The second edition of the Oberoi Concours d'Elegance, held in Udaipur, India, from February 20 to 22, showcased around 120 classic cars and motorcycles, celebrating India's automotive heritage. A 1939 Bentley 4¼ Litre Drophead Coupé owned by Dhanraj Gidwaney took the Best of Show award for automobiles, while a 1944 BSA WM20 motorcycle owned by Gurmukh Singh Salh won for motorcycles. The event featured international judges, Indian royalty, and an inaugural tour along Fateh Sagar Lake.
The Oberoi Concours d'Elegance 2026, hosted at The Oberoi Udaivilas overlooking Lake Pichola, drew collectors, historians, and enthusiasts for three days of displays and discussions. Organized by The Oberoi Group to mark its 90th anniversary, the event highlighted vehicles with royal and historical provenance, including cars once owned by maharajas and presidents. Arjun Oberoi, executive chairman of The Oberoi Group, stated, “The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance reflects our enduring commitment to preserving heritage and celebrating India’s unique motoring history.” The concours will recur every other year, with the next in 2028.
Chief judge Sandra Button, former chair of the Pebble Beach Concours, led a panel that included Sir Jackie Stewart, Jean Todt, Giacomo Agostini, and others. Button advised, “Approach a car. Let it speak to you,” emphasizing the emotional connection to these machines. Classes covered Indian Heritage Motor Racing, Cars of the Maharajahs, Rolls-Royce Pre-War Classics, and a Phantom retrospective. BMW and Rolls-Royce sponsored, displaying models like the BMW 507 Roadster.
Attendees included members of erstwhile royal families, such as H.H. Maharaja Gaj Singhji of Jodhpur and H.H. Maharaja Himanshu Kumarsinhji of Gondal. The inaugural Oberoi Tour d’Elegance paraded vehicles around Fateh Sagar Lake. A fashion show by Tarun Tahiliani explored India Modern design. Nitin G Dossa received the Chairman’s Award for his contributions, noting that over 75% of participants are under 50. Youngest entrant Khushi Dossa, 22, exhibited her 1949 Bentley Mark VI, which won public vote and runner-up in Post-War European Classics.
The 1939 Bentley, bodied by H.J. Mulliner and originally delivered to the Nawab of Bhopal before gifting to Maharani Gayatri Devi, impressed judges with its provenance and restoration. Gurmukh Singh Salh’s BSA WM20, used by the British Indian Army in Burma, earned motorcycle honors from Agostini. Shrivardhan Kanoria, beside his 1923 Rolls-Royce Roadster, remarked, “What is the point of a car if it does not tell a story?” The event underscored a growing passion among younger Indians for restoring vintage vehicles locally.
