Classic Rolls Royce's in India

[DKG]

Originally Posted by Julian UK

Thinking out loud, it looks like a pre 1st world war car but the front mudguards look later

I felt the same. It looks quite like the 1912 ghosts and the fenders from 20's

[Alvis]

Originally Posted by Alvis

I think 76WJ went from Sardar Prithipal Singh to Kalat - then gifted by Khan of Kalat to his Chief Advisor. It stayed in this family from circa 1943/44 to about three years ago when it was sold due to a tragedy in the family to a "so called" collector.
And yes, it is the same car now painted yellow with black wings. Memory from 1959 says it was White with a black top and interior. I have done Rawalpindi - Lahore - Rawalpindi ( 375 miles ) in this car in one day, winter of 1972.

Will try for the pictures. take care.

Amer Ahmad, Park Ward,

Just to keep the record straight the "Police officer" you refer to in your discussion was actually Jamal Ahmad Khans father in law who at the time was Adviser to the Khan of Kalat on security matters. His name was Farid Khan and later on in the 50's he was Inspector General Police, West Pakistan. 76WJ was stored not in Nowshera but in Parhena (near Abbotabad) in the former Amb state.
76WJ was used extensively by Jamal Khan on its return from the former East Pakistan during 72,and 73. He had set up a transportastion business and used the car on many occassions between Rawalpindi and Lahore. The run i made with him was in 72 as I had gifted him THREE Doberman Pincher pups and his side of the bargain was to take me for that ride of a lifetime.
76WJ was gifted to Jamal Khan by his father in law somewhere around 1958 /9 or so.

[Steve Stuckey]

Here's another photo of 3BU134, from the Rolls-Royce Bulletin of Sept 1938, taken in Bombay on the same day as the photo of 3AZ198 (see second photo in post 741) - that's 3AZ198 behind the car below.

[Julian UK]

Lovely photo Steve, I presume the 2 cars were new in this shot?

Here are some photos of the Dholpur cars being restored in Jaipur. I also have photos of the chassis plates.

1921 Silver Ghost #7JG Windovers Landaulette (The hood appears to have been replaced with an enclosure)






1920 Silver Ghost #102FW Maythorn Cabriolet ED Dholpur






1928 Phantom I #26WR Hall-Lewis Faux Cabriolet Saloon with division Capt.Talbot-Fletcher






1925 20hp GLK67 Hooper Tourer Dholpur


Photos from the collection

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by Julian UK

Here are some photos of the Dholpur cars being restored in Jaipur. I also have photos of the chassis plates.

These are all Dholpur cars? And are they still with the family? I remember reading in Manvender's book that they have retained many cars.

[Julian UK]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

These are all Dholpur cars? And are they still with the family? I remember reading in Manvender's book that they have retained many cars.

I understand SG #102FW and 20hp#GLK67 were first owned by Lt.Col. HH Rais ud-Daulah Sipahdar ul-Mulk Saramad Rajha-i-Hind Maharajadhiraj Sri Sawai Maharaj Rana Sir UDAIBHAN SINGH Lokindra Bahadur Diler Jung Jai Deo 1911/1954, born 12th December 1893
I'm not sure of the first owner of SG #7JG. I hope Park Ward can help.
The PI #25WR was first owned By Capt. Talbot-Fletcher.
Apparently after years of litigation they ended up with the son. HH Rais ud-Daulah Sipahdar ul-Mulk Saramad Rajha-i-Hind Maharajadhiraj Sri Sawai Maharaj Rana HEMANT SINGH Lokindra Bahadur Diler Jung Jai Deo
I presume the names are in their short form

[V-16]

A heads up on the India kitschy Rolls.

A coloured pic of the same car received by me some time ago. The pic last received by me and posted was a B&W




Firstly it is confirmed as being a Rolls by the engine pics that were sent to me and I post below.

Engine pics




Looks like a six cylinder engine from the 20hp. That should make the car a 1920's car.

This is an engine from a 1924 Rolls 20hp



This is the engine pics of the car in question.



Now Look at the similarities outlined in red, between the two, below.






It can now be said with very little doubt, (or the lack of it) that this car is a 20hp Rolls of the mid 20's.
It would be interesting to know why, how and where this conversion took place.

I would presume, some kinky person with a fancy for American vehicle styling from the 40's turned it into how we see it today.
Who knows what history this car holds?
Maybe it was turned this way by a madman (what other name would you call a person who performs such a blasphemous rite on a marque like this?)
Then again it may be the handiwork of an ignorant person who knew not what he was doing (although the chances of that are very remote)
I would love to get to know the reasons for this act.

[Julian UK]

Any chance of getting the chassis number? Its on the plate below the horn and can be seen in the photos.

[Steve Stuckey]

I did a history of this car (Ruling Chief of Keonjhar) in post #597. Here's a photo of the car (taken by the RREC's Colin Hughes) at a rally soon after it arrived back in the UK. Note Indian registration number.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by Steve Stuckey

Here's a photo of the car (taken by the RREC's Colin Hughes) at a rally soon after it arrived back in the UK

Was this the condition of the car when brought back from India? My goodness it looks practically brand new. It looks to be in much the condition as shown in your earlier picture. With 7100 miles I guess it was in mint condition?

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by Steve Stuckey

It has been registered KEONHJAR 207, and DRG207.

Rather late to quote post 597, but nevertheless.

The regn appears to be ORG 207, not DRG, as I had suspected earlier.

[Steve Stuckey]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

The regn appears to be ORG 207, not DRG, as I had suspected earlier.

Thanks for the correction - I am no expert on Indian registrations!

[DKG]

Julian thanks for sharing pictures of the Dholpur cars. They all seem to be in such original condition. Apparently most have very low mileage. I gather they presently belong to the Rajasthan CM who was married into the Dholpur family.

[Julian UK]

Originally Posted by DKG

. I gather they presently belong to the Rajasthan CM who was married into the Dholpur family.

According to 2 sources they now belong to her son, as a result of the litigation as I posted earlier.

[travancore]

Having come to the end of Steve's magnificent treatise on Indian PIII's, I find it interesting that with the exception of Baroda, none of the other "big gunners" (21 gun salute states) - Hyderabad, Mysore, Kashmir or Gwalior owned a PIII.

I am sure that DKG will be quick to point out that Berar (3CP116) was very much a part of the Nizam's Dominions

Steve, more pictures (especially rear end views) will be much appreciated