2017 Cartier Concours D'Elegance

The Historic Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad was the venue for the 5th edition of the Cartier Concours D'Elegance event. In the last 10 years this event has clearly established itself as India's number one classic car show and it is now even ranked alongside world renowned international events like the Villa D'Este Concorsa D'Eleganza and the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elgance.

The Best Car of the Show this time was the 1914 Wolsley 30/40 HP owned by Mr Shrivardhan Kanoria and the the Best Motorcycle of the Show the 1947 Indian Chief owned by Arjun Oberoi.

Curated by the renowned Indian automotive historian Manvendra Singh of Barwani, the Cartier Concours D'Elgance showcases some of the rarest and best-preserved and restored vintage and classic cars from across India. This year a total of 112 rare vehicles were exhibited and there were some interesting new categories like the American Aerodynamique Class. A notable highlight was the presentation of the special FIVA and UNESCO Preservation trophy to a 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost owned by Yuvraj Kesri Singh of Wankaner. This is the first ever Indian car to have won this most prestigious trophy.

Chief Judge for the event was Simon Kidston and other judges included well known and respected personalities like HRH Prince Michael of Kent; Founder of Goodwood Festival of Speed Lord March; Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elgance Sandra Button;President of FIA Jean Todt; motorcycle racing legend and winner of many world championships Giacomo Agostini; award winning F1 designer Prof. Gordon Murray; renowned automobile designer Peter Stevens and former supermodel Yasmin le Bon to name just a few.

The Cartier Concourse D'Elegance was held at Falaknuma Palace Hyderabad on 5th Feb 2017

Best of Show prize winner 1914 Wolseley 30-40HP owned by Shrivardhan Kanoria

Fisrt ever Indian car to win the FIVA UNESCO Preservation Trophy- 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40-50HP owned by Yuvraj Kesri Singh of Wankaner

Post War Classic American prize winner-1958 Edsel Villager owned by Viveck and Zita Goenka

Indian Heritage prize winner -1957 Hindustan Landmaster Traveller - owned by Viveck and Zita Goenka

-Pre-War Motorcycle prize winner - Norton 16H - owned by Norton Singh Sukhi

Best of Show Motorcycle prize winner - 1947 Indian Chief owned by Arjun Oberoi

A wonderful collection of cars was on display at the Cartier Concours D'Elegance 2017

Guests and judges enjoying the awards ceremony at Cartier Concours D'Elegancy 2017 at Taj Falaknuma Hyderabad

Lord March, organizer of the world famous Goodwood events was a judge and took a keen interest in the cars

The Nizam's 1912 Rolls-Royce Throne Limousine and the 1919 gold plated Daimler of Sir Seth Hukumchand Family were displayed in the Exhibition Class

The stunning gold plated 1919 Daimler was restored for this event

Winner of the Mark Shand Adventurer Trophy-the 1954 Studebaker of Viveck Goenka that was entered in the Preservation Class

A very original 1965 Standard Herald owned by Arvind Reddy- Preservation Class

Yuvraj Kesri Singh of Wankaner and his wife with their prize winning 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

Engine compartment of the completely original Silver Ghost

A- Tool-box of the 1921 Silver Ghost

The Wankaner 1921 Rolls-Royce is the first car in India to have won the FIVA UNESCO Preservation Trophy

The Wankaner 1921 Rolls-Royce is the first car in India to have won the FIVA UNESCO Preservation Trophy

The 1921 Silver Ghost sometime in 1920's

Post War Classic American prize winner-1958 Edsel Villager owned by Viveck and Zita Goenka

The Edsel's interiors are amazing

As are its instruments

1950 Cadillac Series 62 owned by Yuvraj Harshwardhan Singh of Dungarpur

1949 Buick Roadmaster owned by Nawab Shah Alam Khan

The very well restored 1914 Wolseley that won the Best of Show Trophy

The 1914 Benz that we were the first to feature in November 16. Read the detailed feature here

A 1927 Lanchester 21 HP owned by Madan Mohan

Pre-War Classic American prize winner- 1936 Pierce Arrow owned by Diljeet Titus

Pre-War Classic American second runner up -1915 Ford Model T owned by Siddhartha Khona

A 1922 Moon 6-40 owned by Madan Mohan

1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II owned by Viveck and Zita Goenka

The ex-Patiala Princely State 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II now owned and restored by Viveck & Zita Goenka

The bar in the 1930 Rolls that once dished out- 'Patiala Pegs'

This time there was a Rolls-Royce Class and many were dazzled by the vast display of what many consider to be the world's best cars.

Pre-War Motorcycles prize winner 1939 Norton 16H owned by Norton Singh. Yes -that is his name. Check-out the next photo.

Yes his name really is Norton Singh Sokhi

A 1955 Buick Roadmaster owned by Viveck & Zita Goenka

Immaculate interior of the 1955 Buick Roadmaster

-Americain Aerodynamique Class winner- 1936 Chrysler Imperial Aeroflow owned by Amal Tanna

The 1936 Chrysler Imperial Aeroflow owned by Amal Tanna

A 1934 Hupmobile owned by Captain K.F. Pastonji

1936 Cord 810 owned by Viveck & Zita Goenka

1936 Cord 810 owned by Viveck & Zita Goenka

1938 Lincoln Zephyr owned by Dr.Ravi Prakash

Yasmin Le Bon was again a Judge at the Concourse and said she loved the cars

1929 Graham Paige 615 owned by Yashvardhan Ruia

1939 Cadillac Series 61 owned by Jitendra Singh Rathore

Pre-War Classic Rolls-Royce Grand prize winner 1921 40-50 HP Silver Ghost owned by Inder Krishnamum

Another impressive Rolls

-Pre-War Classic Rolls-Royce prize winner 1936 Rolls-Royce 25-30 HP owned by Manu Raman

Padma Lal in her 1929 Triumph Super 7

Cartier Resurrection Cup winner 1949 Bristol 400 owned by Amit Sapre and resurrected by Nekzad and Kaizad Engineer

Vidita Singh who we have featured in the past, also had an exhibition of classic automotive art. Click here to view the detailed coverage

HRH Prince Michael of Kent awarding The Cartier Honour Trophy to Sharad Sanghi

Harshvardhan Singh the Prince of Dungarpur, Lord March and Overdrive Consulting Editor Bob Rupani

Photos by Anis Shaikh