It is time for vintage car lovers in the country to rejoice, as the government has lifted the restrictions on 'actual users' importing the beauties that were built prior to 1950. Reportedly, restorers of these vintage cars have been lobbying for a long time to get rid of these restrictions.
Lauding the Government's new move, Nitin Dossa, President of the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India stated, “The number of potential buyers is five times the cars available. There is a great demand for old Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Jaguars and so on. ” At present, there are almost 1800 vintage cars in the country that were produced before 1950. Echoing Nitin's opinions, New Delhi-based auto expert, Ronojoy Mukherjee said, “This is a positive move and will promote the hobby of collecting old classics. There will be more people buying more vintage cars.” However, the specific demand for these antique beauties would also depend on what the final rules exactly are, for which more clarity on the notification is awaited.
Many restorers are now looking to bring those classic cars back in the country which were once part of their family property. One such person is restorer Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar from Udaipur, who currently has an enviable fleet of 22 vintage vehicles. He also stated that the fight for lifting of restrictions had been undertaken quite a while, so as to import old cars that belong to his family legacy. Mewar further said that the number of old cars available within India is restricted, due to which the restoration hobby is limited to a few industrialists. With this new move, it would be possible for several other enthusiasts to lay their hands on these priceless sets of wheels.
With the fear of dumping by international car manufacturers, India bans import of cars older than three years. Vintage car restorers and enthusiasts have been pleading with the Indian Government for relaxation for a long time. As per the Government's decision, it seems that the future is bright for vintage cars enthusiasts in the country with demand for these classics expected to grow in the future.
