Bentleys in India

[travancore]

Originally Posted by DKG

Of the machines that graced India the following come to mind as being the most outstanding examples:

Bhopal Mercedes SS
Bhopal Bentley 6 1/2
Holkar Duesy
Orchha Cadillac
Vizianagaram RR

I'm sure many more could be added but somehow I am stuck with these 5

If I were asked to pick just one car it would be the Bhopal SS

Kudos DKG. Thought I was the only one "in love" with the Bhopal SS. You also seem to have a penchant for boat/bob tails like I do!

Which Vizianagaram RR (the polished Aluminium tourer / phaeton or the boattail mentioned the other day that the Simla car was being remodelled after ?). I have not seen pictures of that one (hint, hint)

I would also add the Rewa 1934 PII Boatail by Barker (currently in the Blackhawk Museum) for uniqueness - I have some pictures on the RR thread (red/silver/wood planked deck)

[Julian UK]

I agree with you both, its the Mercedes SS, the Bhopal Bentley 6 1/2 is like a high speed killing machine with as much style as a boxer in a beauty contest. It is just too brutally butch. At the end of the day though you can't beat Italy and France for elegant design.

[travancore]

Originally Posted by Julian UK

I agree with you both, its the Mercedes SS, the Bhopal Bentley 6 1/2 is like a high speed killing machine with as much style as a boxer in a beauty contest. It is just too brutally butch. At the end of the day though you can't beat Italy and France for elegant design.

Agree with you too, Julian - regarding Italy & France being style leaders! Don't know if the Holkar Alfa Romeo 2900B Touring Superleggera ever came to India. If it did, that would also be another "Top Pick" for me

[DKG]

Originally Posted by Julian UK

At the end of the day though you can't beat Italy and France for elegant design.

True, but did any Talbot Lago's or Alfa 8C's ever come into India?

PS Can we please get more info/pics on the Bhopal SS and whether this car survived

Travancore the Vizianagaram car was posted somewhere, seems to be lost in all the posts. Will fish it out and repost.

[Alvis]

Originally Posted by DKG

Of the machines that graced India the following come to mind as being the most outstanding examples:

Bhopal Mercedes SS
Bhopal Bentley 6 1/2
Holkar Duesy
Orchha Cadillac
Vizianagaram RR

I'm sure many more could be added but somehow I am stuck with these 5

If I were asked to pick just one car it would be the Bhopal SS

And if I was lucky enough to be in a position to choose amongst them then it would not take a minute to decide - The Bhopal Bentley. Unique and brutal, yet so inticing. "Like a boxer at a beauty contest" - Unique and different!!

Julian

Thanks for the Motor Sport article. I have a feeling that the 3 litre in Karachi is somehow the car mentioned in Quetta. This is just a calculated guess as Quetta had a very large Parsi community and Mr Dinshaw the last owner of the 3 litre did have a Quetta connection, though he lived in Karachi. The article mentions that it ( Quetta 3 litre ) was sold for scrap but that was hearsay and not confirmed.

[travancore]

Originally Posted by DKG

True, but did any Talbot Lago's or Alfa 8C's ever come into India?

PS Can we please get more info/pics on the Bhopal SS and whether this car survived

Travancore the Vizianagaram car was posted somewhere, seems to be lost in all the posts. Will fish it out and repost.

Hi DKG:
Bhopal SS - I do have a couple more pictures, a side profile and a detail of the windshield and running board / toolbox (from the book "Car of Kings" by Lozier). I will need to scan, so may take a few days!
Would love to find out if it is still around - I have not seen any recent pictures surface

[travancore]

I cannot verify the "India" or "Maharaja" connection of this one:

1936 Bentley 4 1/4 Ltr Chassis B159GP
(courtesy RROC)





Maybe one of our experts know something more about this car!

[DKG]

Prince Azamah had a convertible Bentley which later went to his son Prince Mukkaramjah, the present Nizam. Interestingly Prince Mukkaramjah had a sheet of steel attached to the underside so he needn't brake for stones!!!

He related an episode once to Dad when enroute to Ooty he managed to smash through rocks on the road, but apparently the tyres were bald by the time they reached Ooty. Later this car went to his home in Australia and possibly ended up rotting there. His residence was Havelock House in Perth, anyone seen a Bentley in the compound? Lets try to fish out pictures of this car if possible.

BTW a bit off topic but of interest. Prince Mukkaramjah spent more time working out and using his innumerous earth moving equipment than playing out the typical princely life. He was known for his physical strength and once when a Jeep had a flat tyre and there was no jack in sight he simply lifted the car and held it while they changed the wheel (not sure which end) When I heard this story from the son of his PA I didn;t doubt it one bit as I distinctly remember noticing his large wrist while shaking his hand once.

He remains in my opinion the most impressive of the royals this side of Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. Extraordinarily cultured, refined in manners and most charming. We (my family) remain his loyal subjects (you can tell can't you)

[Julian UK]

Originally Posted by DKG

Prince Mukkaramjah spent more time working out and using his innumerous earth moving equipment than playing out the typical princely life. He was known for his physical strength and once when a Jeep had a flat tyre and there was no jack in sight he simply lifted the car and held it while they changed the wheel (not sure which end)

Some of his toys:




They are in this utube, worth a look, but I couldn't see a Bentley.

YouTube - Coronation of 8th Nizam of Hyderabad (1967)


Any Napier photos lying around DKG?

[aadix]

any idea where were these pics taken? inside KBR santuary?

[Julian UK]

If you watch the Youtube film it says they're on the Nizam's ranch north of Perth in Western Australia.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by Julian UK

Some of his toys

This would be at Murchison (?) station in Australia where he spent most of his time. KBR still has a Michigan bulldozer, am recommending it be displayed in the museum too

The cars will be unveiled shortly following which I will post all pictures to encourage people to come visit Hyderabad

[terry mcgrath]

Prince Mukkaramjah had a couple of classic cars here in perth western australia including a high chassis invicta and a bentley convertible early 1950's and a T type I have photos of these later 2 cars when they were about to be auctioned!
regards

[Julian UK]

Originally Posted by DKG

This would be at Murchison (?) station in Australia where he spent most of his time. KBR still has a Michigan bulldozer, am recommending it be displayed in the museum too

The cars will be unveiled shortly following which I will post all pictures to encourage people to come visit Hyderabad

Maybe they should bring the armoured vehicles and landing craft back from Oz as well. Look forward to seeing the photos and also visiting Hyderabad.

[karlosdeville]

Does anybody remember the teardrop/airfoil (?) Bentley in Pune, ex Mysore car, which was with one Mr Apte I think. It had made an appearence a few years back in all the newspapers when he won a prize at an event in the UK, where he had taken the car for restoration. Apparently the car never came back. Sigh.

Also Pune is rumoured to still house the Akkalkot Bentley. I vaguely recall seeing a picture of it, a red fairly early convertible.