New Delhi, Mar 2 (Reporter) The much- awaited 58th annual Statesman Vintage and Classic car rally concluded successfully here on Sunday with over 100 vehicles from the bygone era lining up for the car parade. Car connoisseurs and motorheads flocked to the prestigious car rally to showcase their prized possessions. Among the iconic models which were on display included MG YT convertible and Rolls Royce Phantom 1 Open Tourer, adding to the grandeur of the rally. The grand rally was flagged off from Statesman House, Connaught Place by Indian Oil Chairman Arvinder Singh Sahney. The rally concluded at National Stadium where a prize distribution ceremony was held. Along the pre-determined route of around 40 kilometres, spectators were left spell-bound by the impressive line-up of vintage cars. Many foreigners and even diplomats were seen among those catching the glimpse. At the closing ceremony, Delhi Environment and Forest Minister and Chief Guest Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Statesman Group Chairman R. P. Gupta, Statesman's Managing Director Ravindra Kumar, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Law and Justice Manoj Kumar, and Vineet Gupta, Director at Statesman presented trophies to car owners for excellent maintenance and upkeep of cars in the vintage and classic categories. Among the vintage category vehicles participating in the rally this time, the oldest car – John Morris Fire Engine (Nizam State No. 1) came from the National Railway Museum. The car was built in 1914 and now only two such timeless pieces are in existence. The second piece adorns the Manchester Museum in London. The rare vintage car was purchased by the railway company of the then princely state of Nizam of Hyderabad. It was in service until 1960. The vehicle is currently being maintained by the National Railway Museum. This year’s most striking entry in the vintage car rally was Daman Thakore’s 1950 MG YT convertible, affectionately known as “Lal Pari” within his family. "This car is a rare gem. Only 900 cars were manufactured, and today, only around 150-200 remain globally,” Thakore said. Another distinct piece joining the rally was Gurpreet Singh’s 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom 1 Open Tourer, originally owned by the Maharaja of Bhavnagar. Many other classic automobiles which were cynosure of attention during the rally were Ashok Gupta's 1936 Rolls Royce, Bareilly's Kaleem Khan's 1919 Citroën, Dr. S. Hussain's 1926 American-made Oakland and Avani Ambuj's 1926 Austin (UK). While the penchant for vintage automobiles remains alive among many people, sustaining it seems a daunting task. Gyan Sharma, a member of the rally jury, stressed the need for government support to preserve the vintage car culture. "Due to increasing driving restrictions and rising maintenance costs, fewer young enthusiasts are joining such car rallies. It was once a thriving hobby but now only a few dedicated people are pursuing it. The Statesman deserves credit for keeping this tradition alive," he said. Discussing the evaluation process, Pramod Bhasin, another member of the jury, said that the vehicles were evaluated on the basis of originality, maintenance, paint quality and quality of accessories...////...