Pune : At the prestigious Vintage and Classic Car Exhibition held in Pune, renowned vintage and classic car collector Yohan Poonawalla was honored with a special accolade by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India for his remarkable contributions in elevating India's name on the international stage. Furthermore as part of the esteemed Concours d'Élégance, two of his exceptionally rare automobiles were awarded top honors—his 1927 Rolls-Royce 20 HP was adjudged the Best Vintage Car, while his 1959 Cadillac Eldorado secured the title of Best Classic Car. These remarkable vehicles were commemorated with a trophies dedicated to the memory of Pune’s first mayor, the late Baburao Sanas. Furthermore, Poonawalla’s 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II was bestowed with the highest distinction of the event, the prestigious "Car of the Show" award. The grand ceremony witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Lieutenant General Dhiraj Sheth, Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Command, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Nitin Dossa, President of the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India, Subhash Sanas of the Subhash.B.Sanas Vintage & Classic Car Museum, Nishant Dossa, Zaware Poonawalla, Anil Mehta and Nishant Mehta of NM Tyres (NMT), Surendra Sanas, Prakash Kulkarni, President of the Western India Automobile Association, Secretary General Arnav S., former Secretary General and exhibition judge Subhash Goregaonkar, Monisha Dossa and many Vintage and Classic cars collectors.
Responding to the felicitation, renowned vintage and classic car collector Yohan Poonawalla expressed his profound delight, stating that curating and showcasing such rare automobiles has always been an immense source of joy. He acknowledged the unwavering support of his family in nurturing his esteemed collection and extended heartfelt gratitude to his dedicated staff, who, despite prolonged absences from their families, contributed tirelessly to exhibiting these rare automobiles on global platforms. Amidst resounding applause, he solemnly pledged to continue elevating India's prestige on the international stage. Accompanying him at the event were his wife, Michelle Poonawalla, and their children.
A grand two-day exhibition of vintage and classic cars, motorcycles, and scooters was hosted at the Royal Western India Turf Club in Pune, offering enthusiasts a free and unparalleled showcase of automotive heritage. The event witnessed an overwhelming response from Pune’s automobile aficionados, drawing an enthusiastic crowd. Moreover, the exhibition attracted distinguished collectors not only from Pune but also from Mumbai, Gujarat, and Goa.
On this momentous occasion, esteemed dignitaries graciously conferred awards upon the victors across various categories, recognizing their excellence in vintage and classic automobile preservation. In a special acknowledgment, Arnav S., Secretary General of the Western India Automobile Association, was honored with the prestigious 'Judges' Special Award' for his instrumental role in orchestrating this grand exhibition, a testament to his unwavering dedication to the automotive heritage community.
The event was principally sponsored by Michelin India and NM Tyres, with Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) serving as the co-sponsor. Furthermore, the grand affair was orchestrated in collaboration with the Maharashtra Tourism Department and the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA). Additionally, the Venky’s Group lent its support as an esteemed sponsor.
The event commenced with a warm welcome and a vote of thanks delivered by Nitin Dossa, President of the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India, who expressed gratitude to all esteemed guests and participants. The proceedings were elegantly compered by Neelam Daswani.
