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This Week, Mumbai Shows Why ‘Old Is Gold’ When It Comes To Vintage Cars

The best vintage cars and bikes of the country all under one roof in Mumbai.

A 1960 Chevrolet Impala at the Nehru Science Center.  (Photographer: Aayush Ailawadi/BloombergQuint)
A 1960 Chevrolet Impala at the Nehru Science Center. (Photographer: Aayush Ailawadi/BloombergQuint)

It’s not every day that you see the world’s first production automobile built in 1886 on Mumbai’s roads. It’s also not common to see the Ford Model T housing a family from South Bombay. And it’s most definitely a rare occurrence to see these cars parked with dozens of other classic cars and bikes under one roof.

But Mumbai’s vintage automobile enthusiasts have done just that at the Nehru Science Centre in Worli, where cars from a Triumph Super 7 to the American classic Chevrolet Impala are on display. The ‘Heritage On Wheels Vintage Car Exhibition’ has been organised by the Vintage and Classic Car Club Of India.

Aayush Ailawadi
The Benz Patent-Motorwagen, regarded by many as the world’s first “production” automobile

While you do see some of these vintage beauties on weekends navigating their way through Mumbai’s narrow roads and alleys, it’s rare to see 27 such cars and 12 motorbikes all displayed together.

Aayush Ailawadi
The Ford Model T from the year 1915 is considered to be the first affordable automobile and also called the most influential car of the 20th century.

The VCCCI often hosts vintage rallies in Mumbai and in case you want to see these classic beasts in action, this year’s mega annual event will be in Pune on April 1, after the exhibition in Mumbai is concluded.

Aayush Ailawadi
The classic bikes on display at the Heritage of Wheels exhibition at Mumbai’s Nehru Science Centre

“Automobile design did not evolve in a vacuum. Designers borrowed ideas and thoughts from other industries and from popular culture, said Shivaprasad Khened, director at the Nehru Science Centre.

Whatever was handy, trendy or so called sexy was fair game for the designers to incorporate in their designs. They incorporated aspects of ArtDeco and Art Moderne into their styling in the 30’s. Streamlining, a catchword that had much less to do with aerodynamics than with shapes was also incorporated by the designers in these beauties, besides incorporating design influences from nature.       
Shivaprasad Khened, Director, Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai
Aayush Ailawadi
The classic cars on display at the Heritage of Wheels exhibition at Mumbai’s Nehru Science Centre