Time stood still as The Lake Club – EIMG Concours d’Elegance 2025 cast a magic spell on the City of Joy with nearly 90 scintillating exotic and rare vehicles which took part in this annual heritage show. Now in this fourth edition, the event was organised by Eastern India Motoring Group (EIMG) in collaboration with The Lake Club and in association with ACE Commercial.

With the majestic Rabindra Sarobar in the backdrop and clear blue sky above, the sprawling green lawn of The Lake Club made for the perfect setting for a memorable rendezvous with motoring heritage. The icing on the cake was the line-up of eight beautiful and rare Rolls-Royces which adorned the club lawns like spectacular jewels. Keeping them company was a century-old 1925 AC Royal owned by Yogesh Agarwalla; a very popular Kolkata car which has been participating in rallies since 1968 and won the Oldest Car Award at this year’s EIMG Concours.

A 1938 Rolls-Royce 25/30 owned by Tamalika Naha made its second consecutive appearance at the EIMG Concours d’Elegance. This stunningly beautiful car won The Best of Show at last year’s Concours. This year, Naha’s 1948 Buick Super 8 which once belonged to the Jhargram Rajbari bagged the Best-In-Class Award for Cars Built from 1941 to 1950.

A rare 1948 Bentley Mark VI owned by Azam Monem made its Concours debut this year. A marvelous car which deservedly took home the Epitome of Elegance Award at this year’s EIMG Concours.

Saurjya Pratim Mitra’s brilliantly restored 1937 Ford 7W10 returned to the EIMG Concours this year inviting both admiration and envy in equal measure. The Ford befitting bagged the Best-In-Class Award for Vintage Two Door Cars.

A 1963 Triumph Spitfire which was once owned by Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff has always been a very popular car in the Kolkata circuit, much like its debonair owner Saikat Dutta. This car is a hot favourite among the young brigade, especially the ladies, and was awarded the Best-In-Class in the Classic Two Door Cars category.

The 1928 Ford Model A owned by Surendra Kumar Dugar took home the trophy for the Best-In-Class for Cars Built Upto 1930; Harjit Singh Dhanjal’s 1947 Ariel Red Hunter won the Best-In-Class in the Two Wheelers category; and the 1961 Ambassador Mark I owned by Baladev Mazumdar was awarded the Best-In-Class in the Indian Heritage Cars category.

An immaculately restored 1958 Mercedes-Benz 180 A owned by Prithvi Nath Tagore bagged the Best-In-Class award for Cars Built from 1951 to 1975 and was also bestowed with The Momen Sahab Memorial Trophy for Third of Show at the Lake Club – EIMG Concours d’Elegance 2025.

A very elegant 1937 Rolls Royce 25/30 owned by the Karnani Family was not only awarded the Best-In-Class for Cars Built From 1931 To 1940 but was also presented with The Sanjay Ghosh Memorial Trophy for the Second of Show at this year’s EIMG Concours.

A very special 1948 Plymouth Special Deluxe once driven by legendary singer & composer Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and now owned by Swapan Kumar Lahiri was another beautiful car competing in the EIMG Concours this year. The Lahiri family bought this car in the early 1970s and thoroughly restored it. Fondly referred to as ‘Nilu’, this car is meticulously maintained by its owner himself. This beauty won big at The Lake Club – EIMG Concours d’Elegance 2025 by not just bagging the Special Car Award but also taking home The Shashi Kanoria Memorial Trophy for the Best of Show.

The 1923 Panther Sloper owned by Afzal Hossain was awarded the Oldest Two Wheeler Award; Raja Mookerjee’s 1947 Buick Super 8 bagged the Preservation Award; the Restoration Award was presented to the 1951 Austin A70 owned by Subhodeep Ghosh; the 1937 Opel Cabrio owned by Debaprem Chatterjee won the Resurrection Award;  Siddharth Swarup’s took home the Admirable Award for his 1947 Wolseley 14; the Judges Choice Award was presented to 1934 Rolls-Royce owned by Krish Ajmera; and Partha Banik’s 1934 Ford Model A was bestowed with the Touring Delight Award at The Lake Club – EIMG Concours d’Elegance 2025.