Results of the Exhibition
The Vintage and Classic Car Exhibition showcased a spectacular array of historically significant and immaculately maintained automobiles, many of which were honored with prestigious accolades across multiple categories. In the Best Maintained Vintage Car category, the 1930 Chevrolet owned by Subhash Sanas and the 1934 Austin 7 of Mr. Sable secured top honors. The Best Maintained Classic Car distinction was awarded to Mr. Sable’s 1947 Cadillac and Subhash Sanas’ 1954 Morris Minor. For Best Maintained Recent Classic Car, the 1971 Volkswagen Beetle of Shekhar Savdekar and the 1954 Hillman owned by Samir Tahir emerged victorious. The Best Maintained Indian Heritage Car title was claimed by Kishore Bakare’s 1957 Fiat Elegant and Dhiraj Ritekar’s 1991 118NE, recognized for their exemplary upkeep. In the Best Restored Vintage Car category, Harit Trivedi’s 1930 Ford Model A secured the top prize, while the Best Restored Classic Car accolade went to Badamikar’s 1958 Fiat 500. The Best Restored Recent Classic Car award was won by Amulya Dhanakur’s 1969 Mercedes W108. Within the Best Restored Indian Heritage Class, Karl Bhot’s 1956 Fiat Heritage and Shrinivas Thakur’s 1956 Fiat Millicento were distinguished for their meticulous restoration. The Most Original Car award was conferred upon Samir Tahir’s 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster, while the Best Utility Vehicle Award was presented to Rahul Sable’s 1931 Dodge Brothers. Additionally, the Judges’ Special Award was bestowed upon Arihant Talera’s 1984 Rolls-Royce, recognizing its exceptional preservation and significance. The exhibition vividly reflected the passion and dedication of automobile enthusiasts towards the restoration and conservation of vintage automobiles, leaving spectators in awe of these exquisite mechanical masterpieces.
The exhibition also paid tribute to exceptional motorcycle enthusiasts dedicated to the preservation of rare and vintage two-wheelers. Winners across various categories were announced, recognizing their remarkable commitment to restoration and maintenance. In the Best Maintained Vintage Motorcycle category, Siddharth Darade’s 1938 BSA G14 and Harit Trivedi’s 1947 BSA M20 secured top honors for their impeccable upkeep. The Best Maintained Classic Motorcycle distinction was awarded to Viraj Gogawale’s 1961 Royal Enfield Bullet and Ashok Naidu’s 1962 Royal Enfield Bullet, acknowledged for their exceptional preservation. Within the Indian Heritage Motorcycle category, Abhijit Sable’s 1974 Yezdi B-Type and Jeet Lakhwani’s 1982 Yezdi Colt emerged victorious, celebrating their historical significance and outstanding maintenance.
In the Best Restored Vintage Motorcycle category, Deepti Trivedi’s 1931 Ariel Sloper and Tanvi Trivedi’s 1938 BMW R12 were honored for their meticulous restoration, preserving their authenticity and historical value. The Best Restored Classic Motorcycle accolade was claimed by Anil Bhingarde’s 1959 BSA Super Rocket and Yogesh Acharya’s 1956 Royal Enfield Ensign, recognized for their exceptional craftsmanship and revival. In the Recent Classic Motorcycle category, Leon Dsouza’s 1983 Honda CM 250 and Deepak Velankar’s 1968 Mobylette emerged victorious, celebrated for their impeccable restoration and timeless appeal.
In the Indian Heritage Motorcycle category, Sankalp Balkawade’s 1988 Suzuki Supra and Nitin Gothe’s 1987 Yamaha RX100 were honored for their remarkable preservation and historical significance. The Most Original Motorcycle award was bestowed upon Yogesh Khirapte’s 1973 Vijay DL, recognizing its authenticity and pristine condition. The exhibition captivated motorcycle enthusiasts, showcasing a stunning collection of historically significant two-wheelers and underscoring the importance of preserving and restoring vintage motorcycles for future generations.
The exhibition provided a fascinating showcase for scooter enthusiasts, who proudly presented their meticulously preserved and expertly restored two-wheelers. Various scooters were honored across multiple categories, celebrating excellence in restoration and maintenance. In the Best Restored Scooter category, Yogesh Acharya’s 1970 Enfield Arrow and Swapnil Kadam’s 1983 Bajaj Priya emerged victorious, recognized for their remarkable restoration and attention to detail. The Best Maintained Scooter award was conferred upon Vijay Gokhale’s 1984 Bajaj Viking and Akshay Shelar’s 1984 Bajaj Priya, commended for their exceptional upkeep and pristine condition.
Furthermore, the Most Unique Two-Wheeler award was conferred upon Somnath Salunkhe’s 1961 Lambretta 48cc, recognizing its exceptional rarity and distinctive historical value. This grand exhibition offered a remarkable glimpse into the art of preservation and meticulous restoration of rare and historically significant scooters, ensuring that the legacy of vintage two-wheelers continues to be honored and celebrated.
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