A 99-year-old vintage Hispano-Suiza from Ahmedabad has won the prestigious Best of Show award at the inaugural Concours d’Elegance International held at the Musée National de l’Automobile – Collection Schlumpf in Mulhouse, France.
The 1927 extended-wheelbase Hispano-Suiza H6C, part of the Pranlal Bhogilal Collection at Dastan Autoworld Museum, received the event’s highest honour nearly a century after it was originally commissioned by Maharaja Jai Singh Prabhakar of Alwar.
The award-winning Hispano-Suiza was one of two classic cars from the Ahmedabad museum invited to the June 27–28 event. The second vehicle, a 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K, was also selected for display. Both cars will remain at the French national automobile museum for a two-month exhibition.
According to Dastan Autoworld Museum, these are the first historic vehicles from Asia to be exhibited at the French museum, highlighting the growing global recognition of India’s automotive heritage.The Hispano-Suiza is one of only two extended-wheelbase H6C models built for the Maharaja of Alwar.
It was restored in just 100 days after Brijesh Chinai, custodian of the Pranlal Bhogilal Collection, promised the president of the French Hispano-Suiza Club that the rare car would return to France.
The 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K was chosen after undergoing mechanical restoration in Europe and receiving a FIVA ID Card during a special display at the Rétromobile show in Paris.
During the visit, representatives of Dastan Autoworld Museum met Bruno Fuchs, President of the Board of the French automobile museum and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly. The two sides discussed possible collaborations, including exchanges of historic vehicles, joint exhibitions and initiatives to strengthen automotive and cultural ties between India and France.
Museum custodian Brijesh Chinai said the recognition reflects the growing international appreciation of India’s rich motoring heritage and opens the door for greater cooperation in preserving and showcasing historically significant automobiles.