Vintage cars roll into Biennale for Republic Day rally

Vintage cars exhibited at Aspinwall House, main venue of Biennale, organised as part of Republic Day celebrations by Cochin Vintage Club in association Kochi Muziris Biennale

It was a trip down memory lane for visitors at Aspinwall House on Thursday as a fleet of classic rides and rods pulled into the primary venue for the ongoing third edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB).

A total of 22 vintage cars rolled through the city streets – starting from Panampilly Nagar and ending up in Fort Kochi, where they stood on display for an awestruck crowd. The rally and exhibition was organised by the KMB in association with Cochin Vintage Club as part of Republic Day celebrations at the Biennale.


The head-turning line-up featured the 1946 model of the legendary Austin 16, a 1955 Dodge rover, a red hot Triumph Herald besides a sampling of Fiat, Ford and Mercedes Benz beauties. There was even a 1957 Hindustan Motors Landmaster, the fore-runner to the Ambassador.

“The preservation of vintage cars is our main objective,” says Rinesh Ravi, President of Cochin Vintage Club. “Over the years, the Biennale has upheld the importance of heritage preservation, which strikes a chord with our policy. It was this common trait that made today’s collaboration possible,” Ravi said.

“For us, these cars are works of art. A lot of effort and heart has been put into the preservation and maintenance of this precious collection. The process of getting these beauties back into road shape is comparable to putting up an installation,” he contended.

Besides the cars, there were five motorcycles also on display. These included a Jawa, a Yezdi and a Rajdoot. An awareness campaign offering guidance on road safety measures and driving manuals was also conducted as part of the rally by Junior Chamber International Cochin Metro.

“We are happy to associate with Cochin Vintage Club and show solidarity with their concern for the upkeep of and maintaining interest in heritage cars and bikes. These proud automobiles are an integral part of history of machines,” said renowned artist Riyas Komu.

Prior to the rally, there was a flag-hosting ceremony to mark Republic Day. KMB co-founders Bose Krishnamachari and Komu along with Kochi Biennale Foundation General Manager N.P. Kurien and KMB 2016 participating artist P.K. Sadanandan helped unfurl the tricolor at Aspinwall House.