Vintage Cars in India: Age Requirements, Legal Aspects, and Top Classics

Vintage cars are a big part of the global automotive culture as they signify the progress humanity has made in the field of motorised vehicles since the car was first invented. However, when people talk about vintage cars, especially in India, things can get a little confusing. In such a setting, questions such as what are vintage cars, how old does a car have to be for it to be categorised as vintage, or what are the Indian laws surrounding vintage cars come to mind. To make things clearer, here’s a simplified answer on all things vintage when it comes to cars.

What are vintage cars?

Exactly how old does a car have to be for it to be classified as vintage? What are antique and classic cars? It might come as a bit of a shock but there are no global standards set in stone for the different types of vintage, antique and classic cars. However, over the years, people from different countries have settled upon a system that is widely used today.

Starting with the youngest breed, classic cars are those that are at least 20 years old. Some countries also push this age limit to 25 years. So, any car that is over 20 to 25 years old is automatically a classic car. Anything that was manufactured before the year 2000 can be considered a classic car today.

The next breed are antique cars. Antique cars are older than classic cars, and as such have to be at least 45 years old. In historic context, any car that was manufactured before the 1975-80 period can lay a claim to being an antique car.

When it comes to vintage cars, there is no set age limit. Most people refer to cars made before 1930 to be vintage, and in today’s day and age, that would be close to 100 years old. However, it has been some time since this definition was first put in place in place, and as such, cars older than 75 to 85 years old can consider themselves to be vintage. It is important to note that the transport departments of many countries have different age restrictions for vintage cars. For example, in Australia, the age limit is 25 years whereas in the EU and UK, this age limit is 30 years. However, in India, this age limit is set at 50 years.

Many people consider vintage cars to be valuable, and in many cases they do tend to cost an arm and a leg. However, the actual value of these cars is also decided by their age, their price at the time of first being sold, and most importantly their historical context.

History of vintage cars in India

Historically, India has been a princely state with certain states ruled by certain rulers. The region was naturally prosperous and most of the rulers at the time had overflowing treasuries. As India opened up its doors to the outside world, young affluent  Indians started travelling abroad for various reasons or to get a taste of the world outside the confines of the country, and this is where India’s history with vintage cars began.

It is a little difficult to pinpoint when the first cars landed on Indian shores, but it was sometime in the 1890s. It is still debated who was the first person to bring a car to India but many accredit this feat to the Maharaja Rajinder Singh of Patiala. The car in question was a French-made De Dion Bouton and supposedly arrived in India in 1892. However, it is clear that before the calendar flipped over to the 20th century, there were cars in India. Jamshedji Tata was another Indian to own a car in this period. Since then, as the tale of the motor car spread throughout India, several royalty figures began importing these vehicles.

For India to make its first car, the country had to wait till post independence. It was in 1957 that the car we all know as the Hindustan Ambassador was first built in India. The first Premier Padmini was manufactured in 1964, and cars from this era are officially classified as vintage cars by the Indian government.

In essence, the oldest vintage cars that can be found in India today were all imported from various countries. Post-independence, some cars that were made in India may also be classified as vintage.

Which are the top vintage cars in India?

When one is trying to define the top vintage cars in India, there is no actual yardstick to go by. That is because most people haven’t even heard the name of the most expensive vintage cars in India. Thus, price doesn’t come across as the best way to classify the top vintage cars. We can however classify them on the basis of their popularity. India has had some memorable vintage cars that have stood the test of time, such as:

Hindustan Ambassador

The Hindustan Ambassador was the first car that was indigenously made in India. It was based on the Morris Oxford Series III sold in Britain. Over the years, the Hindustan Ambassador went through a series of changes that spruced up its interior and updated the mechanicals. However, the Ambassador never lost its iconic silhouette. Right from 1957, when the Ambassador as we know it today began its production run in India, to 2014, when the production run of the Ambassador ended in India, the car enjoyed a cult status. Up until the early 2000s, the Ambassador was considered a class symbol with the most important politicians in the country using it.

Premier Padmini

The Premier Padmini or the ‘Fiat’ as most Indians know it today was first made in India in the year 1964. Premier Automobiles Limited had taken the licence from Fiat. The Padmini was initially sold as the Fiat 1100 Delight, before being renamed the Premier Padmini in 1974. The vehicle was based on the Fiat 1200 GranLuce Berlina. At the time, the Padmini garnered immense fame among affluent Indians with even celebrities rushing to own one. The Padmini was considered stylish, faster and was easier to drive than the Hindustan Ambassador. The Padmini’s popularity started waning in the late 80s as Maruti Suzuki arrived on the scene. The Padmini’s production run came to a halt in 2001.

