CALL IT A ROYAL procession of mechanical aristocracy. When The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance, a biennial vintage and classic car rally and exhibition, opened its doors at the majestic property in Udaipur — The Oberoi Udaivilas — in February, this unique event did not merely return; it arrived with flourish, turning the sun-washed avenues of Udaipur into a grand theatre of chrome, craftsmanship, and charisma.

Beneath the gaze of palaces where the Maharajas lived and beside shimmering lakes where the reflections of the morning sun gently swayed, engines hummed like orchestras tuning before a symphony, and history (read vehicles) — polished to a mirror sheen — rolled gracefully through the crowd.

With more than 140 cars and bikes taking part in the three-day gala, these were not mere machines — they were time-travellers. Each curve of metal carried the optimism of its era — pre- and post-war — each emblem a signature of ambition. Tailfins whispered of jet-age dreams, long bonnets spoke of post-war confidence. With that came hand-stitched leather interiors of Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Cadillacs, Bugattis, and Ferraris that told stories of another time.

While most of the Rolls-Royces that rolled in carried the tales of its previous owners, the Indian Maharajas, one flaming red BMW Classic 507 Roadster — that was specially flown in from Germany along with its cousin the BMW Classic 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ — carried the tale of another kind of king.

The story goes that while stationed in West Germany with the U.S. Army, Elvis Presley made a purchase as bold as his stage presence: a pre-owned 1957 BMW 507 Roadster. But even thousands of miles from screaming stadiums, the King of Rock ’n’ Roll couldn’t outrun his legend. Whenever he took the ivory-white convertible out for a spin, adoring fans would swarm it — armed with tubes of red lipstick — and left behind signatures, phone numbers, and love notes scrawled across the pristine paint. What began as admiration quickly became a daily repainting of passion.

The white finish was constantly stained crimson, impossible to keep clean, permanently blushed by devotion. For Elvis — determined to be seen as a disciplined soldier, the spectacle grew frustrating. Not willing to trivialise his uniform, he resprayed the car with Fire Engine red in order to hide his fans’ unusual ways of expressing their abundance of love for him. The car at the event wasn’t the King’s car — it was one painted in the same colour as tribute.

“This was specially brought to the Concours at the behest of Arjun Oberoi,” says BMW Group spokesperson Silke Brigl, referring to the executive chairman of The Oberoi Group. “We are very impressed with this event. Two years ago, for the launch event, we brought a BMW 328, again on his recommendation.”

Bonding over wheels

“We continue to build on a very strong foundation, but more than that I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to all the wonderful judges that have allowed us to build on something that we never really thought could grow,” says Oberoi. “The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance reflects our enduring commitment to preserving heritage and celebrating India’s unique motoring history.”

There were as many young enthusiasts as there were older ones. For collectors, restorers, and purists, it was communion: a shared language spoken in horsepower and heritage.

“At a time when we have assumed global stewardship of the legendary English tableware brand Thomas Goode, showcasing the 1935 Bentley 3.5L Coupé, originally owned by the Maharaja of Jodhpur at The Oberoi Concours carried special meaning,” says its custodians Reshma and Shashank Bhagat.

Conversations bloomed beside open hoods. Strangers became friends over carburettors and chrome grills. Knowledge passed not in just talks, but in laughter, anecdotes, and reverent silence as a rare engine near them fired to life.

Says Tilak Thomas from Bengaluru who won two awards for his 1991 Ferrari and 1966 Jaguar E-Type, “This is a place where you get to meet, interact, and learn from a lot of people about automobiles — not just what’s under their hood but their fascinating heritage.”

For greater good

In celebrating preservation, the rally does something greater: it keeps memory moving and knowledge free-flowing between participants; judges and other automobile enthusiasts. “The quality of the automobiles and the respect for authenticity make it a meaningful gathering for collectors and historians alike,” says chief judge Sandra Button.

Yohan Poonawalla, known for his Rolls-Royce collection, displayed some of his prized ones. These included the 2024 Phantom VIII EWB; a 1979 Phantom VI bearing the number HMQ 001 built for the Queen Elizabeth II; a 1962 Phantom V; a 1937 Phantom III Tourer; a 1933 Phantom II; and a 1928 17 EX, the only experimental ‘Sports Phantom’ in the world.

“This is the very first time that Rolls-Royce joined this event and it is really spectacular. This is also my very first time being here in Udaipur and the scenery, the ambiance, and the whole atmosphere is really outstanding,” says Irene Nikkein, Regional Director (Asia Pacific) Rolls-Royce.”

The genesis of the event

When The Oberoi Group introduced this biennial marvel in 2024, it wasn’t simply launching an event; it was crafting an Indian ode to the world’s most exalted concours traditions. One could sense the refined elegance of Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este reflected in the waters of the lake, and the celebrated grandeur of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance shimmering in every nook and cranny of the host city.

“The inaugural Concours in 2024 was very special and every time the organisers try to improve and put all efforts to see that every requirement is met for all owners displaying their cars, and in terms of hospitality, it’s getting better and better every year,” says Mumbai-based businessman Nishant Dossa who won the best of show car award for his 1939 Lagonda V12 in 2024. This year, his daughter Khushi won two awards for her 1948 Bentley Mark VI, including the People’s Choice Award. Besides the Bentley cars, Dossa also brought along a 1936 Alvis and a 1934 Standard Avon this year.

According to Manavendra Singh, curator of the Concours in Udaipur, India remains a remarkable repository of automotive history. “The Oberoi Concours provides an exceptional platform to present these automobiles as cultural artefacts shaped by patrons, craftsmen, and time.”

Rooted in Indian soil, framed by heritage architecture and Lake Pichola, and infused with the warmth of a culture that understands celebration as an art form, The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance 2026 was different. In Udaipur, history did not whisper from display boards. It glided past in lacquered brilliance. It growled softly at traffic signals. It paused for admiration — and then drove on, leaving behind the faint perfume of petrol and nostalgia.