All-time greats such as the Dodge Viper, Ferrari 348, Honda NSX and BMW 325i (E30) as well as popular modern classics such as the Mazda Miata and Mercedes-Benz SEC were part of the rally.
On the morning of 31 October, Mumbai witnessed a Sunday unlike any other Sunday. The iconic automobile from the ’70s to the early 2000s rolled the streets of the city for the opening of the Turtle Wax Modern Classic rally. Organized in association with Shaman Young Timers and Autocar India, the event went beyond its concept as a rally and proved to be the culmination of a movement celebrating iconic cars representing old school engineering and modern performance standards.
The event was the first of its kind to be held in India and marked the creation of an entirely new class of inspirational automobiles. The rally saw over 50 entries, each representing their era in all its sheer glory. All-time greats such as the Dodge Viper, Ferrari 348, Honda NSX and BMW 325i (E30) worked side by side with globally popular modern classics such as the Mazda Miata and Mercedes-Benz SEC, while unique exotics such as the Aston Martin DBS, The Alfa Romeo Berlina 2000, Citroen DS and Jaguar E-Type enthralled the audience with their timeless looks.
Another rare sighting was the Maserati Biturbo, the world’s first twin-turbo production car – and opposite SUVs as famous as the Land Rover Defender, Range Rover and Toyota Land Cruiser.
The inaugural Turtle Wax Modern Classic rally was flagged off from Bandra-Kurla Complex. The rally saw cars plying from there to Bandra Reclamation, up to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which leads to the Worli Seaface, much to the delight of car enthusiasts in the city.
Capturing the essence of the event, Perseus Bandrawalla, Curator of The Turtle Wax Modern Classic Rally, said, “The Turtle Wax Modern Classic Rally is more than an event – it is a movement. These are the cars we grew up dreaming about, to the performance benchmarks set by them and of their time. We are nostalgic for showcasing the engineering possibilities far beyond!”
Rayomand J Patel, a founding member of Shaman Youngtimers Club, said, “As a ’70s kid, seeing a Mercedes-Benz SEC for the first time in a magazine blew my mind. I had an SEC as a pre-teen. I have a hazy memory of seeing as in twilight and thinking, ‘Oh my god, that’s a spaceship!’ Thirty years later, I was running to a meeting and saw one on the side of Tulsi Pipe Road. I was so moved, I went back to the spot in the middle of the night and just stared at it for several hours. I just had to save it , even though many said it was a car that couldn’t be saved. This is the story of Vader, my all black 1989 sec. Seven years ago, saving the Modern Classic didn’t really mean much to anyone Or it didn’t make sense, but I’m glad I did because I think the C126 SEC is the best car Mercedes has made and it’s a lot of fun to drive too!”
Apart from a great assortment of cars, car care giant Turtle Wax put on a meticulous display on car care which was highly appreciated by the car owners present at the event.
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