Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally celebrates its 10th anniversary

It saw participation from 81 cars across 77 model variants – among the largest gatherings of a one-make series.

Published On Dec 03, 2023 03:15:00 PM

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The rally was flagged off by Mumbai BJP president and MLA Ashish Shelar and Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.

Yohan Poonawala's Mercedes 190 SL in Jaipur Blue which was restored just last year.

For ten years now, one Sunday morning towards the end of the year sees Mumbai’s streets graced by the very best of classic and vintage Mercedes-Benz cars in India. The tenth edition of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally, organised by Autocar India in association with Mercedes-Benz, saw gleaming cars from across the ages with burbling engines and glints of chrome glide elegantly through the city’s streets.

The assortment of rare, iconic Mercedes-Benzes rolled off this morning from the lawns of the Taj Lands End in Bandra to Worli Sea Face and back as part of the rally, drawing a stream of passionate classic car enthusiasts to line up along the route.

Event saw participation of 81 cars in 77 variants
Had several generations of the iconic SL on display
Nearly 50 percent of the cars were first-time entrants

The rally was flagged off by Mumbai BJP president and MLA Ashish Shelar and Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. It had 81 Mercedes-Benz cars spread across 77 different model variants, and about half of the cars at the rally were first-time entrants. First held in 2014, MBCCR has grown to become, not just India's but one of the world’s premier automotive events that can be credited to sparking interest in vintage and classic Mercedes-Benz cars in India.

“A decade is a great time to look back and I’m especially pleased with the number of debuts and superstar cars at the MBCCR both over the years and particularly this year,” said rally curator Perseus Bandrawalla. “This is incontrovertible evidence of the MBCCR’s pivotal role in nurturing and growing the eco-system of collectors and restorers in the country.”

The W08 Nurburg and 600 Grosser were the star cars of the show.

The line-up included a spectrum of cars, from Pratapsinh Gaekwad’s 230 SL Pagoda to the iconic R129 SL – best remembered from its appearance in the 2001 film, Dil Chahta Hai – and, among others, Yohan Poonawalla’s 190SL that originally belonged to Maharani Gayatri Devi and the 300Sc Roadster, one of 50 ever made, from the famed Bhogilal collection.

Other cars of note included Hani Mustafa’s mighty and original G Wagen (which makes its debut at the show); the F124 Krankenwagen, a W124 Ambulance from the President of India’s and former PM Narasimha Rao’s fleet, and a Benz Patent-Motorwagen replica. There were also several classic generations of the C-Class, E-Class, S-Class and SL-Class, and even some rare estates like the Ponton W120, W115, W123 and W124.

This 300Sc is just one of fifty cars ever produced.

A host of well-regarded vintage and classic car collectors from across the country participated in the rally. These included publisher Viveck Goenka, industrialist Yohan Poonawalla, Himanshu Sinh of Gondal, Pratapsinh Gaekwad and Rajiv Kehr.

Yohan Poonawalla said, “It’s a special year and I’m here with my very special 190 SL in Jaipur Blue, which was restored just last year and belonged to the Maharani of Jaipur, Gayatri Devi."

Pratapsinh Gaekwad, who participated in the rally with his 230SL Pagoda, said, “I’ve been a part of the MBCCR for a while and every year the event keeps getting better. Being a part of such an event among people who are so passionate about classic Mercedes is truly a pleasure."

Rajiv Kehr's Mercedes 220 SE is known to be just one of two in India.

Here’s a look at some of the Mercedes-Benzes that were undoubtedly the star cars of the show.

600 Grosser: The Grosser, which made its MBCCR debut and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, was the de facto choice for world leaders and celebrities. Known to be the best car in the world with a cost-no-bar approach, the Grosser cemented Mercedes’ position as the number one car manufacturer back in the 1960s.

300Sc: One of just 50 cars ever produced, the 300Sc, which participated in the first MBCCR in 2014, was back after a fresh restoration this year.

500K: Owned by reputed publisher Hormusji Cama, the iconic 500K sports a supercharged inline 8-cylinder engine, and was the gold standard for grand tourers in the 1930s. It has starred in previous editions of MBCCR and returned this time for the 10th Anniversary after a few years gap.

The 300SL owned by the Maharaja of Gondal has won every race it has participated in.

300SL: The only 300SL in the country and one of only a handful the world over – still owned by the original owner since new – this breathtaking automobile has an illustrious record of winning every race it participated in. The Maharaja of Gondal actually raced the car, which is now owned by his son, Himanshu.

Nurburg: The W08, with its inline 8-cylinder engine (Mercedes's first passenger car with a straight 8), was developed by Ferdinand Porsche. This particular 1929 example with a tourer body, owned by Mumbai's Yashwardhan Ruia, is one of the few and best examples of the Nurburg in the world.

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