Driving heritage!

From restoration of vehicles to organising events, the Vintage & Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI) does all that’s needed to keep the love for the antique beauties alive in the country

Every weekend at the Fountain area in Mumbai, a group of enthusiasts meet to keep the motoring heritage saga rolling in the country’s business capital. Despite coming from different professional backgrounds, their love for the old wheels binds them. And, hence they collectively identify themselves to be the members of one of the oldest and foremost vintage and classic car clubs of India, ‘The Vintage & Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI).’

The club, which boasts of having the robust presence of about 220 members, was founded in 1988 by Nitin Dossa (the founder) and Pranlal Bhogilal (the founder president). “The club was born out of the Western India Automobile Association, founded in 1904. The association had held its first rally from New Delhi to Mumbai in 1904. Later, VCCCI was founded as a separate club. At that time, Pranlal Bhogilal had the largest collection with about 200 vintage and classic cars. Now, of course we have members who have over 250 varieties of vintage cars,” Dossa said.

The club was set up to champion the cause of preserving the rich automobile and motoring heritage of India. In 1999, the club had hosted one of the biggest rallies, ‘The Jewel of India’ during that time. “We are the only club till now that has been recognized for holding an international vintage car rally. It was done in the 2000. It was called the ‘Rally of the Raj.’ About 15 participants from around the world took part in it. We repeated the 1904 rally route from New Delhi to Mumbai via royal Indian cities of Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad and Rajpipla,” said Dossa. Lord Montageau of Beaulieu had driven the oldest car in the rally, a 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost which was displayed at the Motor Show in London in 1906. The other cars to have featured in the rally include Bentley, Vauxhall, Cadillac and Mercedes, among others. In 2004, VCCCI became the only club in India to celebrate Rolls-Royce centenary by holding a rally. It featured rare 1922 Silver Ghost (the oldest RR in the rally), the RR 1928 20/25-HP, RR 1979 Silver Shadow (the first Rolls to be imported post-Independence), Silver Wraiths, Silver Spurs, etc.

But what it takes to be a member of the club? “We only accept members who own the vintage or classic cars. Once you sell the car, the membership seizes,”explained Dossa. One of the oldest and rarest cars owned by any of the club’s member is a 1903 Humber. It belongs to Abbas Jasdanwala. Such is the passion for the vintage beauties that some of its members like Nitin Dossa have in-house garages for carrying out their restoration. Not just that, Dossa remembered how he used to ogle at an Austin 7 1928, driven by an Anglo-Indian lady, during his childhood. Soon after, on his 18th birthday, his grand uncle gifted him the same car and his love for vintage cars grew intense.

Besides holding an array of events, the clubs helps its members in restoration of the cars. They are also offered help for importing spare parts. “We don’t get tyres. That’s a challenge for vintage car lovers. But, the future is bright for vintage car lovers as the government has allowed to import cars. Anybody can import cars till 1950s model,” he added.

Proud Moments

• Nishant Dossa’s Alvis Speed 25 won the ‘Pre-War Classic – European’ class trophy the 6th edition of the Cartier Concours d’Elegance at Rambagh Palace in Jaipur in 2019. The Alvis also received the prestigious first runner-up award in the ‘Maharaja class’ at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance held in San Francisco (USA)
• VCCCI member Yohan Poonawalla’s stunning 1927 Rolls-Royce Twenty HP had bagged the ‘Most Exceptional Coachwork Award’ at the Salon Privé Concours d’Elegance. Barker, which started life as the company’s demonstrator & trials car, and was subsequently owned by the Nawab of Sachin, HH Haidar Muhammad Yakut Khan. Sachin (now in Gujarat) was a princely state
• Yohan Poonawalla’s 1949 Bentley Mark VI had won the Duke of Marlborough Award at the Salon Privé Concours d’Elegance UK.
• Another member, Viveck Goenka had restored 1961 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop that originally belonged to the Maharaja Of Gwalior