The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally throws in its share of surprises. While most of the participants come with their classic cars, jeeps and motorcycles, there is none which can match the sheer magnitude and elegance of the 1914 John Morris firefighter.

Probably the ‘biggest’ participant in the rally, the John Morris fire engine has been a regular at The Statesman rally and has made quite an impression both among participants and the public in general.The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally throws in its share of surprises.

While most of the participants come with their classic cars, jeeps and motorcycles, there is none which can match the sheer magnitude and elegance of the 1914 John Morris firefighter. Probably the ‘biggest’ participant in the rally, the John Morris fire engine has been a regular at The Statesman rally and has made quite an impression both among participants and the public in general.

The John Morris comes decked with all the pomp and pageantry associated with a fire engine, with a full crew of 8-9 people, all dressed in firemen’s uniforms, with helmets and boots, on the day of the rally. This year the fire engine’s crew will be led by the newly appointed director of the New Delhi Rail Museum, AmitSaurastri. “My predecessor Uday Singh had participated in the rally for four years in a row and gave me great reviews about it. Therefore, I am all excited to be a part of the rally this year,” said Saurasti.

“We have been preparing the fire engine with great care and have just applied a fresh coat of paint over it. The Lalaguda workshop team from Hyderabad, which is responsible for the maintenance of the fire engine, has just completed the full servicing of the engine; you will be seeing the fire engine in all its glory on the day of the rally,” promised Saurasti.He said the engine was built in Manchester, England, in 1912 and was India’s first official fire engine.

“This 80 horse powered, four cylinders, oil guzzling four-tonne beauty was the private property of the Nizam of Hyderabad which was acquired by the Government of India and now proudly stands among other exhibits at the New Delhi Rail Museum.

This is just one of the two pieces left in the world today and we are proud to have one with us,” Saurasti said. “I am from Lucknow and have lived in different parts of India because of my job, and have seen vintage rallies in Lucknow and Mumbai, but they are much smaller in scale and none of them can match the sheer size and variety of The Statesman rally which is one of its kind, its truly legendary,” he said.”Even though it is much smaller in size than today’s fire engines, but one look and you can tell that it is all rock solid metal, it has style and elegance, its four tonnes evenly distributed on its four tubeless tyres, which can be acquired only by special order,” Saurasti said.