Hindustan Contessa

The Hindustan Contessa arrived on the scene in 1984, on the back of HM (Hindustan Motor) desire for a  premium vehicle in its lineup. The Contessa was a great fit because firstly, it looked like nothing else on Indian roads. People were simply wowed by its straight lines and sleek appearance, compared to the more curvy cars they were used to. The Contessa sold in India was based on the Vauxhall VX Series that was sold from 1976 to 1978. Its biggest highlight was the roomy and plush interior, even though the engines were considered underpowered even for the time. After enjoying a great deal of popularity in the late 80s and early 90s, the Contessa’s fame began to decline and its production run came to an end in 2002.

Standard Herald

The Standard Herald followed the same path as other vintage cars in India, meaning that it was initially sourced from the British, and as time passed, more and more of its parts were made in India. In fact, there was a four-door saloon model and five-door estate model that was specifically launched for the Indian market. The Standard Herald began its India journey in 1961 and was based on the Triumph Herald sold in the UK. The Mk II Standard Herald was launched in 1965 and the Mk III was introduced in 1968. In 1972, the Standard Herald was converted into the Standard Gazel. Standard continued its production operations till the end of the 80s, before the company ran into legal trouble. It was finally disbanded in 2006.

Jaguar Mark 2

The Mark 2 was a luxury sedan built by British carmaker, Jaguar, between 1959 and 1967. With a long bonnet, a relatively tall cabin, and a stubby little boot, the Mark 2 looked fast while sitting still. It was designed along the lines of Sir William Lyons’s advertising slogan, Grace, Space and Pace, for the Swallow Sidecar Company, which later came to be known as Jaguar. While it might not sound believable, the Jaguar Mark 2 with its biggest engine (3.8 litre, inline 6) could reach a top speed of 201 km/h. The Mark 2 also became highly popular among Indian aristocrats, and that is why without it ever being manufactured on Indian soil, you can find a few many of them on our shores.

What is the price of vintage cars in India?

Unlike the price of new cars sold in showrooms which is dependent upon size, features and performance, the price of vintage cars relies majorly on its historical significance and popularity. Furthermore, the rarity is also a cherished trait among vintage car collectors as it makes the vehicle unique and further drives its price up. Cars such as the Hindustan Ambassador and Premier Padmini are vintage cars but their prices in the vintage car market start around the ₹ 1 lakh mark, primarily because a lot of them exist in the market. Vehicles that were imported into India hold a higher value as there are fewer in the market. For starters, the Jaguar Mark 2 has a starting price of around ₹ 30 lakh in the global market, but prices can be double or triple for cars kept in mint condition. Ultimately, the price of vintage cars has a huge range that can start in the lakhs and go into the crores.

Laws and regulations for vintage cars in India

In 2021, the Indian government clarified its stance on vintage cars by amending the Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1989. The rules stated that cars older than 50 years old could be registered as vintage cars in India, with the only caveat being that they should be in their original form without any major overhaul. These cars were even exempted from the ban on 15-year old petrol cars and 10-year old diesel cars in the Delhi/NCR region.

However, vintage cars cannot be run on public roads regularly or for commercial reasons. They can only be driven on public roads for exhibitions, or if the car is on its way to a vintage car show. There is also some leeway for them to be occasionally driven. However, this is a grey area and there have been instances of people running into trouble with the police for driving their vintage cars on public roads.

Future of Vintage Cars in India

Now that the writing for vintage cars is set in stone in India, a new trend has emerged. More and more vintage cars are being imported into the country, with collectors no longer worried about the future of their vintage cars.

Noticeably, there are also a few cars that have the potential of turning into classic cars in the coming years. They include the likes of Tata Sierra, the first-gen Honda City, the Maruti Suzuki Zen, and to be more recent, the Volkswagen Polo. They are all currently available in the used car market. In the decades to come, these cars have the potential to become highly sought after classic cars in the Indian market. 

FAQs

Q. What is the cost of registering for a vintage car number in India?

For a fresh registration, the cost of acquiring a vintage car number is ₹ 20000. The registration is valid for 10 years. Subsequent registrations cost ₹ 5000.

Q. Are vintage cars legal in India?

Yes, vintage cars are legal in India. The 2021 amendment to the Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1989 simplified the process of owning a vintage car in India.

Q. Can we import vintage cars to India?

Yes, vintage cars can be imported to India.

Q. Can you drive a vintage car daily in India?

No, you cannot drive a vintage car daily on public roads in India.

Q. How do I register a car as vintage?

A vintage car can be registered at your nearest RTO. Alternatively, you can also register it online, by using the Parivahan Sewa portal.

Q. Who owned the first car in India?

The ownership of the first car in India is contested. Some records indicate the French-made De Dion Bouton was the first car owned in India by the Maharaja Rajinder Singh of Patiala in 1892. Other records indicate that an Englishman by the name of Mr. Foster imported the first car in India in 1897. A year later, Jamshedji Tata is said to have become the first Indian to own a car in India.

Q. How old does a car have to be for it to be called vintage?

While different countries have different standards for vintage cars, in India, a vehicle has to be older than 50 years to be classified as vintage.