This year’s Sporty Playboy Award was bagged by the 1947 MG TC owned by Himanshu Ajmera and Rupak Ghosh’s 1948 MG TC claimed the Hot Ride Award at The Lake Club EIMG Concours d’Elegance 2025.

Other praiseworthy heritage vehicles which competed at this year’s EIMG Concours included the 1940 Triumph owned by Terrence Lobo, M. A. Moin’s 1936 James, 1953 BSA A7 Star Twin owned by Chandan Basu Mallik, the 1959 Ford Zephyr owned by Sarojesh Mukerjee, the 1965 Hilman Imp owned by Sarmistha Hazra, Amritendu Roy’s 1964 Ford Anglia, the 1964 Standard Herald owned by Subhajit Kumar, Saikat Dutta’s 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster, the 1937 Austin Big Seven owned by Deb Kumar Pal, the 1926 Studebaker Erskine owned by Kunal Banerji, Sarojesh Mukerjee’s 1947 Rover P2, the 1935 Ford Model C owned by Ranajit Gooptu and Debaprem Chatterjee’s 1951 Austin A40.

Few immaculately restored Rolls-Royces along with an ultra-rare 1934 SS1 Tourer belonging to the Shrivardhan Kanoria Collection were also displayed at the EIMG Concours. While these beauties were not entered in the competition, however, they undoubtedly added a touch of elegance and aristocracy to the event.

The Lake Club has been successfully hosting the Concours d’Elegance in collaboration with EIMG for their respective members and guests. This
event witnessed a huge turnout of exotic heritage cars, as well as a humungous footfall of both members and outsiders, making it the Best Vintage Motoring Event of Kolkata.

Shrivardhan Kanoria, Founder & President, EIMG, said: “I would like to thank The Lake Club President, Mr. Tamal Mukherjee, The Joint Secretaries, Mr. Subrata Guha, Mr. Debabrata Dutta, and all the Committee Members of The Lake Club for the breathtaking venue, cocktail brunch, outdoor hoardings and the wonderful hospitality. This gesture of The Lake Club in collaborating with EIMG has been a big step towards preserving the Motoring Heritage of Eastern India.

“A special shout out to the EIMG Secretary Mr. Subhajit Kumar for being instrumental in bringing The Lake Club and EIMG together to host this memorable venue. Many thanks to EIMG Committee Member Mr. Avik Naha for hosting the fabulous EIMG Concours Dinner and the EIMG Treasurer Mr. Sumit Periwal for arranging these stunning trophies. My deepest gratitude to ACE Commercials for sponsoring the beautiful crystal trophies of The Lake Club EIMG Concours d’Elegance 2025 which the participants and winners absolutely treasure”.

Eastern India Motoring Group (EIMG), is a group of serious Heritage Vehicle collectors and restorers, founded by Shrivardhan Kanoria (himself an eminent Vintage Car Collector/Restorer), of which he is the President. He has inducted Subhajit Kumar (a veteran high speed Rallyist) as the Secretary of EIMG.

The Lake Club EIMG Concours d’Elegance 2025 Winners:

1. CARS BUILT UPTO 1930 – Third In Class – 1927 Dodge Brothers owned by Mr. Surendra Kumar Dugar

2. CARS BUILT UPTO 1930 – Second In Class – 1926 Studebaker Erskine owned by Mr. Kunal Banerji

3. CARS BUILT UPTO 1930 – Best In Class – 1928 Ford Model A owned by Mr. Surendra Kumar Dugar

4. CARS BUILT FROM 1931 TO 1940 – Third In Class – 1937 Austin Big Seven owned by Mr. Deb Kumar Pal

5. CARS BUILT FROM 1931 TO 1940 – Second In Class – 1937 Plymouth P4 owned by Mr. Arpan Dey

6. CARS BUILT FROM 1931 TO 1940 – Best In Class – 1937 Rolls Royce 25/30 owned by the Karnani Family

7. ⁠VINTAGE TWO DOOR CARS – Third In Class – 1935 Ford Model C owned by Mr. Ranajit Gooptu

