Three cars that are more than a century old will take part in The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally scheduled to be held on 21 January at the Eastern Command Sports Stadium. It is interesting to note that 14 cars that are taking part in the rally are aged between 99 and 95 years. Kudos to the owners who have maintained them meticulously, braving all odds.

The cars are a classic example of engineering marvels and will be head-turners at the rally. The oldest car in the rally will be the Renault Freres, built in 1906.

The 118-year-old car carries the French legacy of clock-like precision.

It has four wooden wheels covered with rubber. The car looks like a horse driven carriage. The car was owned by the late Shashi Kanoria, who was a well-known old car collector and restorer. It is now maintained by his able son, Shrivardhan, who has taken the restoration of cars to a different level altogether. He is now one of the finest restorers in India.

Efficient, self-confident, and humble, Mr Kanoria will drive the vehicle. Mr Ananda Chowdhury will drive a very rare 1913 Gebruder Stoewer fitted with a 1500 cc engine. The car has served four generations of the Chowdhury family of Malighati, now in West Midnapore.

The car was imported by Ishwar Chandra, Ananda’s great-grandfather, from Pomerania, then a part of Germany. The car arrived at the Kolkata port with two mechanics and two engineers. It was then taken to Malighati by road. Ishwarchandra Chowdhury’s son, Shantinath, told me that it was one of the oldest cars in Midnapore district. The car had remained grounded for more than four decades and was brought back to life by Shantinath’s only son, Pratap. He was a restorer and collector. The car is now maintained by Ananda, Pratap’s son.

The car moves like any modern car, with Ananda on the steering wheel. It is one of the most attractive cars in The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally and in all the old car shows that are held in Kolkata. A 1921 Rolls-Royce owned by Shree Shree Iswar Satyanarayan of Howrah is a very rare car.

It is fitted with a temple and was once owned by Rudyard Kipling.

The car comes to Burrabazar from Howrah during a puja. This is perhaps the only RollsRoyce that is fitted with a temple. Though more than a century old, the car is as fit as ever. A 1925 Austin owned by Manish Jhunjhunwala will be celebrating its centenary next year. The British car still moves with full grip.

Another Austin Seven, owned by Naresh Ojha, will also celebrate its centenary next year.

Two types of baby Austin cars were available in those days. Some were fitted with 5 HP engines, and the others had 7 HP engines. Those fitted with 700-cc engines were called the Big 7.

These cars do not have power steering but are easy to manoeuvre. The body is very strong and can be driven on any road without any difficulty. Austin was a very common car in Kolkata. Many of the landed aristocrats who had huge British and American cars used to have Baby Austin in their stable.

A 99-year-old 1926 Studebaker Erskine will take part in the rally. The car is owned by Mr Kunal Banerjee and will be driven by Mr Bapi Roychowdhury at the rally. A 1928 Studebaker owned by Mrs Supriya Roy will be driven by Mr Pallabb Roy. The car is one of its kind in the country. It was bought by Babu Kamalaranjan Roy of Cossimbazar in Murshidabad. It is an elegant vehicle, and Mr Roy has restored it beautifully, maintaining its original flavour.

Studebaker Corporation had purchased acres of land in the United States where the cars had to undergo a very serious test before they were sold to the buyers. This car had come to Kolkata for display to create interest among the buyers. Babu Kamalaranjan fell in love with the vehicle and successfully convinced the manager of the French Motor Company, who sold it to him.

The car has served the Roy family for four generations. It is the tradition of the Roy family that newlywed brides are brought to the Roy family in this vehicle. There is a 1927 Dodge. Dodge cars are very hardy and are America’s pride. The Ford Model T of The Statesman, built in 1928, which was used by the British editors, will be on display.

A 1928 Ford A owned by A. Palchoudhury will be driven by Ms Snigdha Palchoudhuri at the rally. There will be four more Ford cars that are on the threshold of a century.

These cars are all witnesses to historical events that have taken place in the past 100 years in Bengal and serve as a connection between the past and the present, old and new, ancient and modern.