If you happen to be the sort of person who believes that a car should be engineered properly, built with care, and possibly smell faintly of old leather and carburettor cleaner, then the Indian government has just made your life considerably better.
Until now, if you wanted to import a vintage car into India, it had to be built before 1950—essentially, machines from the dawn of the jet age, when Britain still had an empire, and Jaguar’s XK120 was the last word in speed with a mere 160 bhp and 260 Nm of torque. But the new policy is rather more generous.
As of this year, the rolling import limit has been extended to include cars 50 years or older. That means 1975 is now the cut-off, which brings an additional quarter-century of motoring excellence within reach. Next year, cars from 1976 will be allowed, and so on. So, if you've ever dreamt of legally getting your hands on a Mercedes-Benz W116, a Jaguar XJ6, or even—a Dodge Challenger with a 425 bhp and 664 Nm from a HEMI V8, then now is the time.
However, there are caveats. You can import these cars, but they must be for your own personal use. No flipping them for profit, no cunning resale loopholes, and if the authorities find out that you've been a bit too entrepreneurial with your new acquisition, they might slap a five-year no-sale rule on everyone. And nobody wants that.
Now, before you get too excited and start booking a cargo container for your dream classic, be aware that while the new rule makes the process licence-free, it is by no means free. The cost of bringing in one of these old chariots is still a rather eye-watering 250% of its traded value once you've added up customs duty, GST, and registration.
And, of course, if you intend to actually drive your newly imported mechanical masterpiece on India’s roads, it must comply with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. Which, in plain English, means it should stop, go, and turn as required, and ideally not leave a trail of blue smoke as you pootle through town in your classic Porsche 911.
So, in short, it’s a win for enthusiasts, a boon for classic car restorers who will see more work coming their way, and a rather pleasant nod to the idea that cars—proper ones—are worth preserving. Carry on.
