Chennai heritage auto show: Classic beauties on four wheels capture hearts

Chennai: They stood at their stately best and hundreds of motoring enthusiasts came to view the Madras heritage Motoring Club’s vintage and classic car and bike club in the city on Sunday morning. The rain may have been a slight dampener in the morning but once it ceased, fans of old cars trooped into the convention centre in Thiruvanmiyur to gaze at the old beauties.

With over 140 vintage and classic cars and 40 bikes, it was a grand display. The Rolls-Royces and the old Mercedes (before it became Mercedes Benz) were a particular draw, so too the older cars from outside Chennai that were brought in especially for the show.

“We were happy with the turnout to see the cars that have been so well preserved by their owners,” said Mr M.S. Guhan, Secretary of the Madras Heritage Motoring Club. Actress Revathi inaugurated the show and seemed fascinated by the Rolls Royce in which she sat and turned the steering around enthusiastically.

Some of the top prize winners in the Concours D’Elegance were – Rajesh Somasundaram for his 1914 Benz in the category of cars upto 1940, Durai Mohan for his 1956 Dodge Kingsway (for cars 1941-1960) and Najim Musvee for his 1961 Singer (for cars 1961-1975). Amit Goel’s 1929 Austin 7 (for cars upto 1940) and Ranjit Pratap’s 1960 Chevrolet Impala (1941-1960) and his 1966 Ford Fairlane (1961-1975) won prizes for best maintained cars. CTS Shivakumar’s 1941 Matchless and S. Srivardhan’s Lambretta 1975 were among the winners of prizes for best maintained bike.