Classic Rolls Royce's in India

[Alvis]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Here is a 49 Silver Wraith Chassis # WDC64 with body by Hooper advertised for sale. The description states "was first sold to the High Commissioner of India"

Rolls-Royce Limousine by Hooper 1949 for sale - PreWarCar

Do we have pictures of this car when in India?

From what one can make out this car was in service of the High Commissioner of India to the UK. The High Commissioner of India at the time that is 1949 was Mr Krishna Menon, who served in this position I think till 1951.

I do not think this car was ever in India.

Lovely colour combination though, and that rear compartment looks so elegant and inviting.

[park-ward]

Originally Posted by Alvis

From what one can make out this car was in service of the High Commissioner of India to the UK. The High Commissioner of India at the time that is 1949 was Mr Krishna Menon, who served in this position I think till 1951.

Bernard King's book shows "High Commissioner for India" not "of". Does this mean that the car was used by the British (Sir Archibald Nye in this instance) ?

Can shyml post the 14 chassis numbers of the Nizam's RR ? ("4 Ghosts,1 twenty, 3 New Phantoms, 1 P-II, 1 P-III, 2 wraiths, 1 P-5, 1 P-6, 2 Clouds bought new.")

[deutscheafrikar]

Ex-Prince Of Rajkot Buys Back Car For . 3.2 Cr
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

THE STAR OF INDIA: Mandhatasinh Jadeja of the erstwhile princely state of Rajkot with the Rolls-Royce at an exhibition in Ontario, Canada, recently. Mandhatasinh plans to gift the car to his father Manoharsinh on his 75th birthday on November 29. The car in which Mahatma Gandhi and Queen Victoria had travelled was bought by Mandhatasinh’s grand uncle in 1934


Rajkot:After gracing the collections of some big car collectors across the globe, a 1934 customized Rolls-Royce, known as “The Star of India”, is all set to return to the erstwhile royal family of Rajkot. Mandhatasinh Jadeja, yuvraj of the erstwhile princely state of Rajkot, recently bought the precious car in an online auction from Monte Carlo for 6.44 lakh euros (Rs 3.20 crore) after his grandfather had sold it to a British collector in 1968.
The Phantom-II 40/50 HP Continental, an all-weather convertible, was part of the private collection of wellknown Rolls-Royce collector Hans-Gunther Zach before Jadeja bought it back. He plans to gift the car to his father Manoharsinh Jadeja, who was state minister in the Chhabildas Mehta government between 1993 and 1995, on the latter’s 75th birthday on November 29. “I could not think of a better birthday gift for my father. The car is part of the family’s history,” he said. Even Mahatma Gandhi and Queen Victoria had travelled in this car. Mandhatasinh’s grand uncle Thakorsaheb Dharmendrasinh had ordered the customized Rolls-Royce in 1934.
“We wanted to bring back this heritage irrespective of its costs. It may well be the first case in which an artefact sold by a royal family outside the country has been bought back by the same family. The Rolls-Royce will be transported back to Rajkot within six months. At present, the car is on display at Ontario’s ongoing exhibition “Maharaja: The splendour of India’s royal courts”, Jadeja said.“The car has several features which were considered unique in the 1930s, including headlights controlled by steering wheel. A similar technology, now called adaptive curve lights, is the feature of the latest BMW and Mercedes models,” he said.

[karlosdeville]

Here is a 1927 Phantom I offered for sale, reportedly ex Pithapuram. Do we have any period pictures of this car?



Rolls-Royce Phantom I Tourer 1927 for sale - PreWarCar

[shyml]

Originally Posted by park-ward

Bernard King's book shows "High Commissioner for India" not "of". Does this mean that the car was used by the British (Sir Archibald Nye in this instance) ?

Can shyml post the 14 chassis numbers of the Nizam's RR ? ("4 Ghosts,1 twenty, 3 New Phantoms, 1 P-II, 1 P-III, 2 wraiths, 1 P-5, 1 P-6, 2 Clouds bought new.")

