the world. It’s a worthy look through the pages of history, and it certainly leaves a lasting impression.
