On February 9th, 2025, the Alipore Museum in Kolkata, a former jail that housed Indian freedom fighters, hosted the second annual Classic Drivers Club (India) Vintage & Classic Car & Bike Show. This unique event, potentially India's only historic vehicle show inside a museum, drew approximately 5,000 visitors (in just about 5 hours!).
The show, organized by the FIVA ANM Classic Drivers Club (India), featured 105 vehicles – 80 cars and 25 motorcycles and scooters – mostly owned by club members.
Highlights included a 1913 Stoewer C1, a 1928 Studebaker President 8 State Limousine, a racy 1923 Rolls-Royce 20 hp sports tourer, and a 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 limousine which was used for some time by India's first President. Smaller tourers like the 1935 Austin 10 Colwyn, 1937 Ford 7W10, 1935 Ford Model C, and several Austin 7s were also present. A 1938 Adler cabriolet rounded out the pre-war selection.
Indian-assembled classics like Fiat 1100s, the Hindustan Ambassador Marks 1 & 2 (a derivative of the Morris Oxford) and certain models from the Standard Triumph stable were also well-represented.
Post-war cars included a 1948 Bentley Mark VI, Buick Super Eight, 1951 Mercury 8, two Fintail Mercedes-Benzes, and a Ford Zephyr.
Two-wheelers ranged from pre-war James and Ariels to BSAs, Nortons, Matchless, Triumphs, Vespas, Lambrettas, and India-assembled motorcycles and scooters such as
The event also saw the club recognizing and honouring 3 veterans who have served the historic vehicle community for decades and they included a specialist electrician, tuner and mechanic.
All in all, the event turned out to be a resounding success, celebrating automotive history at a unique and historic venue which drew very enthusiastic crowds.
