Opinion divided on restriction on resale of imported vintage foreign cars
Hyderabad: Jaguar XK120, Mercedes 300 Roadster, Ford Mustang — the kind of cars that Hyderabad’s vintage enthusiasts have long admired from a distance, stuck with grainy photographs, old rally footage, or the occasional sighting abroad. Now, thanks to a new government order, these classics can finally be imported into India without an import licence.
It is a change that many had been waiting for. On February 7, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) amended the Import Policy that will allow collectors to bring in vintage cars over 50 years old. The rule, valid for 2025, applies to cars manufactured and registered abroad up to 1975.
Previously, only vehicles manufactured before 1950 were eligible for import. Heritage Motoring Club of India (HMCI), which had lobbied for the change, called it an important step toward preserving automotive heritage. But India’s approach to vintage cars remains riddled with contradictions.
Deepak Gir, a well-known collector in the city, sees this as an overdue correction. “These cars are a part of our cultural heritage, just as much as anything else we preserve. The restriction on imports until now meant Indian collectors had no access to entire eras of automotive history,” he said.
He was quick to point out the cost. Import duties on these cars still hover around 250 per cent, making even a relatively affordable classic from the US or Europe an expensive investment.
“The government calls these cars ‘national treasures,’ but then imposes a heavy duty on them. It’s absurd,” he said, adding, “It forces people to look for cars in bad condition, just to get them at a lower price and restore them here." Parts, too, remain heavily restricted. Batteries, tyres, and essential components face import hurdles which makes restoration expensive and impractical.
The restriction on resale has also drawn attention. The new policy mandates that these cars cannot be sold in the Indian domestic market after import. While it prevents traders from exploiting the policy, it also puts financial pressure on individual collectors.
Some believe this will discourage even well-heeled collectors from bringing in the rarest and most desirable cars. Others, like Gir, think it’s a necessary step. “You’ll always have middlemen trying to make a business out of this. The restrictions should keep them out of it,” he noted.
Capt. Pestonji, the owner of Cherma’s and a well-known figure in Hyderabad’s vintage car community, however, has a different perspective on the order. He believes it will lead to more imported vintage cars and local vintage cars won’t stand a chance.
“Most people will start getting imported cars. Now, even though the doors have opened, it is still only for the big collectors,” he said. “Over the years, Hyderabad’s vintage car scene has not seen too many imported cars. That is more common in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi, where larger collectors have had the resources. But I believe with this there will be a surge of imported cars.”
Despite these concerns, excitement in the community remains. The thought of seeing an E-Type Jaguar or a restored Mustang cruising down Hyderabad’s roads is enough to make any enthusiast hopeful. “Even if it is only a handful of people who can afford to import, at least we will get to see some fabulous cars coming in,” Gir said.
