Eighty vintage beauties — 60 cars and 20 motorbikes — stole the hearts of visitors to the first Dadar Classic Car Fiesta on Sunday.
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The event was organised at Shivaji Park by the Dadar Sanskrutik Manch. While the cars were parked outside the Mayor Bungalow, a structure with heritage value itself, the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak next door hosted the bikes.
Organiser Asmita Neve-Pawar said, “It was a very small idea. My husband (Salil Pawar, the co-organiser) is a vintage vehicle enthusiast. Generally, the action is always in Horniman Circle, where enthusiasts drive to and discuss their passion. That is when he thought why not hold something like this in Shivaji Park.”
Participants and organisers, alike, were surprised with the response to the event, with organisers saying there were 10,000 to 12,000 visitors.
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L.S. Ravi, a vintage enthusiast who had his car on display, said, “I was spectacularly surprised with the turnout of cars and people this morning. This is a great venue. What is even more important is the awareness that the show is creating about vintage cars. A lot of children turned up, and this is a great chance for them to see cars they would otherwise never get to see.”
Cars on display included a Ford Model-B produced between 1932-1934, an Austin 10 launched in 1932, a 1972 VW Beetle, a 1956 Dodge Kingsway, a 1938 Mercedes 170V and a 1986 Maserati BiTurbo.
Anosh Dhondy, a vintage enthusiast, said, “As compared to the other events, this one was very good. It was very well organised with a great choice of cars.”
Visitors and participants also lauded the event for being interactive. Manish Fatak who had his BMW E30 on display, said, “The event had a very personal approach. It was very easy for the public to speak to the owners about their cars and the story behind them.”
The organisers said the police, the Mayor and the municipal corporation supported them a lot. ”We wish to make this a regular affair in central Mumbai,” Ms. Neve-Pawar said.