Pune's famous Classic Car and Motorcycle Fiesta returned on November 12, 2023, and it was a big hit! More than 15,000 people came to see the amazing cars and bikes at the Race Course grounds. This year, there were 127 vintage vehicles, including 82 cars and 45 motorcycles, showing off the history of vehicles from 1930 to 2000. Compared to 2019, the event grew by 40%, showing that more people in India love old cars.
The best part of the show was a special display of 12 vehicles made before 1950. A beautiful 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II won the "Best in Show" award. To make sure everything was real and in good shape, a group of experts checked each vehicle to confirm its history and quality.
This event also helped Pune's tourism a lot. Visitors spent about ₹2.8 crore during the three days. Many people came from other places, booking 2,200 hotel rooms and helping local shops earn money. According to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, events like this have made heritage tourism in Pune grow by 28% since 2018.
Besides just looking at the vehicles, there were fun activities like workshops and parts exchange programs. Thirty-seven vendors set up shops to sell old car parts and restoration services. Students from 15 colleges in Maharashtra also got to learn about vehicles through guided tours.
Next year, mark your calendars for November 15-17, 2024! The organizers plan to have even more vehicles, with a goal of 150. They'll also bring classic cars from Southeast Asia.
They've teamed up with five big automotive museums worldwide, which means we can see even rarer cars and learn more. Thanks to ₹1.5 crore in sponsorship, the organizers will improve the event with better facilities and more activities for everyone. It's going to be even bigger and better next year!
