Imagine a fashion show. Filled with beauty all around. Sometimes elegant, sometimes bold, sometimes cute, but each one worthy of the pageant. That’s what the second edition of The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance 2026 was — except the models were the 92 cars and the 31 two-wheelers that were showcased at the event. Admittedly, not all the cars competed against each other for the podium, and some were there merely as exhibitions. Each one of them, however, brought along sheer beauty and elegance that, strangely, engineering can produce when mixed in right doses with artistry and craftsmanship.
Held at the extensive grounds of The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, the spectacular prelude — curated by renowned automotive enthusiast Manvendra Singh Barwani and directed by Siddhraj Singh — featured two non-competitive classes for cars. All seven Rolls-Royce Phantoms belonging to industrialist Yohan Poonawalla formed a dedicated Phantom retrospective and were on display to celebrate 101 years of the brand’s most famous legacy nameplate. Among the fabulous display was the rarest of rare 1928 Phantom I that began life as Chassis 17EX, an experimental model built specifically to get up to a top speed of 100mph (161kmph). Subsequently sold to the Maharaja of Kashmir and then beyond Indian borders, before Poonawala brought it back recently.
Next in line was the 1933 Phantom II Continental that had once belonged to Captain Sir Malcolm Campbell. Shining in its Blue Bird Sax Blue paintjob, it still sports Campbell’s St. Christopher badge, a police siren and the tri-trumpet horn. Pride of place was occupied by the 1937 Phantom III that had once belonged to the Maharaja of Panchkote, the 1962 Phantom V that was owned by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali al Thani (eighth ruler of Qatar), and the 1979 Phantom VI of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Rounding off the collection were the 2005 Phantom VII and the 2025 Phantom VIII bought new by Poonawalla.
The other exhibition class was headlined by the 1959 BMW 507 Series II Roadster and the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL coupé, both belonging to BMW Group Classic and brought to the show from the BMW Museum in Munich, Germany. Equally significant was the 1939 Dodge D11 of the celebrated advocate Diljeet Titus, which had once been the state car of the Maharaja of Palitana, Gujarat. Bringing this class to its conclusion was the 2025 BMW Concept Speedtop, a coach-built shooting brake owned by the BMW Group.
“The second season of The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance reflects our enduring commitment to preserving automotive heritage and celebrating India’s unique motoring history. We are delighted once again to welcome the global classic automobile community to Udaipur and to present an experience that honours both tradition and our commitment to restoration excellence,” said Arjun Oberoi, executive chairman at The Oberoi Group.
Echoing his sentiment was curator Manvendra Singh Barwani, “India remains a remarkable repository of automotive history. The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance provides an exceptional platform to present these automobiles as cultural artefacts shaped by patrons, craftsmen, and time.”
There was a total of 16 competition classes with two-wheelers spread across five, and the cars spread across the remaining 11. Additionally, there were eight special awards that were given out. The judging itself was done by a panel of 17 experts led by Sandra Button as chief judge, who is also the chairperson at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance held annually in California. Her team included names such as three-times Formula 1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, Giacomo Agostini (winner of 15 Motorcycle World Championships), and 10 Isle of Man TTs (world's oldest and most dangerous annual motorcycle race), Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist Louise Wood, among others.
Yohan Poonawalla was honoured with a special mention plaque for the Phantom Retrospective. The TRS Oberoi Spirit of Elegance title went to the 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Aerofoil coupé of Mumbai-based collector Amir Jetha. The PRS Oberoi Spirit of Excellence award went to the 1926 Bugatti Type 23 Torpedo Tourer of businessman Sudhir Choudhrie. The Collector’s Award went to HH Maharaja Jyotendrasinhji Vikramsinhji of Gondal, Gujarat, in tribute to a lifetime of competitive achievements in Indian motorsport. The Judge’s Award went to the 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SC of the Pranlal Bhogilal collection. The Judge’s Award Sir Jackie Stewart Most Exciting Car award, went to the 1963 Jaguar E-Type of the collector Dharmaditya (Julia) Patnaik. The Restoration Award went to the 1938 Mercedes-Benz 170V Roadster of Pallab Roy, a vintage-wheels enthusiast from Kolkata. The Chairman’s Award went to Nitin Dossa — the chairman of both the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) and the Vintage & Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI) — in recognition of his lifetime dedication to the historic vehicles movement.
The competition results reflected both depth and diversity, with honours spread across motorcycles and automobiles spanning nearly seven decades of motoring history. Top accolades went to the 1944 BSA M20, which claimed Best of Show Motorcycles, and the 2025 Bentley Continental GT that was awarded the Best of Show Automobiles title. In the motorcycle categories, notable Best in Class winners included a 1926 Norton 16H in Veteran and Vintage, a 1944 BSA WM20 in Pre-War Classics, and a 1953 Sunbeam S7 in Post-War Classics, while Emerging Classics and Indian Heritage Motor Racing further highlighted marques such as Norton, Triumph, and AJS. The automobile classes showcased exceptional provenance, with Best in Class titles awarded to icons such as the 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL in Indian Heritage Motor Racing, a 1935 Bentley 3.5 coupé in Cars of the Maharajahs – Jodhpur, and a 1923 Rolls-Royce 20 HP in Indian Coachbuilt: Then. The Post-War and American categories were equally competitive, led by models including the 1967 Jaguar E-Type, 1931 Cadillac 355-A, and 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza, while European and Rolls-Royce classes celebrated pre- and post-war craftsmanship. The Youngtimer Classics category concluded the results on a contemporary note, with a 1985 Ferrari 328 GTS taking Best in Class, underscoring the evolving definition of collectability.