The sound of big engines, the gleam of chrome and a tingle in the air – conditions were perfect for the ninth edition of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally (MBCCR), which began on Sunday morning from the lawns of the Taj Land End. Mumbai The rally, which included the entire spectrum of iconic Mercedes-Benz cars – from Yashvardhan Ruia’s 1929 Nürburg to well-known classics from the 1960s and 70s to the Mercedes India 2002 range – drew in a stream of passionate, informed enthusiasts.
MBCCR was first organized by Autocar India in 2014, and the 2022 edition was graced with some exotic cars like collector Vivek Goenka’s S-Class collection, Pratapsinh Gaikwad’s 230SL Pagoda and Gautam Singhania’s 300S Adenauer Cabriolet. Also on display was the full range of the W123, W124, and W126 in all body styles – from coupes, cabriolets, and limousines to estates, SWB, and LWB sedans. In all, more than 70 cars in 65 variants participated in MBCCR 2022.
Flagged off by Mumbai’s Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Vishwas Nangare Patil and Mercedes-Benz India MD & CEO Martin Schwenk, the striking convoy of Mercedes cars turned many heads as it moved from Bandra to Worli. Sea face and back. This year, with the introduction of the Star Classic range – which included every Mercedes assembled and sold in India till 2002 – spectators were treated to more familiar icons such as the W203 C-Class, the entire India range up to the W210 E- was. Class and even the W220 S-Class. The rally also saw participation from cities like Rajkot, Goa and Kochi.
As a tribute to the S-Class, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the MBCCR also showcased all seven generations of the pioneering car, with each generation represented by at least two variants.
“I’ve been watching the rally since 2018, and every year since then it has exceeded my expectations in terms of the cars on display and the passion of the owners celebrating Mercedes-Benz’s heritage,” Schwenk said.
Yashvardhan Ruia, who had the oldest Mercedes in the 1929 Nurburg Rally, said that the MBCCR inspired many people to restore their Mercedes-Benzes. “I see a lot of people restoring their W123s and 126s, and that’s a wonderful thing. Importantly, Mercedes has done a fantastic job keeping its legacy alive in this country.’
Rally Curator Perseus Bandrawala said that over the past nine years, the MBCCR has not only generated interest in Mercedes-Benz classics, but has also kept alive a large part of India’s motoring heritage. “No other car manufacturer has so many classic cars on the roads in our country. While we take pride in the fact that MBCCR has become a much-anticipated, globally noted event, what is important is that it has fostered a vibrant community and ecosystem of collectors and restorers,” said Bandrawala .