I mentioned subject cars as belonging to the HH Nawab of Bahawalpur not HEH the Nizam. I will post chassis numbers as soon as I can find my file.

[mbz180]

Congratulations to our very own Bulldogji for acquiring Mr. Momen's lovely Gurney Nutting Rolls Royce 25/30 (the green one). Though I must say that I am sad that she is leaving Kolkata for good. I am sure the new owner will take good care of her.

Best Regards
Prithvi

[KPS]

Originally Posted by mbz180

Congratulations to our very own Bulldogji for acquiring Mr. Momen's lovely Gurney Nutting Rolls Royce 25/30 (the green one). Though I must say that I am sad that she is leaving Kolkata for good. I am sure the new owner will take good care of her.

Best Regards
Prithvi

Congrats to Bulldogji. One the most beautiful RR in India

Cheers

KPS

[Chhayanat]

Originally Posted by park-ward

Bernard King's book shows "High Commissioner for India" not "of". Does this mean that the car was used by the British (Sir Archibald Nye in this instance) ?

The term High Commissioner for India is more appropriate as one carries out a commission for someone. In modern India, her ambassadors are titled Ambassador of India; consequently, and purely through usage, her high commissioners, who are her ambassadors posted in Commonwealth countries, have come to be titled "High Commissioner of India.

Separately, the British Indian government, and the governments of Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, maintained High Commissioners in London before the Second World War. They were their representatives to the "Home" Government. The High Commissioners for India at that time were usually senior members of the Indian Civil Service(ICS), and could be either British or Indian.
I just saw this, hence the late response.

[Foxbat]

Got these pics from my Friends wedding album. Apparently my senior from college comes from a very well to do family

The pics are from Delhi.

[wasif]

Got this forward today about the Nizam's RR Ghost.

Apparently Cartier is footing the restoration costs.

There is an early pic of the car with its original front mudguards pior to its remodelling in 1937.

[Bulldogji]

one knew that the Nizams Rolls was being restored by Manvendra.And of course she will be the star of the cartier show, and well deservedly so.What is interesting is the author of this story in the deccan chronicle.Gayatri Reddy not only owns the deccan chargers, but also has some stunning cars in her home, ranging from the most modern Bentleys and Rollers to some lovely vintages.A well written article by a lovely young lady with lovely parents,cricket team,media interests and mind blowing cars.SIGH......

[park-ward]

The car reg'd WGJ-5190 is Phantom I #76RC with a sporty wooden body restored by Tutu Dhawan in 2008.

[Bulldogji]

Park-ward, are you sure? It looks like the boat tail by Ranjit Mallick.If its the same car then I believe she was copied from another P1 still with Tutu, and then painted and finished by Ranjit,originally having started life as a tourer?

[harit]

Originally Posted by park-ward

The car reg'd WGJ-5190 is Phantom I #76RC with a sporty wooden body restored by Tutu Dhawan in 2008.

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

Park-ward, are you sure? It looks like the boat tail by Ranjit Mallick.If its the same car then I believe she was copied from another P1 still with Tutu, and then painted and finished by Ranjit,originally having started life as a tourer?

There was a woody RR Phantom I in Asansol. Pictures of that car are somewhere in this forum standing in a garage after coming to Delhi. Later, as I understand, this woody was made into a lovely boat tail car, and as a reference another Phantom I from the state of V.......... was used. This new boat tail has a lot of embelishments, dressed up well.

Cheers harit

[park-ward]

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

Park-ward, are you sure? It looks like the boat tail by Ranjit Mallick.If its the same car then I believe she was copied from another P1 still with Tutu, and then painted and finished by Ranjit,originally having started life as a tourer?

The body was perhaps by Ranjit Mallick, but Julian Williamson told me it was restored by Tutu for its owner Somenath Roy Choudhury. I believe Julian knows Tutu from the days when he restored cars in India.