Landmark 10th edition of Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally 2023 lights up city streets
Mumbai: Gleaming Mercedes-Benzes from across the ages took to Mumbai’s streets as part of the 10th edition of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally on 3rd December. The assortment of rare, iconic Mercedes-Benzes glided elegantly from Taj Lands End in Bandra to Worli Sea Face and back as part of the rally, as vintage and classic car enthusiasts lined the route, their phone cameras at the ready.
Organised by Autocar India in association with Mercedes-Benz, the MBCCR, first held in 2014, has grown to become one of the world’s premier automotive events and kickstarted interest in vintage and classic Mercedes in India.
The 10th edition of the MBCCR was flagged off by Mumbai BJP president and MLA Ashish Shelar and Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. The rally had 81 Mercedes-Benz cars on display spread across 77 different model variants, and about half of the cars on show made their debuts.
“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 line-up at the rally included a spectrum of cars, from Pratapsinh Gaekwad’s 230 SL Pagoda to the iconic R129 SL, which is credited with kickstarting the Goa road-trip culture with 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 51 ever made, from the famed Bhogilal collection.
A host of well-regarded vintage and classic car collectors from across the Yohan country participated in the rally. These included publisher Viveck Goenka, industrialist Poonawalla, Himanshu Sinh of Gondal, Pratapsinh Gaekwad and Rajiv Kehr.
Industrialist Yohan Poonawalla shared his thoughts on the stellar 10th edition of the MBCCR. “ It’s the special 10th 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,” he 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,” said Pratap Gaekwad, who participated in the rally with his 230SL Pagoda.
Here’s a quick look at some of the Mercedes-Benzes that garnered a lot of attention at the MBCCR 2023.
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 back 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 engine, and was the gold standard for grand tourers in the 1930s.
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 almost every race it participated in. Yes, the Maharaja of Gondal actually raced the car, which is now owned by his son, Himanshu.
Nurburg: The W08, with its straight 8 engine (Mercedes’s first passenger car with a straight 8), was developed by Ferdinand Porsche. This particular 1929 with a tourer body, owned by Mumbai’s Yashwardhan Ruia, is one of the few and best examples of the Nurburg in the world.