In the summer of ’24, Eastern India Motoring Group (EIMG), a community of heritage vehicle collectors and restorers organised the inaugural edition of the EIMG Indian Heritage Car Rally. The event made history by becoming India’s first Indian Heritage Car Rally in the Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) format organised under the guidance of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) – the apex body of motor sports in the country.
Fast forward to January 2026, as EIMG jointly with Kolkata Automotive Sports Association (KASA), is gearing up to organise the EIMG Indian Heritage Rally 2026, for the third consecutive year. Around 27 Indian heritage cars participated in this rally making this the biggest event of its kind. The event also received multiple entries from All Lady Teams.
The EIMG Indian Heritage Rally 2026 was flagged off from the Town Hall on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 10.00 AM. Mr. Debasish Kumar, Honourable MLA & Mayor-in-Council (Kolkata Municipal Corporation) was present at the flag off ceremony as the Chief Guest. He was joined by Mr. Shrivardhan Kanoria, Founder & President (EIMG) and Mr. Swapan Kumar Lahiri, Committee Member (EIMG) who flagged off the bevy of Indian Heritage beauties. The rally will cover a distance of around 35 kilometres culminating near Maddox Square. The gala prize distribution was held at Dalhousie Institute that very evening which was followed by cocktail and dinner.
Time stood stand still as the immaculately restored Hindustan Contessa, Hindustan Ambassador Mark 1, Fiat 1100, Fiat Select, Standard 10, Fiat Super Select, Hindustan Ambassador Mark 3, Contessa Classic, and Maruti 800 among several other notable Indian heritage cars were flagged off against the majestic backdrop of the iconic Town Hall in perhaps India’s only Indian Heritage Rally to be run in the TSD Format under FMSCI.
The EIMG Indian Heritage Bike Ride 2026 was run parallel to this event. Around 17 Indian heritage two-wheelers took part in the ride. Some beautifully restored two wheelers included 1986 Yamaha RX100, 1983 Yezdi D250, 1980 Rajdoot 175, and 1995 Yamaha RX135 to take part in the ride.
The 1952 Hindustan 14 and 1971 Bajaj 150 were the oldest Indian Heritage Car and Bike to take part in this event and successfully complete the route.
This rally is the brainchild of EIMG Secretary Shubhajit Kumar and has been specifically conceived to address the general apathy displayed by other motoring organizations towards the Indian Heritage Cars. The EIMG Indian Heritage Rally 2026 aimed to not only celebrate the timeless charm of Indian heritage automobiles but also paid homage to the enduring spirit of Indian motoring culture. As participants navigated through the scenic route, they not only reminisced about the glory days of automotive design but also embraced the camaraderie that united enthusiasts of all generations.
“In essence, this rally will be much more than just a showcase of Indian heritage cars; it will be a tribute to passion, perseverance, and the enduring bond between man and machine”, said Mr. Shubhajit Kumar, Secretary, Eastern India Motoring Group, the organizers of the EIMG Indian Heritage Rally 2026.
And as the engines roared and the wheels turned, the EIMG Indian Heritage Rally 2026 left an indelible mark on the annals of Kolkata’s motoring history, reminding us all of the timeless allure of Indian heritage automobiles and the joy of the open road.
Results:
Cars manufactured from 1950 to 1974
Winner: 1959 Fiat Super Select owned by P. S. Basha and driven by Sudip Kumar Ghosh and Arindam Ghosh
First Runner Up: 1968 Fiat 1100D owned by Debaprem Chatterjee and driven by Sourajit Dutta and Suvrajit Dutta
Second Runner Up: 1956 Fiat Super Select owned by Nilanjana Cahtterjee and driven by Arman Hussain and Soham Pal
Cars manufactured from 1975 to 2000:
Winner: 1994 Fiat S1 owned by Debaprem Chatterjee and driven by Sekhar Chowdhury and Souradeep Dutta
First Runner Up: 1975 Hindustan Ambassador Mark II owned by Divisha Chatterjee and driven by Debaprem Chatterjee and Prasenjit Roy
Second Runner Up: 1997 Maruti Zen owned by Mubarak Maseeh and driven by Mubarak Maseeh and Raj Kumar Mundra
Best All Lady Team: 1990 Hindustan Contessa Classic owned Shubhajit Kumar and driven by Anuja Kumar, Sreerupa Sarkar, Jhilik Digpati and Antara Majumder
Oldest Car to Complete the Rally: 1952 Hindustan 14 owned by Satrajit Mukherjee
Oldest Bike to Complete the Route: 1971 Bajaj 150 owned by Danish Barkati
Photographs courtesy: Mohammed Adnan Aslam
Power Drive 