Over 100 Rare Vintage & Classic Car Exhibition To Conclude Today At Turf Club In Pune
Over 100 Rare Vintage & Classic Car Exhibition To Conclude Today At Turf Club In Pune
The ceremonious inauguration of an opulent exhibition, showcasing over 100 rare and distinguished vintage and classic automobiles—including Humber, Chrysler, Austin, Limousine, Ariel Sloper, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, BMW, Ford, Impala, Chevrolet, MG, Volkswagen, Overland, Citroën, Fiat—alongside an equally impressive assemblage of over 100 rare motorcycles and scooters, was inaugurated today at the Royal Western India Turf Club in Pune by renowned vintage and classic car collector Yohan Poonawalla. The event witnessed an overwhelming crowd of thousands of Puneites. This exhibition remains open to the citizens free of charge on Sunday as well, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The Vintage and Classic Car Club of India has meticulously organized this event, with the esteemed Western India Automobile Association extending its valuable support. In recognition of his numerous prestigious international accolades, Yohan Poonawalla was accorded a special felicitation by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India. Additionally, as a tribute to Pune’s first mayor, the late Baburao Sanas, the exhibition honored the finest vintage car and the finest classic car with exclusive commemorative trophies.
This prestigious event is presented by Michelin India & N M Tyres, Co-partnered by RWITC, and Powered by Maharashtra Tourism in association with Western India Automobile Association (WIAA). This event is also powered by Venkys Group.
While inaugurating the event, Yohan Poonawalla expressed his delight, stating that the revival of the Vintage and Classic Car Exhibition in Pune was indeed a matter of great joy. He emphasized that the event not only reflects glamour but also brings immense delight and nostalgia to enthusiasts. Owing to this very essence, he chose to showcase several exquisite vintage and classic automobiles from his personal collection. He also extended his gratitude to the people of Pune for their overwhelming response and enthusiastic participation.
The occasion was graced by the presence of Nitin Dossa, President of the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India; Subhash Sanas, of Subhash.B.Sanas Vintage and Classic Car Museum; Prakash Kulkarni, President of the Western India Automobile Association; Arnab S., General Secretary; former General Secretary & judge of this exhibition Subhash Goregaonkar; Zavare Poonawalla; Nishant Dossa; Dhananjay Badamikar; as well as Anil Mehta and Nishant Mehta of NM Tyres. Additionally, a large gathering of vintage and classic car collectors and enthusiasts added grandeur to the event.
The exhibition featured an extraordinary collection of historically significant vintage and classic automobiles, including India’s oldest running car, the 1903 Humber, owned by Abbas Jasdanwala. Among the highlights were 12 rare automobiles from the collection of Subhash.B.Sanas Vintage & Classic Car Museum of Subhash Sanas, including the Dodge Kingsway once used by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s family, a convertible Chevrolet Impala previously owned by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Mercedes-Benz models owned by Hollywood star Al Pacino & also by renowned personalities Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Chunky Pandey, Balasaheb Thackeray, along with a 1981 Mercedes-Benz Limousine formerly owned by the Sultan of Brunei and a 1982 Mercedes-Benz previously used by the German Police Chief. Other notable exhibits included a Nitin Dossa’s 1952 Chrysler Convertible (formerly belonging to the Madras Governor), 1947 MG by Yash Ruia, the illustrious collection of Yohan Poonawalla featured 20 vintage cars including a 1927 Rolls-Royce 20 HP, 1949 Bentley Mark VI, 1959 BMW Isetta 300, 1962 Volkswagen Beetle, a 2015 Ferrari Aperta etc, Shrikant Apte’s 1931 Chevrolet, Shekhar Savdekar’s 1942 Ford Jeep, a 1919 Overland, 10 vintage cars by Dhananjay Badamikar including 1946 Citroën Traction Avant, Harit Trivedi’s 1931 Ariel Sloper, Sanjay Sabale’s five vintage cars, and Dr. Prabha Nene’s Austin 7, along with several other vintage cars from notable celebrities, making the event a true spectacle of automotive heritage.
In addition, the exhibition also showcased the iconic ‘Bobby’-famous Motorcycle along with a rare 1938 Norton 500—one of the oldest motorcycles on display.
The overwhelming response from Puneites to this grand exhibition was met with deep appreciation from Nitin Dossa and Subhash Sanas. Expressing their gratitude to the people of Pune, they extended a cordial and earnest invitation, urging enthusiasts to visit the exhibition on Sunday, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Padwa, and witness the splendid showcase of automotive heritage.
Website – https://www.vccci.in/29th-30th-march-2025/
