21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally & Concours Show in New Delhi, India

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The results of the ’21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally & Concours Show’ held in New Delhi, India 17th and 18th February 2018 are as follows:

Pre-War Classic: European - 1939 Delage D8- 120. Pre-War Classic: American - 1929 Graham Paige Tourer. Post-War Classic: European - 1966 Volvo 122 Amazon. Post-War Classic: American - 1960 Pontiac Parisienne. MG Classic - 1965 MGB GT. Convertible & Roadster: American - 1952 Cadillac Series 62. Convertible & Roadster: European - 1963 Sunbeam Alpine SIII. Rolls-Royce Classic - 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Gurney Nutting. Bentley Classic - 1922 Bentley Le Mans 3-litre. Limousine -1940 Buick 90 Ltd. Preservation Class - 1946 Chrysler Windsor. Pre-War Italian Class - 1926 Fiat 503. Post-War Italian Class - 1967 Alfa-Romeo GT 1300 Junior. Italian Piccolo - 1955 Fiat 1100.

Lovely cars all, but a few deserve special mention. The Preservation Class won by the Chrysler with runners-up being a 1955 Fiat and a 1939 Lagonda V12, was conducted under the auspices of FIVA, the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens, with the organization's President, Patrick Rollet of Belgium in attendance. The three stand out cars of the whole event, however, were the 1922 Bentley 3-litre, the 1939 Delage, and the 1937 Gurney Nutting Rolls-Royce.

The 1922 Bentley 3-litre, chassis number 141, engine number 62, was brought all the way from Perth, Western Australia (actually en route home from last year’s Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court) by its owners Peter and Robin Briggs and two of their charming grandchildren. If that is not impressive enough, then consider the car’s pedigree, it being, among other things, the first ever Bentley to run in the first Le Mans 24 Hour Race in May 1923 finishing fourth and setting the inaugural lap record, thus establishing the tradition for those Bentley Boys’ victories to follow! As well as winning its class here in Delhi, unsurprisingly, it also won an award for most significant competition car and as a runner-up for Best in Show.

The other runner-up for Best in Show, winner of its class, and also for most significant international entrant was the 1939 Delage D8-120, chassis 51760 with coachwork by Henri Chapron. This stunning car, owned by Peter and Merle Mullin, who joined the event from California where their world famous Mullin Automotive Museum, one man’s tribute to the French automobile, is established in Oxnard. The Delage’s original owner was a French General of the Vichy Government, who was a German collaborator. After the war in 1946 he sent the car to California, but being unable to obtain a visa for himself he shot off to Argentina having sold the car to RKO Studios whence it was to appear in the 1951 Oscar-winning movie, An American in Paris also starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron and the music of George Gershwin. Peter Mullin, just the car’s fourth owner, purchased this graceful automobile in 1987 since when it has taken part in many Concours d’Elegance with outstanding results.

To beat these two cars it meant that the winner of 2018 21 Gun Salute Concours had to be a simply amazing vehicle and that is exactly what the 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 owned by local New Delhi man, Mr D.Gidwaney is. Beautifully presented and featuring a stunning cabriolet body, being one of only two of its kind ever built, by Gurney Nutting. Gurney Nutting is one of the most famous names in coach building and the company’s work synonymous with Rolls-Royce, Royalty, and Art Deco styling in motor cars. Gurney Nutting is perhaps most famous for its bodywork on the 1930 Blue Train Bentley and Malcolm Campbell’s Blue Bird land speed record car, but also had a strong association with India. It was fitting then that the Best in Show was the Gurney Nutting all weather Rolls-Royce cabriolet chassis number GR048, supplied new to HH Maharajah of Darbhanga, and which made everyone’s draw drop in appreciation when first seen in the mist of early Saturday morning at India Gate.

Words and photographs by James Nicholls.

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