The Oberoi Concours d'Elegance 2026

A 1926 Bugatti Type 23, a 1939 Lancia Flaminia, a 1918 Cadillac V12 Roadster, a 1927 AJS H7, a 1926 Norton 16H, a 1932 Ferrari 348 TS, and even a 1983 Premier Padmini were all among the many splendid jewels-on-wheels that participated and won in the recently concluded second edition of The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance. You may check the full list of winners at the end of this story, but, strangely enough, I didn’t see a Willys MB or a Ford GPW mentioned anywhere in the list. That’s a big miss for any classic and vintage auto event, and I hope to see at least one in the next edition. That aside, The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance 2026 had all other boxes ticked as you’ll learn shortly. The event was held at The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur where the highlight of this year’s edition was the introduction of ‘The Oberoi Tour d’Elegance’ comprising a scenic drive along the Fateh Sagar Lake. Yes, the participating vehicles navigated the route on their own wheels (as opposed to be carried on flatbeds), thereby not limiting them merely as static historical objects of art, but rightly celebrating them as living expressions of engineering, performance, and timeless design. This 2026 edition was curated by Mr. Manvendra Singh, an automotive historian, and it presented a carefully considered selection of automobiles spanning eras and geographies. But, again, why no Jeeps, Mr. Singh?

The event’s jury was led by Chief Judge Ms. Sandra Button, Chairperson of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, alongside an international panel of distinguished experts including Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Michael Kadoorie, Giacomo Agostini, Jean Todt, and Derek Bell among other renowned historians, collectors, and specialists. Simon Kidston returned as the voice of the Concours, while celebrated automotive artist Tim Layzell joined as the official poster artist, signing limited-edition artworks during the event.

BMW, through BMW Group Classic—the division responsible for all heritage activities—partnered with The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance for the second consecutive edition and brought its iconic 507 Roadster and the 3.0 CSL racing coupé as well.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars also made their grand debut at the event as an official partner. The marque reflected on its historic and enduring bond with India while reinforcing its commitment to the Indian market. The company had brought along its Black Badge Spectre for display.

I’ll now leave you with the winners list, which itself will tell you a lot about the unprecedented heights collectors and restorers go to in preserving these priceless jewels of automotive history.

THE OBEROI CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE 2026 – AWARD LIST

Award	Category	Exhibit
BMW 507	AD 638
F.I.V.A. DEERS SPIRIT OF ELEGANCE		1931 Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental – New Delhi
F.I.V.A. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE		1926 Bugatti Type 23 – Sudhir Choudhrie
Phantom Retrospective	1st Runners-Up	Rohan Puravankara
Veteran and Vintage Motorcycles	1st Runners-Up	1924 AJS D2 – Sashidhar Kapur
Veteran and Vintage Motorcycles	Best in Class	1926 Norton 16H – Raiesh Jain Collection
Pre-War Classic Motorcycles	1st Runners-Up	1937 BMW R12 – Sheshyan Titus
Pre-War Classic Motorcycles	Best in Class	1942 BSA W/M20 – Gurmukh Singh Sethi
Post-War Classic Motorcycles	2nd Runners-Up	1961 BMW R25 – Pratapsinh Gaekwad
Post-War Classic Motorcycles	1st Runners-Up	1956 BSA Gold Star DBD34 – Shailajshri Mani
Post-War Classic Motorcycles	Best in Class	1952 Sunbeam S7 – Heitree Contractor
Emerging Classics	1st Runners-Up	1983 Triumph Bonneville T140 – Rostom Hormuz
Emerging Classics	Best in Class	1973 Norton Commando – Xerxes Desai
Indian Heritage Motor Racing (Bike)	1st Runners-Up	1962 Norton Dominator 55 – Siddharth Mittal
Indian Heritage Motor Racing (Bike)	Best in Class	1971 AJS 37 – Jehangir Sohrab Farough
Indian Heritage Motor Racing (Car)	2nd Runners-Up	1959 Lancia Flaminia – Ravi Amber
Indian Heritage Motor Racing (Car)	1st Runners-Up	1983 Premier Padmini Group 2 – Vicky Chandhok
Indian Heritage Motor Racing (Car)	Best in Class	1964 Mercedes Benz 300SL – HN Marigowda / Ramakrishna/Anumanthkumar
Cars of the Maharajas – Jodhpur	Best in Class	1935 Bentley 3.5 coupe – Shailendra Dhagat
Indian Coachwork – In Period	Best in Class	1923 Rolls Royce 20hp – Shreevatsa Kanoria
Indian Coachwork – In the modern era	1st Runners-Up	1929 Bugatti Type 44 Grand Sport Bordeaux – Diljeet Titus
Indian Coachwork – In the modern era	Best in Class	1938 Cadillac V12 Roadster – Vivek and Tanvi Goenka
Post War British Sportscars	2nd Runners-Up	1953 Jaguar C-Type – Ishan Thomas
Post War British Sportscars	1st Runners-Up	1949 Fiat Capri – Shreevardhan
Post War British Sportscars	Best in Class	1947 Jaguar SS Type – Ayush Meher
Pre-War American Classics	1st Runners-Up	1934 Ford Model 40B V8 – Vikram Singh
Pre-War American Classics	Best in Class	1924 Cadillac 355 A – Rajesh Somvankumar
Post War American Classics	2nd Runners-Up	1949 Buick Eight – Anirudh Rasheed
Post War American Classics	1st Runners-Up	1947 Packard Clipper Deluxe – Vijay Kumar Raju
Post War American Classics	Best in Class	1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza – Varun and Alka Goenka
Pre-War European Classics	2nd Runners-Up	1922 Lagonda 118/5 – Madan Mohan
Pre-War European Classics	1st Runners-Up	1934 SS2 – Shreevatsa Kanoria
Pre-War European Classics	Best in Class	1939 Bentley 4 1/4 ltr – Dheeraj Dadwaley
Pre-War Classics – Rolls Royce	2nd Runners-Up	1926 Rolls Royce 25/30HP Limousine – Ashok Bagha
Pre-War Classics – Rolls Royce	1st Runners-Up	1934 Rolls Royce 20/25 Holbrook Saloon – Vijai Budhavant
Pre-War Classics – Rolls Royce	Best in Class	1924 Rolls Royce 20hp Tourer – Hemant Kumar Rai
Post-War European Classics	2nd Runners-Up	1952 Alfa Romeo 1900 Junior – Behran / S. Mistri
Post-War European Classics	1st Runners-Up	1949 Bentley Mark 6 – Khushi Dogra
Post-War European Classics	Best in Class	1956 Bentley Mark 6 – Rajat Kabir
Youngtimer Classics	1st Runners-Up	1973 Ferrari 348 TS – Tanvi Thomas
Youngtimer Classics	Best in Class	1985 Ferrari 328 GTS – Pratapsinh Gaekwad
Collector’s Award	Person	Presented to H.H. Maharaja Jaisim & family/Mckinney of Nandgaon Estate in additions of competitive achievement and history in Indian motorsport
Judge’s Award	Automobiles	Mercedes Benz 300 D – Feroze Bhopati Collection
Judge’s Award (Sir Jackie Stewart ‘Most Exciting Car’)	Automobiles	Jaguar C Type – Dharam dhias Patnaik
Restoration Award		1929 Mercedes Benz 170V – Pallab Roy
Chairman’s Award	Person	Presented to Mr. Madan Mohan, in recognition of his immense dedication to the classic car movement
Best of Show Motorcycles	Winner	1924 BSA W20, Gurmukh Singh Sethi
Best of Show Automobiles	Winner	Bentley 4 1/4 ltr, Dheeraj Dadwaley