It’s impossible not to be a star hit in the presence of some of the greatest Mercedes-Benz cars ever built, and it’s especially overwhelming when more than 60 three-pointed stars align. The 8th Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally (MBCCR) was held on 5th December at the sprawling seaside lawns of Taj Lands End in Mumbai, centered on the theme of ‘Reimagining Excellence’.
A delightful Sunday sky shone over a grand assortment of classic Mercedes at this year’s MBCCR, with the enthusiastic and proud owners of these machines fueling the energy about this annual celebration. Tremendous entries representing all kinds of classic Mercedes-Benz – from the 500K, a quartet of Adenauers (a pair of Cabrios and Limos each) to the 170V in every body style, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class and SL – Eighth Edition MBCCR was a feast for the fans who gathered on the parade route between Worli Seaface to Taj Lands End in Bandra.
Among the highlights of the show was an antique W29 500K owned by Hormusji Cama, a trio of W186 Adenauers belonging to Jam Sahib, Gautam Singhania and Behram Dubash of Nawanagar. The 1955 300 Adenauer Cabriolet belonging to Maharaja Jam Sahib was restored by Mayur Khasran and made his debut in the show, while Gautam Singhania’s Adenauer also made his debut, which was recently restored.
Vivek Goenka, a regular at MBCCR, has come up with some of the best in his vibrant collection which includes a patented wagon, a W108 280S, W111 230S Fintail, a pair of W180 220S Pontoons and most notably, the Unimog. A highly regarded anywhere-going vehicle. Abbas Jasdanwala’s Adenauer looked great in the company of three impeccable Fintail S-Class models and four W120s. Also every variation of the E-Class was represented, making it a truly eclectic mix.
The rally was flagged off by the Chief Guest, Minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Government of Maharashtra) Eknath Shinde, along with Martin Schwenk, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. The guest of honor present at the event was Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Dipankar Dutta, himself a classic car lover, as well as Lok Sabha member Shrikant Shinde.
“Cars and roads go together,” said Eknath Shinde. “Despite COVID-19, the state government is focusing on strengthening and expanding the road infrastructure. We are looking at setting up an access control grid of 5,000 kms that will allow people and goods to reach their destinations in a safe and quick manner.
Martin Schwenk likens the MBCCR to a museum on wheels. “That’s what’s so special about Rally – we’ve put these great cars on the road. And I never fail to be impressed by their beauty and how flawlessly they are maintained. Our motto this year is ‘Excellence’. Reimagine’, and when I see such excellence on four wheels, I feel a sense of responsibility and responsibility to carry that legacy into the future. Mercedes-Benz stands not only for history but also for the future.
According to Goenka, MBCCR has been a boon for classic car lovers. “Thanks to this rally, many Mercedes are now out of the woodwork. Cars are being restored and it is nice to see them on the roads and at events like this. Every year we see many new cars in the rally. are,” he said.
“This is my second time at Rally, and I truly admire how it brings together knowledgeable lovers of the classic Mercedes. It is great to meet them and learn more about their cars,” said Pratapsinh Gaikwad , who brought along their beautiful W113 Pagoda.
MBCCR’s curator Perseus Bandrawalla acknowledged the event the event has evolved and said, “Reimagining excellence is something truly special – like the classic Mercedes-Benz, which combines classic design language and future-oriented technology and engineering.” At MBCCR, we celebrate the most iconic Mercedes-Benz cars in the world, and it is a pleasure to see them and their owners from across the country come together to make this the most memorable Sunday of the year needed.
Finally, as a token of appreciation from the organisers, the owners were awarded with certificates, trophies and memorabilia. Amid the ongoing pandemic, the eighth edition of MBCCR followed strict social distancing protocols.
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