The Alipore Museum in Kolkata came alive on January 14, with 75 vintage cars and 24 classic bikes stealing the spotlight on its campus — courtesy the Classic Drivers Club’s Vintage and Classic Car and Bike show. Formed in 2017, CDC is an initiative to bring vintage car and bike lovers together on one platform, where they could showcase their wheels on the roads of Kolkata. This time a car and bike show was organised at the Alipore Museum that featured several of the city’s oldest set of wheels. The Stoewer C1 from 1913 was one of the stars present. The car owned by Ananda Chowdhury is of German make, dating before the first World War. This 1500cc, four-cylinder car is a one of a kind, perhaps the only piece of its model in the country that is still running
All photos by Amit Datta
The audience could see sketch artists skillfully bringing the cars to life on paper. Adding to the spectacle was the rare Auburn 6-85 from 1928, a true gem. This American automobile is one of just three existing models worldwide, with the other two housed in museums in America. This orange and black beauty is part of the late Partha Sadhan Bose’s collection.
This particular car was formerly owned by Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff. The Triumph Spitfire MK4 from 1963 is a beauty to look at and even more lovely to drive. This classic car was restored by participant Saikat Dutta and offers a delightful driving experience. A genuine head-turner, the Spitfire holds significance in the evolution of sports cars. It challenges preconceptions of what we associate with the Triumph brand, typically known for its two-wheelers. This beauty proves that Triumph’s expertise extends seamlessly to four-wheeled masterpieces too
The bikes, too, weren’t far behind. The 1923 Panther Sloper, a 600cc model, engaged onlookers who marvelled at the idea of such powerful engines made a hundred years ago. Owned by Afzal Hossain, this bike stood out as the oldest among the displayed motorcycles, with only the Stoewer surpassing its age among all the vintage wheels showcased
A 1948 Plymouth Special Deluxe seemed more special than its name, given the previous owner of the car was singer-composer Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. The current owner, S.K. Lahiri, is very proud of his vintage baby. He said, “This car sat on a jack for over 40 years but after two years of dedicated restoration, it runs fine”
The display extended to more two-wheeled wonders, featuring a 1962 Vespa, 1973 Jawa, 1964 Lambretta, 1974 Rajdoot and a 1948 BSA Bantam D1 – each capturing attention with its unique charm. Enthusiastic children even took the opportunity to sit on these two-wheelers that boast a legacy of over 50 years. Noteworthy were the manual horns, a nostalgic touch rarely seen today
A touch of cinematic history graced the show with the presence of the 1935 Ford 10 Tourer, once driven by matinee idol Uttam Kumar in the film ‘Shudhu Ekti Bachhar’. This timeless beauty, now owned by participant Ranajit Gooptu, has transcended generations, becoming a cherished family heirloom. As the third-generation custodian, Ranajit shared, “This car is like a family member. Even the mechanics, who keep the car running, hail from the same family and he is even more possessive about it,” said Ranajit
