The 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance 2025 emerged as India’s most magnificent celebration of automotive vintage car heritage, drawing enthusiasts from across the globe to witness a stunning collection of vintage vehicles against the backdrop of Delhi’s iconic landmarks. The 21 Gun Salute Foundation organized this prestigious event which displayed more than 125 vintage cars and heritage motorcycles that existed between 1886 and 2024 after complete restoration.
Vintage beauties led the Tour d’Elegance parade at India Gate before the vehicles were showcased at the Ambience Greens Golf Course in Gurugram. This event demonstrated India’s rising influence in international vintage automobile circles while at the same time it enhanced India’s cultural tourism industry. Visitors could experience a historical time-travel as the exhibition displayed the 1947 MG TC alongside grand royal carriages from India’s nobility which transported them.
The Organizing Body and Visionary Leadership
The 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance which has operated under the 21 Gun Salute Heritage & Cultural Trust since 2011 presents vintage automotive displays while honoring Indian cultural heritage. The Ministry of Tourism alongside international tourism boards provide support which enables India to occupy its place on the worldwide motoring tourism landscape. The event maintains standards developed by ICJAG (International Chief Judge Advisory Group) which guarantees both excellence and authenticity. The event takes place every two years to enable detailed preparation of vintage vehicle selections.
Mr. Madan Mohan leads the initiative as Chairman and Managing Trustee at the organization with his expertise in vintage cars along with vintage car judging experience internationally. The dedication of Mr. Madan Mohan to international Concours d’Elegance events demonstrates his respected standing. Mr. Madan Mohan runs one of India’s biggest vintage collections which includes 368 vintage cars along with 43 jeeps and 109 bicycles and various antique items. Through his work Mr. Mohan seeks more than car displays because he dreams of making India a worldwide force for heritage motoring tourism while promoting ancient auto preservation and multicultural exchanges.
The 2025 Event and Automotive Showcase
Ambience Golf Greens in Gurugram will serve as the venue for the 2025 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance from February 21 until February 23. While the chief guest remains undisclosed, past editions have hosted dignitaries like Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad. The planned schedule starts with the chief guest giving the opening speech before the Concours Show Field opens.
A remarkable automotive exhibition taking place at the venue will display an excellent collection of vintage cars from various historical periods. A combination of thematic pavilions with historical displays together with multi-language audio guides will boost the visitor engagement at the site. Passionate observers can get the ideal picture from designated observation perches and expert commentators will offer details about automotive technological progress at the event. Evaluation of vehicles for the competition will use authentic standards to assess restoration quality while acknowledging their historical importance according to international concours regulations. The upcoming event unites heritage along with automotive excellence and cultural representation at an international level.
Tourism Minister’s Flag-Off at the 21 Gun Salute Vintage Car Show
The 11th edition of the prestigious 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance vintage car show received significant government backing, with Tourism Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat playing a central role in its opening ceremony. Tourism Minister Shekhawat started the three-day event on February 21, 2025 when he began the procession consisting of 125 exceptional vintage automobiles along with 50 heritage motorcycles at India Gate in New Delhi. A historic landmark of India Gate served as the starting point from which the magnificent vehicles roamed Lutyens’ Delhi on their way to Ambience Golf Greens in Gurugram. The Tourism Minister’s participation highlighted the government’s strong support for this heritage motoring event, which has become an important fixture on India’s tourism calendar.
Event founder Madan Mohan reports that through government support the exhibition has resulted in India attaining a place on the international heritage motoring tourism map. In addition to automobile treasure displays, the event offered cultural performances featuring traditional and pop dance acts from all regions of India to create a holistic tourist experience for international attendees. The 21 Gun Salute Heritage & Cultural Trust and the Ministry of Tourism established an effective collaboration for promoting Indian heritage and tourism development through vintage automobile exhibitions. Minister Shekhawat’s involvement symbolized the government’s commitment to innovative tourism initiatives that celebrate India’s diverse heritage.
Treasures of Automotive History
At the 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance 2025 spectators enjoyed the opportunity to view a selection of vehicles that played key roles in automotive progress. Visitors could encounter the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen replica at the exhibition that exhibited automobile beginnings. The pre-war exhibition showcased magnificent antique vehicles with a 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Silver Ghost among them that belonged to the Maharaja of Mysore and displayed his princely age luxury customization and silver construction.
A single-unit 1947 MG TC served as the showcase exhibit for post-independence motor vehicles at the auto show because India only possessed three examples of this Western sports car at that time following its independence. A supercharged straight-eight engine powered the 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K which drew special attention from visitors due to its position as pre-WWII German engineering excellence.
The cars showed individual histories of their manufacturing era through their design elements which ranged from the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado’s dramatic tail fins to the Ambassador collection illustrating Indian production of imported automotive designs. Motorcycles showcased an extensive collection starting with World War II dispatch riders and ending with Italian Vespas which brought urban transportation into a new era during the 1960s. Talking experts in conservation assisted visitors to understand the detailed restoration processes which restored each mechanical piece into its authentic state.
International Participation and Cultural Exchange
The 2025 event positioned India as a significant member of the worldwide vintage car community after attracting fourteen nations of collectors and their enthusiasts. The United Kingdom joined with France and Germany as well as Italy to stand out for their significant showings during European participation. History was made by a French collector who exhibited a 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC worth approximately 35 million USD as it marked its initial appearance on Indian territory.
Japanese collectors presented multiple Mitsubishi Model 70 fire trucks from the 1940s at the East section which demonstrated industrial heritage bonds between Eastern nations. The Malaysian automotive community entered the 1955 Triumph TR2 which participated in the historic London-Singapore Rally to highlight the cultural bonds established through automotive legacy.
Cultural Impact and Heritage Tourism
The 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance 2025 significantly contributed to India’s heritage tourism landscape by connecting automotive history with broader cultural narratives. The entire Delhi NCR region received ₹2.3 billion from tourism revenue due to the event with hotels and restaurants and local businesses experiencing higher foreign visitor numbers during exhibition time. Officials from the government recognized how the event successfully promoted India as an elite cultural destination that goes beyond common attractions. The innovative “Drive the Legacy” routes connected Delhi’s monuments with vintage car parades, creating stunning visual contrasts between ancient architecture and classic automobiles that captivated onlookers and photographers alike.
Future Prospects
The remarkable success of 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance 2025 has motivated organizers to develop big plans regarding vintage automobile appreciation in India for the future. Cryptics disclosed plans for a mobile heritage pavilion for 2026 that would present automotive history exhibitions at fifteen Indian cities annually to serve historic places past central metropolitan hubs. Organizers introduced a Digital Archive Project to generate complete 3D scans of every participating vehicle for creating an online collection which researchers and enthusiasts together with educational institutions could access worldwide.
The foundation established a formal educational program with IIT Delhi for vintage automotive conservation through combined traditional handiwork and modern engineering concepts. All attendees along with visitors agreed that Ambience Greens Golf Course hosted Asia’s leading vintage automobile exhibition when the vehicles completed their departure. Beyond showcasing mechanical artifacts the exhibition succeeded in presenting itself as a commemoration of collective heritage as well as technology progress and international cultural relations. By bridging India’s rich historical narratives with global automotive traditions, the event not only preserved the past but also inspired future generations to appreciate the artistic and engineering excellence embodied in these remarkable machines.
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