-By Kerfegar Eduljee

The unusual, the out-of-the-ordinary and the exceptional always command attention, and this proved true over the weekend as the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI) hosted its prestigious Annual Vintage Car Fiesta at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai. The three-day extravaganza, held from 24^th – 26^th January, 2026, attracted collectors and enthusiasts from across the country, including Pune, Goa and Hyderabad.

The event featured an impressive display of nearly 185 vintage and classic cars alongside 80 two-wheelers. While every one of these beauties proudly flaunted its own history and character, several stood out for their rarity, craftsmanship and enduring charm, drawing sustained admiration from visitors. This would include the 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom 17EX – a one-of-four experimental Sports Phantom, which was created to touch 100 mph, featuring a one-off Jarvis torpedo body design. Owned by Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu & Kashmir, the car has been brought back to India after nearly 95 years and graces Yohan Poonawalla’s collection.

Introduced in 1939, the ATCO trainer features a 98cc Villiers engine with a single forward and reverse gear. WW2 ended its run, with only 200 cars produced, of which only seven are known to survive. This rare collectible, owned by Faridoon Gamadia, was restored by Supercar Garage. Then there’s one for the Bollywood buffs. The 1968 Royal Enfield Bullet, owned by Shivdutt Halady, featured in the 1971 film ‘Andaz’ – in the song ‘Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana’, ridden by superstar Rajesh Khanna, with Hema Malini as his pillion.

The following are the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrians whose vintage and classic vehicles not just stole the show, but won coveted prizes across categories.

Awards & Winners – Car Category:

‘Custodian of the 100 Years of Phantom Legacy Award’: Yohan Poonawalla

‘Best Restored Vintage Car – 1931 Ford Model A’ (3^rd place): Shiraz Ginwalla

‘Best Restored Classic Car – 1964 MG Midget’ (3^rd place): Mehli Mistry

‘Best Restored Indian Heritage Class – 1965 Ambassador Mk11 (1^st place): Kooverji Gamadia

‘Best Restored Indian Heritage Class – 1951 Morris 8 (3^rd place): Aileen Mehta

‘Resurrection Prize – 1972 Alpha Romeo 1300’: Behram Ardeshir

Awards & Winners – Motorcycle Category

‘Best Maintained Classic Motorcycle – 1956 Norton Dominator (1st place): Neville Nallaseth

‘Best Maintained Classic Motorcycle – 1952 AJS Model 20 (2nd place): Xereus Zend

‘Best Maintained Recent Classic Motorcycle – 1972 BSA A65 Lightning (3rd place): Shapoor Irani

‘Best Restored Recent Classic Motorcycle – 1958 BMW R50 (2nd place): Shapoor Minoo

‘Most Original Motorcycle – 1954 BSA BB31’: Jehangir Faroogh

‘Judges Choice Award – 1955 BSA BB31’: Pourushasp Pavri

In the words of Nitin Dossa – Chairman, VCCCI and Western India Automobile Association (WIAA): “The VCCCI Annual Vintage Car Fiesta 2026 is not just an exhibition, it’s a celebration of India’s rich motoring heritage, craftsmanship and history. As we celebrate 100 years of the Rolls Royce Phantom, this year’s Fiesta brings together some of the rarest and historically significant automobiles displayed in India. Aligned with the Republic Day and National Road Safety Month, the iconic Republic Day Drive reinforces our belief that heritage motoring and road safety go hand in hand, creating a truly meaningful celebration of craftsmanship, responsibility and automotive excellence.”