Duesenbergs in India (Incl. Cord & Auburn)

[IndrojitSircar]

There are apparently some pictures of the Mitter Family cars in their residence in Calcutta. Will go and meet them next time i am in town.

[wasif]

This visit to the Mitters is long overdue.

It will definitely yeald a wealth of info and pictures.

Look forward to hearing what they recollect about their Duesenbergs and what happened to them.

[travancore]

The cars of the fabulous Lyon Collection (including the Berar and Holkar cars) were recently on display

Pictures courtesy: Duesenberg

Below are some pictures of the Berar car:


---------------------------------------------------------------

Isn't it interesting that the car was already 7 years old when converted to Right Hand Drive and sold to Berar!



---------------------------------------------------------------

The badge says it all!



---------------------------------------------------------------

[wasif]

Thans for sharing. There is amazing information available on that like with superb pictures.

We finally get to see a set of pics of the Azam Jah car

[DKG]

Originally Posted by wasif

We finally get to see a set of pics of the Azam Jah car

The car was used by the younger prince Mauzamjah, more specifically often by Princess Niloufer. This was confirmed to me by Yaadgar Chenoy who travelled in it once and also the picture of the car posted here earlier shows Mauzamjah and Niloufer in the car in Europe. I am sure the brothers wouldn't have shared cars

[wasif]

Did Mr. Chenoy have any recollections on Azam Jah's Duesenberg as well ?

[travancore]

Originally Posted by DKG

The car was used by the younger prince Mauzamjah, more specifically often by Princess Niloufer. This was confirmed to me by Yaadgar Chenoy who travelled in it once and also the picture of the car posted here earlier shows Mauzamjah and Niloufer in the car in Europe. I am sure the brothers wouldn't have shared cars

That is an interesting thought, DKG!

I am not sure which brother owned which car, but here is a different picture of the "other" Hyderabad / Berar Duesenberg (J-202 Murphy Convertible Sedan). It was displayed at the 1929 Olympia Show.

courtesy: Getty Images



How I wish it were modelled at Olympia by the impossibly beautiful Princess Durru Shewar!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Below is the picture of the same car posted earlier (Post # 22)



--------------------------------------------------------------
Fast forward 80 years into the future

Here is "J-202" as shown in www.coachbuild.com - albeit with LEFT hand drive. Look closely between the bumper eyebrows on the left and you see the J-202 number!

Fact, fantasy, illusion .........I do not know! Has she SURVIVED ????? That is not so elementary, Mr. Watson

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ch&um=1&itbs=1

[DKG]

Originally Posted by travancore

I am not sure which brother owned which car

In the thirties the elder brother lived in Bella Vista palace and the younger lived in Hill Fort palace so I doubt if they would have shared cars.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by travancore

Here is "J-202" as shown in www.coachbuild.com - albeit with LEFT hand drive. Look closely between the bumper eyebrows on the left and you see the J-202 number!

Fact, fantasy, illusion .........I do not know! Has she SURVIVED ????? That is not so elementary, Mr. Watson

Prem was it not confirmed that just the engine of J202 survived and eventually shipped out of India? This may be a car rebuilt from scratch?

[kasli]

Originally Posted by DKG

Prem was it not confirmed that just the engine of J202 survived and eventually shipped out of India? This may be a car rebuilt from scratch?

Was the body still hovering in india ? Or was the car completely scrapped ?

[shyml]

I had the honour of being invited by Gen William Lyons to his home on a Sunday in June 2010 and shown the creme de la creme of his collection.

The two best Duesenbergs in the collection had Princely India writ large over them. In my humble opinion these two are the top Duesenbergs ever. I think a lot of princes bought used cars due to ready availability and fancy of the moment. I should like to think that Princess Durre Shavur might have taken a liking to it in Paris and her husband just bought it for her.

It is also my opinion , perhaps expressed earlier also, that of all the princes of India , the Holkar had the best taste for exotic cars.

I have tried to crop out myself from the pictures where possible and may be excused where it was not possible. In one of the pictures you can see Gen Lyons discussing J-585 with Mr Moin Mukhtar, son of Sheikh Mukhtar one of the owners of the car , who accompanied me on the visit.
The Hyderabad Duesenberg is also awesome in real life. Both cars look medium sized due to superb proportions but are actually quite huge and I cannot think of these being driven casually ever. I am sure each outing must have been an occasion and a heart stopper for the driver.

I was unable to decide which was better; the Indore or the Hyderabad. If I was in a bragging mood I would pick the Hyderabad car as invariably the talk would turn to two of the most elegant ladies who picked out the style, i.e HH the Princess Durre Shevar and Ms Greta Garbo. Wonder if they ever met? If I was out to impress myself only, I would pick the Indore. The General, wise and kind, was partial to the Indore on that particular day. Good man.

[travancore]

Originally Posted by shyml

I had the honour of being invited by Gen William Lyons to his home on a Sunday in June 2010 and shown the creme de la creme of his collection.

Thanks Shyml for the wonderful pictures. You are lucky indeed to have seen these magnificent machines in person!

[DKG]

Wow what fabulous pictures! What a collection and just look how beautifully they are housed. It's such a pleasure to see cars being maintained so !

Both cars are spectacular and both by my favourite designers! I don't like the Gurney Nutting Duesy's colour combination, find it too garish but the shape is awesome.

Imagine the Darrin car with the top down, stunning. The other Darrin car if I remember correctly is without the trunk and should look prettier

[wasif]

The engine J- 202 was exported to the US and a new car was re created around it which is what you see in these pictures on Coachbuilt.com.

The original body / frame No 2222 was brobably broken up / scrapped in India

[travancore]

Originally Posted by travancore

Thanks Shyml for the wonderful pictures. You are lucky indeed to have seen these magnificent machines in person!

Shyml:
Any way to find out what the original colours of the Berar Duesenberg were ? Based on the period black and white photos, I am tempted to say white/cream and burgundy - like his RR PIII. Cheers