India’s most promising line-up of vintage cars and bikes was witnessed at the 2012 Gun Salute Vintage Rally in Delhi. It was a caravan of over 150 vintage cars and bikes and some of which have been rarely seen anywhere. Ammar Alvi witnessed the old time magic.
The biggest USP of the 21 Gun Salute Vintage Rally was the participation of some rare marquees of bygone era from different parts of country, including Mumbai, Kanpur, Jaipur and
Chandigarh.
According to Madan Mohan, Managing Director, 21 Gun Salute, “The overwhelming participation from across the country to this rally has persuaded us to take it to international level in the next year. The brand 21 Gun Salute is an endeavour and destination designed to extend the experience of the old bygone era with a contemporary touch to re-live the royal and aristocratic history of India and by organising vintage rally like this we wish to take this heritage to beyond boundaries.”
The rally, flagged off from Panchsheel Club New Delhi, covered Vasant Vihar, NH8, and culminated at Leisure Valley Park in Sector 29, Gurgaon.
On the occasion, three rare vintage beauties were also showcased for the first time in Delhi. The other cars and bikes in the rally included Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Stutzes and Buicks. Organised in association with Heritage Motoring Club of India (HMCI), the vintage drive saw cars of pre-war eras from the 1920s to the glorious time of 1965s that hailed from the exotic lands of the US, the UK, and other countries. Most of them were the unfathomed saloons and convertibles from the imperial houses of
Rolls Royce, Stutz, Buick, Ford, Chevrolet and Bentley.
The name ‘21 Gun Salute’ is derived from a formal hierarchical system of Imperial Salute. The concept 21 Gun Salute is based on prosperity and dignity in the eyes of sovereign and it was the highest level of honour to five princely states ie Hyderabad, Mysore, Jammu & Kashmir, Baroda and Gwalior.