The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance held its second edition in 2026 at The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, showcasing over 120 vintage cars and motorcycles spanning from 1905. The event featured a new Tour d’Elegance drive along Fatehsagar Lake and highlighted India’s motoring heritage. Enthusiasts and collectors gathered to celebrate rare vehicles restored with passion.
The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance, an invite-only showcase of classic automobiles, returned for its second year at The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur. Organized against the backdrop of Rajasthan’s scenic lakes, the event displayed more than 120 vehicles, evaluated based on historical significance, rarity, provenance, and condition. Cars and bikes dated back to 1905, including the oldest entry, a 1905 Oldsmobile with a horizontal opposed flat-twin engine, two forward speeds, and reverse. A 1908 Ford Model T, known as one of the first mass-production vehicles, was also featured, along with pre-war American and European classics, young timers, and a dedicated Rolls-Royce section.
A new addition, the Oberoi Tour d’Elegance, saw vehicles drive alongside Fatehsagar Lake, drawing onlookers who captured the roaring engines on smartphones. The event’s first edition in 2024 earned the “Breakthrough Event of the Year” award at the International Historic Motoring Awards in London. This year, new classes were introduced, emphasizing India’s racing history post-Independence.
Shrivardhan Kanoria, a Kolkata-based collector, exhibited his 1934 SS 1 Tourer, originally delivered in Oxford, England. “The answer is simple: it’s passion,” Kanoria said of restoring vintage cars, noting India’s market for them since the 1920s-30s and growing interest among the younger generation.
Rajesh Somasundaram from Chennai entered a 1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 and a 1931 Cadillac 355-A convertible coupe, part of his collection of over 15 cars. “These are machines that are true adrenaline… you must drive these cars to enjoy them,” he remarked.
The winning motorcycle was a 1944 BSA WM20, a 500 cc British military bike from 1937. Event director Siddhraj Singh highlighted the BMW 507, a 1955 roadster with only 252 units produced, once owned by Elvis Presley. Silke Brigl from BMW Group Classic stated, “There’s no future without heritage,” pointing to young people’s interest in 1980s and 1990s cars.
In the Indian Heritage Motor Racing category, Ravi Avalur’s restored 1959 Lancia Flaminia Berlina, raced in the 1960s by Cesare Rossi, stood out. The event blended craftsmanship with culture, including a showcase by couturier Tarun Tahiliani, reinforcing Udaipur’s status as a global luxury destination.
