Wheels of heritage

Gautam Singhania’s 1925 Duesenberg Straight 8. Pic/VCCCI

This weekend, the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI) and the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) in collaboration with Maharashtra Tourism, are organising the Annual Vintage Car Fiesta. Aaditya Thackeray, Minister for Tourism, Environment & Protocol for the Government of Maharashtra, will flag off the event. The parade will begin, and end, at the World Trade Centre and will cover Marine Drive, Peddar Road and Worli Sea face. More than 100 rare vintage cars will participate in the parade.

Nitin Dossa

Monisha Dossa's 1914 Wolseley Stellite, will be the oldest entrant. The display will include a 1964 Lincoln Continental, also known as the Pope Paul VI car and Mother Teresa car, Jagdish Thackersey's 1935 Bentley Drophead Coupe, the runner up at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the 1937 Rolls Royce Phantom III that was previously owned by Maharaja of Panchkote, and Yohan Z Poonawalla's 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud.

The VCCCI is one of the oldest car clubs in India. "VCCCI encourages careful and skilful driving, and highlights the importance of road safety in all its events. We aim to keep automotive heritage alive in India through regular public events to showcase rare automobiles," says Nitin Dossa, chairman of VCCCI, and executive chairman of WIAA. The WIAA, founded in 1919 in Mumbai, is one of the largest automobile associations in Asia. It provides a range of services, from issuing learners' licenses to legal advice on motoring issues.

There is also a treat for bike lovers. Today at Western India Automobile Association in Churchgate, vintage two-wheelers will be judged by Adil Darukhanawala, journalist, author and automobile historian. Jehangir Faroogh's 1927 AJS, will be the oldest bike apart from other models including the 1947 BSA B31 350CC and 1947 Triumph. These bikes will also participate in Sunday's parade.

On: April 10; 9 am onwards
At: World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade