Vintage car owners riding on new rules

Centre's 2021 rules offer relief but there is mismatch in implementation

- RAGHAV AGGARWAL

On Sunday morning, the sun shone brightly on vintage cars parked in symmetry on the grounds of ITC Maurya in New Delhi. The owners were making sure the old beauties turned up spick and span for a rally organised by ITC Hotels in partnership with the Heritage Motoring Club of India. The rally would end at ITC Grand Bharat in Gurugram, Haryana, later in the day.

Some owners were simply sipping their cuppa, relishing the mood and waiting for the flag-off. The outlook towards these cars, they said, has changed in recent years.

"Earlier people used to export these cars," said Arjun, who came to participate in the rally with his grey left-hand drive 1964 Willys CJ-3B. "But now with the new rules, the trend has reversed. People are now importing these cars," added Arjun, who only identified his first name.

Before 2021, there was no legal process to register vintage cars in India.

In July 2021, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the formalisation of these cars by amending the Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1989.

According to the new rules, all four-wheelers that are at least 50 years older than their first date of registration are now considered "vintage".

However, these cars need to be in their original form with no "substantial overhaul".