India has never hosted an international Concours d'Elegance, however it is about to step into the limelight with what promises to be a fabulous affair. From October 31st through to November 02. 2008, the Royal Western India Turf Club in Mumbai will host the Cartier 'Travel With Style' Concours. The 64 cars on display, owned by Indian royalty and private collectors, have never been exhibited internationally and many have never been shown in India. One might not associate India with classic cars but as elsewhere, those with the means to purchase them had, during the time of the Raj, bought a vast number of magnificent autos, many with custom bodies.

The cars have been selected by Manvendra Singh Barwani, India's most respected and experienced classic car expert, who has included a 1937 Delahaye (Figoni et Falaschi) Geo Ham Roadster; 1937 Daimler DB18 Dual Cowl Sports Tourer (made for H.E. The Aga Khan); three 1931 Pierce Arrow Tourers; a 1949 Bentley Mark VI Sports Tourer (specially built for H.H. The Maharaja of Mysore, one of six Bentleys ordered in a single commission); 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Arrow Coupe (specially built for H.H. the Maharaja of Jodhpur); 1928 McLaughlin-Buick (H.R.H. The Prince of Wales Canadian Tour car); 1948 Jaguar XK120 (aluminum-bodied, and the first XK120 to arrive in India). And in case the cars aren't enough to entertain the onlookers, the judging panel may. A partial list includes H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent, Lord March, Sir Anthony Bamford, Nick Mason, Imran Khan, Monica Bellucci and Sophie Marceau. Orchestrating the event is H.R.H. The Duchess of Cornwall's brother, travel writer and conservationist Mark Shand.

Thanks to Classic Driver Magazine for this lead.

[Photo: Cartier]