Automobili Ardent readers are quite used to coming across articles that talk about some of the best supercars in the country, but are in for something rather different this time around. It is only obvious that the attraction of supercars from overseas had led to the formation of various supercar rallies taking place all across the country. However, it isn’t everyday that India sees a great fleet of astonishing classics rallying out and about. With the help of MadhusTyre Centre, organized by the Federation of Historic Vehicles of India,some 35 of the most well-maintained classics came together at a location that couldn’t suit these beauties any better, the VidhanaSoudha and drove down to Mysore along with a police escort. Talk about driving your 30-year-old vintage only to see a few more in your rear-view mirror. Before moving forward, here’s a spoiler alert: This isn’t any mainstream classic car rally, this one is quite something special.

Rallies such as this one are quite significant because they show that India has more or less always had some amazing automobiles cruising down the streets, be it supercars or good ol’ vintage cars. Moreover it shows the passion, and respect Indian enthusiasts have for classics. However this drive did not only attract the likes of Indian enthusiasts as a British couple flew their 1925 Lanchester Tourer all the from UK, then drove it down from Mumbai to Bangalore for the rally. What is also interesting is that this couple has actually travelled around the globe with this car, and to see it on Indian streets coming from Britain is surely something to be proud of. Apart from the Lanchester, some other icon classics such as old MGs, Mercedes-Benz, Austin Healy, Chevrolets, Dodges, Buicks, and Studebakers also arrived at VidhanaSoudha to kick off the rally. The two cars that really stood out in what was an already special line-up of cars were a Mercedes-Benz 190SL and a 1964 Jaguar E Type. What a sight it must’ve been to have all of these beauties lined up and ready to hit the road. The event was flagged of by the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri H D Kumaraswamy, after which the convoy was able to turn heads on it’s way to Mysore. It seems as if the entire rally was themed to make these classic cars feel at home again because upon arrival in Mysore, the rally took a pit stop at the spectacular Lalitha Mahal Palace and Hotel. Now, what better way to celebrate the significance of these cars than by having them parked in front of a Palace, not to mention, most of these cars probably had these palaces as their homes back in the day. The rally then took a drive around the historical parts of Mysore, and rounded the day off by heading back to the Lalitha for dinner.

Maybe taking these cars to all these historical places did make them feel at home again, but the events that took place on the second day is what would make them feel young. The second day of the rally kicked of with a drive to the historic Chamundeshwari Temple on top of the Chamundi Hill and also visited the Nandi Statue on the way down. As amazing of a drive that may have been, it cannot beat what followed after lunch. A Gymkhana was setup for the drivers to floor the pedals and push these classics to redline to see which car could set the fastest lap time. Read over that again if necessary because believe it or not, these classics actually drove as if they rolled of the production line only yesterday. And there was quite the racing vibe in the air too as MadhusTyre Centre actually had to supply a fresh set of tyres for the drivers who really wanted to grab up the quickest lap time title. One can only imagine what a sight it must have been to watch Austins, vintage Mercedes, Chevrolets, Buicks and not to mention, the Jaguar E-type and Mercedes 190SL being pushed to set the fastest lap time. All good things come to an end, and the next day on 2nd of October so did the rally. It’s safe to say that Indian’s can truly call themselves proper raw automotive enthusiasts, because a rally like that isn’t your typical classic car rally.