8. VINTAGE TWO DOOR CARS – Second In Class – 1935 Austin 10 owned by Mr. Subrata Roy

9. VINTAGE TWO DOOR CARS – Best In Class – 1937 Ford 7W10 owned by Mr. Saurjya Pratim Mitra

10. CARS BUILT FROM 1941 TO 1950 – Third In Class – 1947 Rover P2 owned by Mr. Sarojesh Mukerjee

11. ⁠CARS BUILT FROM 1941 TO 1950 – Second In Class – 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster owned by Mr. Saikat Dutta

12. CARS BUILT FROM 1941 TO 1950 – Best In Class – 1948 Buick Super 8 owned by Ms. Tamalika Naha

13. CARS BUILT FROM 1951 TO 1975 – Third In Class -1951 Austin A40 owned by Mr. Debaprem Chatterjee

14. CARS BUILT FROM 1951 TO 1975 – Second In Class – 1959 Ford Zephyr owned by Mr. Sarojesh Mukerjee

15. CARS BUILT FROM 1951 TO 1975 – Best In Class – 1958 Mercedes Pontoon owned by Mr. Prithvi Nath Tagore

16. CLASSIC TWO DOOR CARS – Third In Class – 1965 Hilmam Imp owned by Ms. Sarmistha Hazra

17. CLASSIC TWO DOOR CARS – Second In Class – 1964 Ford Anglia owned by Mr. Amritendu Roy

18. CLASSIC TWO DOOR CARS – Best In Class – 1963 Triumph Spitfire owned by Mr. Saikat Dutta

19. INDIAN HERITAGE CARS – Third In Class – 1964 Standard Herald owned by Mr. Subhajit Kumar

20. INDIAN HERITAGE CARS – Second In Class – 1968 Fiat Delight owned by Mr. Sudipto Ray

21. INDIAN HERITAGE CARS – Best In Class – 1961 Ambassador Mark I owned by Mr. Baladev Mazumdar

22. TWO WHEELERS – Third In Class – 1936 James owned Mr. M. A. Moin

23. TWO WHEELERS – Second In Class – 1940 Triumph owned by Mr. Terrence Lobo

24. TWO WHEELERS – Best In Class – 1947 Ariel Red Hunter owned by Mr. Harjit Singh Dhanjal

25. OLDEST CAR AWARD – 1925 AC Royal owned by Mr. Yogesh Agarwalla

26. OLDEST TWO WHEELER AWARD – 1923 Panther Sloper owned by Mr. Afzal Hossain

27. PRESERVATION AWARD – 1947 Buick Super 8 owned by Mr. Raja Mookerjee

28. RESTORATION AWARD – 1951 Austin A70 owned by Mr. Subhodeep Ghosh

29. RESURRECTION AWARD – 1937 Opel Cabrio owned by Mr. Debaprem Chatterjee

30. ADMIRABLE AWARD – 1947 Wolseley 14 owned by Mr. Siddharth Swarup

31. JUDGES CHOICE AWARD – 1934 Rolls-Royce owned by Mr. Krish Ajmera

32. SPECIAL CAR AWARD – 1948 Plymouth Deluxe owned by Mr. S. K. Lahiri

33. TOURING DELIGHT AWARD – 1934 Ford Model A owned by Mr. Partha Banik

34. SPORTY PLAYBOY AWARD – 1947 MG TC owned by Mr. Himanshu Ajmera

35. EPITOME OF ELEGANCE AWARD – 1946 Bentley Mark VI owned by Mr. Azam Monem

36. HOT RIDE AWARD – 1948 MG TC owned by Mr. Rupak Ghosh

37. The Momen Sahab Memorial -THIRD OF SHOW – 1958 Mercedes Pontoon owned by Mr. Prithvi Nath Tagore

38. The Sanjay Ghosh Memorial -SECOND OF SHOW – 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 owned by The Karnani Family

39. The Shashi Kanoria Memorial – BEST OF SHOW – 1948 Plymouth Special Deluxe owned by Mr. S. K. Lahiri

Photographs courtesy Sourish Meryson and Adnan Aslam